Curse

Chimaera · Oct 31, 2006, 07:56 AM // 07:56

When i first got the game i found the prima guide very usefull, especially regarding what class combinations to use and what different items salvage to with each level of kit, very good introduction, better than guildwiki for noobies because they don't know what to search for yet.

The official factions guide on the other hand was imo pretty poor, hence why i wont be buying a nightfall one even if they are released.

Jongo River · Oct 31, 2006, 09:43 AM // 09:43

I've never read a Prima guide, but I know they have a lousy reputation on every forum I've ever frequented and with enviromental issues these days, why support the printing of near useless books?

Knightsaber Sith · Oct 31, 2006, 11:09 AM // 11:09

This thread is to discuss if/why the Prima guide was canceled; we don't need every other person to leave their two cents on why they don't like the guides. Try to stay on topic.

Hand of Shiva · Nov 01, 2006, 09:19 AM // 09:19

Wow Ingram... I think you need to take a step back and a few breaths buddy, for a second there I thought you were going to jump through my monitor and slap me. I don't know about this whole underground player consipracy trip but i do know that places like guildwiki, guru, gwonline and others have always provided good quality maps and info, much better then the guides ever did. That being said I do enjoy getting the guides because well its nice to add them to the collection and even if the info is wrong due to updates and the like at least the general info is right and the background info provided in the factions guide made for great bathroom reading.

That being said, I picked up my copy of Nightfall on Saturday from Gamestop. When I asked the manager there about the guide he went to his computer and told me they weren't expecting any in till this thursday. After reading this forum I'm not exactly sure if he was telling me the truth or if he just wanted me to come in so he could mug me.

I'm not inclined to trust everything I hear out of the moderators at Prima, they tend to randomly throw out info that is hit or miss. After reading the posted forum article on prima it seems like that moderator was just throwing something out there. As for Gaile I've found her answers to be less then confirming. Her answers always seem very dodgy and avoiding, which i can understand since thats what PR people do.

Jugalator · Nov 01, 2006, 02:23 PM // 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by =HT=Ingram

If so this is indeed a sad day for all of the GW community... and IT will be the downfall of the company. Because the min they insult the fan base with such actions and make them criminals in their eyes, they will see their fan base disappear... Don't believe me? Ask the music industry how their sales in any form have been in recent years... The image of someone holding on by their fingernails comes to mind...

All this for a missing strategy guide?

Well, there were still many Einsteins who finished Nightfall within mere days so I think there is still hope for the rescue of Elona!

As for this whole strategy guide thing, I'd vote for going after ArenaNet's comments on this ("we have not announced a guide") before online stores. They tend to make up and assume things prematurely in their competition to draw preorders, at least from my experiences. I have no clue how ISBN registrations work, but it's pretty obvious ArenaNet is saying one thing (and they ought to know, right?) while at the same time not a single guide actually seem to ship. Adding 1 + 1 now gives...? Gaile gave reservation for possible future announcements on this, and I'd think it's just best to give this a rest for now.

GuildWiki and forums are excellent resources anyway.

Hand of Shiva · Nov 01, 2006, 05:56 PM // 17:56

Excellent resource yes, but I can't exactly take my desktop with me for a camping trip can I? There must be strategies made around the campfire! The stone summit must suffer for my forced tenure in the wilderness away from my computer! Actually sometimes printed stuff is just easier on the eyes to read for some folks and it makes an excellent tool to hit bugs with or that annoying friend trying to steal your last fry.

I checked in again with my local gamestop manager and he still has the Prima Guide listed for delivery tomorrow. I guess if I show up and theres one sitting there waiting for me I'll have this boot legged copy of a guide that will sell for millions of pennies! Either that or I'm going to go postal on him for making me waste gas driving down there to pick up a guide that isn't there.

EternalTempest · Nov 01, 2006, 06:04 PM // 18:04

I too prefer a physically hard copy. Even though back info (salvage, etc) and skills change. The Quest/Mission guide maps are great. Some people don't like to read lots of text via screen.

And "Unofficial" guides come out all the time. Question is did Anet yank it from them so they decided to do there own and Anet is blocking them or working on a new deal with them?

The Pointless · Nov 01, 2006, 06:05 PM // 18:05

Gameplay.co.uk has delisted it. Thank [insert Red Engine inducing word here] they only charge for what they dispatch.

I was wondering why it hadn't turned up...

