DP Collector's Guide vs. Videogamebible

[lendelin]

A couple of days ago I got the 7th edition "DP collector's guide," and last year I purchased the "Videogamebible" which in contrast to the DP guide covers systems from the NES to the Dreamcast (excluding the PS1). I waited to purchase the DP Guide because I am predominantly interested in games from the NES onward, and I overlooked the fact that the DP guide included the NES and SMS.

While the Videogamebible is nice and an entertainment read, I was disappointed that it didn't list neither the release dates of games ( a MUST for a reference guide) nor the developers, and there were obvious mistakes, and the typos were a bit much for my taste.

The DP guide was a big surprise, it avoids the weaknesses of the Videogamebible in every aspect. Not only are release years given if they could be confirmed, but confirmed dates are listed down to the month of the release. Additionally, confirmed developers are listed, sometimes even the designers, non-US released games, and lots of interesting details of videogame history are mentioned for a lot of the games. The nice photo gallery, interesting and valuable introductions for every system as an overview for the systems, an incredible useful listing of magazines and books, even a thorough section of Atari 2600 label variations are more than icing on the cake; they make an already impressive reference guide more complete.

Two thumbs up to the entire DP collectors guide staff! As someone who was involved in two major projects of academic bibliographies, I know how much diligent work has to go into a reference guide of this magnitude, and how many headaches are caused by seeminglessly minor details. This is the most comprehensive and reliable guide out there. The thorough, diligent and perfectionist work shows on every page. Finally I have a reliable, comprehensive list of NES games. Very good stuff.

For a lot of you this is snow from yesterday. I posted this for two reasons.

1) If you don't have this guide, buy it now! It's really worth it.
2) If the upcoming DP collector's guide (16bit up to the Dreamcast, including the PS1) comes close to the first guide, it will be a feast and shouldn't be missed. I'll buy it for sure.

PS: minor quibble: the book section should be sub-divided into 3 or more sections. "How to win games" shouldn't be in the same list as books by Kent, Scheff and Herman.

[dsullo]

The DPGuide is the Mercedes of Guides for Gamers. I love it and can't wait for the next edition (already prepaid for it). I highly recommend it as well!!

[digitalpress]

Cool. I'm particularly glad you could see past some of the annoying issues in our book. I've learned a lot in the last two years, and this upcoming book will incorporate the wisdom of those years. You'll be surprised at how much better we've gotten at this just since 2002 :)

Thanks for the feedback!

[Parodius]

All the typos and mistakes in the Videogame Bible annoyed me too. But it has filled its purpose for me until DP Advance arrives.

And, in VGB's defence it is the first edition after all.......

[video_game_addict]

I really hope the pictures are broken back up for the upcoming editions, all those shoved together like that I didn't like as much. Also with the smaller size of most of those, it did allow more to be seen, but the pics were less clear. I didn't like that as much as previous editions, but other than that the DP guide rocks! :rocker:

[autobotracing]

dp guide 0wnz all


I will get 8 and advance when they are released

[lendelin]

Cool. I'm particularly glad you could see past some of the annoying issues in our book. I've learned a lot in the last two years, and this upcoming book will incorporate the wisdom of those years. You'll be surprised at how much better we've gotten at this just since 2002 :)

Thanks for the feedback!

It is an incredible comprehensive and informative guide! Minor things, some mistakes, a low amount of typos, better structuring etc. are unavoidable for projects like these. I'm a very good proof reader, and still, you find always some minor mistakes after it's printed. ALWAYS :) ...in particular for reference guides and bibliographies.

I'm pretty sure others who looked systematically through the guide found the following typo already, but just in case:

StarTropics (NES, p. 293) wasn't released in 1987, but either in 1/91 or 2/91.

Other minor suggestions:
1. For the purpose of consistency, release dates should be given always at the beginning of the text, or always pretty much at the end right before the copyright with year. Within games for each system and across systems it should be consistent. (where applicable)

Again, there is always improvement, these are minor flaws which almost don't count considering the reliability and incredible amount of data given in the guide.

To have a guide like this for the 16bit systems onward will be fantastic.

[lendelin]

I really hope the pictures are broken back up for the upcoming editions, all those shoved together like that I didn't like as much. Also with the smaller size of most of those, it did allow more to be seen, but the pics were less clear. I didn't like that as much as previous editions, but other than that the DP guide rocks! :rocker:

Hey John. :)

I agree. Maybe instead of putting 30 pictures of boxes on one page, it should be reduced to 20. The pics are this way bigger and a bit clearer, meaning more enjoyable.

[Sylentwulf]

Whatever happened to the VGB, is Andy still around? Working on a second edition?

[digitalpress]

1. For the purpose of consistency, release dates should be given always at the beginning of the text, or always pretty much at the end right before the copyright with year. Within games for each system and across systems it should be consistent. (where applicable)

Indeed. This was taken care of long ago, in fact. The release dates were once part of a general "description" bucket of data. That has since been converted to its own field, as well as a few others ("Developer" comes to mind).

As for the pictures, I agree. I liked it both ways: more pics to show more, less pics for better clarity. I went with the more pics view on a few votes taken by staff members. Overall though, the picture gallery was a weak area. One that will improve dramatically this time around.

Thanks again for the feedback!

[lendelin]

1. For the purpose of consistency, release dates should be given always at the beginning of the text, or always pretty much at the end right before the copyright with year. Within games for each system and across systems it should be consistent. (where applicable)

Indeed. This was taken care of long ago, in fact. The release dates were once part of a general "description" bucket of data. That has since been converted to its own field, as well as a few others ("Developer" comes to mind).

As for the pictures, I agree. I liked it both ways: more pics to show more, less pics for better clarity. I went with the more pics view on a few votes taken by staff members. Overall though, the picture gallery was a weak area. One that will improve dramatically this time around.

Thanks again for the feedback!

Great, seems the next edition and the new upcoming guide might be even better!
The consistent naming of the developer at the same spot in the text (if confirmed) for each game, designer (if mentioned) and release dates, copyright (if applicable) are key because it just gives a better overview and the reader can work with the guide better. Consistency for reference guides are always key. For the newer systems this should be much less headaches than for the older ones.

Still, it's amazing how much reliable info and data is packed in a couple of hundred pages.

[Keir]

Whatever happened to the VGB, is Andy still around? Working on a second edition?

From reading the message board at their site, it seems their current project is a pocket edition of the VGB. Then they will work on a handheld Bible. After that they plan to release a second edition.