Ruby Lightheart · Nov 01, 2006, 06:15 PM // 18:15

i got the guilds for the maps but other than that they werent helpful at all. The info in it was not helpful at all and I found more info available online from fan sites. I am one of those players whom plays the game and gets my armor as I progress though. What I would have liked the guilds to have done was not tell me shortcuts but give indepth info bout builds both pve and pvp, pictures of armor , weapons and pets with their stat info (prima did give the stats somewhat)...things like that something Prima seemed to..well..fail at

Pynne · Nov 01, 2006, 06:52 PM // 18:52

No guide eh? That sucks... what am I gonna read when sitting in the bathroom?

Dougal Kronik · Nov 01, 2006, 08:30 PM // 20:30

Prima Games online still has no listing for Guild Wars Nightfall.

Painbringer · Nov 01, 2006, 10:01 PM // 22:01

Barnes and noble has taken it away as well

rxtracid · Nov 01, 2006, 11:07 PM // 23:07

Am I mistaken that the original Guide (Prophecies) was done by Prima and the Faction's Guide was done by Anet? It was my understanding that this was the case. It made sense that Anet wanted the revenue that came from Guide sales. I do find it odd that they are not planning on doing one again this year.

<speculation>
Perhaps the creation costs were too high, which may have lead Anet to look into Prima doing the guide again this year. My guess is that the initial process was started (They have a cover design for it and everything ->SEE HERE which is STILL on Amazon), but for some reason or another it never fully got off the ground or Prima pulled-out/was released. (others giving GuildWiki credit for this doesn't seem far-fetched).
</speculation>

Kern Wolf · Nov 02, 2006, 12:33 AM // 00:33

I was under the impression that the best games usually have a guide of some sort, which is why I'm finding it puzzling that there wasnt one available at Nightfall's release. Whether you liked it or hated it, it DOES serve a purpose of at least answering general questions about gameplay, skills, professions, quests, and general maps about the missions--- questions that a lot of people (myself included) have to waste a lot of time trying to get answered---from people playing the game themselves, to accessing other web sites that might answer these questions. I know I use the guide to at least get a general idea about a particular mission or quest---I dont need the description to be 110% accurate, but a "general direction" type of thing works for me (I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea of starting out on a mission, and fumbling along, HOPING I'm going in the right direction).

While guildwiki, no doubt, is an excellent source of information, it is, unfortunately, subject to what most web sites suffer-- from lag from a lot of people trying to access it at the same time, to suffering the occassional outage. Nothing like wanting to get some piece of information, no matter how important or trivial, and finding the web site is down...

I'm also more than a bit puzzled by a lack of response from ANET or NCSOFT on this issue. A guide only helps enhance the understanding of what's going on---especially for those who are getting into Guild wars for the first time. You cant exactly count on the ingame community to answer everyone's questions--everyone's playing, or may not know the answer themselves...

Eugaet · Nov 02, 2006, 12:55 AM // 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxtracid

They have a cover design for it and everything...

I'm pretty sure that's just a placeholder graphic and not the official cover, if there ever was one. I think I've seen them do that for other Prima guides that were up for preorder...black Prima cover template with the game logo layered over it.

My preorder is still active on Amazon, though, so I'm still hanging on to a shred of hope...

Dougal Kronik · Nov 02, 2006, 06:47 PM // 18:47

Is there any way to get some word from Anet on the possibility of a Nightfall guide?

Domino · Nov 02, 2006, 07:33 PM // 19:33

The first Guild Wars prima guide was freaking terrible.

Books about online games are about as usefull as a nun's tit. The game is constantly changing, constantly improving. The next time A-net releases a patch, your 20.00 guide is turned into a 10 pound paperweight.

LifeInfusion · Nov 02, 2006, 07:42 PM // 19:42

Whatever, they suck anyway. Guild wiki is filling up every day and if they do release a Prima guide it will be outdated if any patches are introduced.

Dougal Kronik · Nov 02, 2006, 10:14 PM // 22:14

It's not the point that the guide is poor or outdated after the first patch.

There is some information on quest progression, mission maps, skill listings (not descriptions), and hecnie/monster information. This is pretty static.

But sometimes I, and others that have posted, like to "read" something tangible in our hands. Maybe in the bathroom, maybe in bed before going to sleep, maybe on long road trips, or if you went camping.

I use wiki as much as the next player, but I would still like to have a guide, with the pull out map, to complete my set and to read or look at pictures of screenshots or maps.

Mister Overhill · Nov 02, 2006, 11:41 PM // 23:41

My original guide is in pretty bad shape. I used the heck out of it, and kept it updated with notes. My daughter still has the pull out map hanging up in her room. Sure, I use wiki a lot, but the guide was a real help. The Factions guide wasn't that great, but it's had plenty of use as well.

Disappointed about the cancellation of the Nightfall guide.