Versus Strategy Magazine?

[SoulBlazer]

When looking at my Versus FF7 guide to inspect it to sell on EBay, I noticed a ad on the last page of it. It talks about a new magazine that the company (Versus) is going to launch, focusing on strategy tips and walkthroughs. In fact, the ad calls it a 'strategy game magazine'. It was mentioned as coming in 1998.

I've never heard anything about this. Did it launch? I know Versus folded a couple years ago. I'd subscribe to a magazine like this also. :D

[zmweasel]

When looking at my Versus FF7 guide to inspect it to sell on EBay, I noticed a ad on the last page of it. It talks about a new magazine that the company (Versus) is going to launch, focusing on strategy tips and walkthroughs. In fact, the ad calls it a 'strategy game magazine'. It was mentioned as coming in 1998.

I've never heard anything about this. Did it launch? I know Versus folded a couple years ago. I'd subscribe to a magazine like this also. :D

It never came to pass. Matt Taylor (GamePro and Game Fan veteran, founder of Versus Books) was pumped about it, too. He thought Tips & Tricks was crap, and he intended to prove it--but then he had a mental breakdown of sorts, and got royally screwed by his CFO while recovering. Many of the Versus crew now toils for Prima under the "Kaizen" imprint (they most recently did the Fable guide), but I don't have a damn clue what's become of Matt.

-- Z.

[Daria]

Many of the Versus crew now toils for Prima under the "Kaizen" imprint (they most recently did the Fable guide), but I don't have a damn clue what's become of Matt.

-- Z.

That Fable guide's crap by the way... not the say that it reflects what the Versus mag might have been or anything. Just wanted to bitch about being ripped off $15 when I end up having to use GameFaqs anyway. :P

[lendelin]

That Fable guide's crap by the way... not the say that it reflects what the Versus mag might have been or anything. Just wanted to bitch about being ripped off $15 when I end up having to use GameFaqs anyway. :P

That is bad news, I bought the thing, but like always I wait to buy the game when it is $20.

The Bradygames guide for Tales of Symphonia (by Laura Parkinson) looks really great. Detailed infrormation, great maps, very well written. Is that a good quality guide when actually used for playing the game?

BTW, Soulblazer, Germany has actually what you're looking for. It is a monthly mag called 'GameCube Loesungen' (GameCube Solutions). It has mini startegy guides like the ones in Tips&Tricks, but more detailed. There are no reviews or previews of games, just mini guides, mostly text based with nice selected maps for 7 to 8 games on average.

I picked one issue up in 2003. I don't know how successful the mag is and if it still exists.

Well, seems you have to learn German and pay an outrageously overseas subscription price. :)

[Daria]

The Bradygames guide for Tales of Symphonia (by Laura Parkinson) looks really great. Detailed infrormation, great maps, very well written. Is that a good quality guide when actually used for playing the game?

I don't know, I don't normally use or buy sratatedgy guides but my boyfriend needs them and the XboX has been my tool to suck him into RPGs.

But hey if it has maps it's already got more going for it than Fable's guide. :P

[racecar]

hehe, i buy strategy guide for the art and the completion of my games , i hardly use them( i don't want to get them ripped or dirty..so usually they stack up beside my games as display) !!

[lendelin]

The Bradygames guide for Tales of Symphonia (by Laura Parkinson) looks really great. Detailed infrormation, great maps, very well written. Is that a good quality guide when actually used for playing the game?

I don't know, I don't normally use or buy sratatedgy guides but my boyfriend needs them and the XboX has been my tool to suck him into RPGs.

But hey if it has maps it's already got more going for it than Fable's guide. :P

Yep, the maps in the Fable guide are terrible. I can't understand why in the world someone would publish a guide for a RPG without detailed maps. It is an eternal sin. Maps are the main reason why I buy guides in the firts place. I want detailed MAPS, MAPS, MAPS!!

I'm a guide fanatic. I have around 250 in the meantime, from 1988 on. I love guides, it is about archiving game content. I made evn my own detailed maps for around 30 NES and SNES games back then when I was young, optimistic and still energetic. :)

[Daria]

Man I really butchered the word strategy...

And I've considered getting into guides in the past (250's pretty impressive BTW) but I dunno when I get the money it ends up going towards games and not books (or CDs for that matter).

An RPG girl could definetely get herself into some trouble with guides and soundtracks. :P

racecar: I do love the poster in Fable's guide so I guess it wasn't a total loss. That game really has some sweet artwork.

[lendelin]

Man I really butchered the word strategy...

And I've considered getting into guides in the past (250's pretty impressive BTW) but I dunno when I get the money it ends up going towards games and not books (or CDs for that matter).

An RPG girl could definetely get herself into some trouble with guides and soundtracks. :P

racecar: I do love the poster in Fable's guide so I guess it wasn't a total loss. That game really has some sweet artwork.

It is expensive, I know, and very often I think I should buy more games for the money I spend on guides. For every game the price goes up with a guide; but they are worthwhile having. In the olden days before the guide business really took off I hardly paid for guides. I got all my Nintendo Power guides free, and I have most of them, around 60 now. (the old coupon system plus renewal of subscriptions)

In particular for older RPGs it is more difficult to find a guide for a reasonable price than the game itself.

[lendelin]

btw, Daria, don't buy the generic sratatedgy guides , they are cheaply made; buy real strategy guides instead.

[SoulBlazer]

Well, I collect the guides also. :) I should take a picture of what I have.....I say I have about 100, covering consoles and computers. I buy a guide almost always with a game, at the least so I can hold on to it. Some of them (like this Versus FF7 guide that I'm selling now on EBay) become quite valuable.

I happen to like the Fable guide -- sure, the maps are a little poor, but the information on what to do and how to do it is spot on. And I also buy guides so I don't have to get up and walk into the other room -- helps to have a book in front of me. :)

At least the book for Star Ocean 3 is fantasic. I'm using it in a couple places as I work my way through.

Anyway -- sorry to hear the magazine never started. I'd subscribe to something like that in a heartbeat. :)

[Daria]

I happen to like the Fable guide -- sure, the maps are a little poor, but the information on what to do and how to do it is spot on.

Spot on eh? Tell you what open up your guide and tell me where to find all the hidden treasure clues and what you get for finding them.

Course the book DOES contain the information but you have to read it cover to cover to find it. It's not even listed in the "secrets" section of the guide.

Except... oh wait. The book DOESN'T tell you where to find the treasure. Yeah sorry, you'll have to figure that one out on your own.

After that, you can tell me the precise moment I'm suppose to sacrafice a victim to the temple of skorm because all the books says is "at a specfic moment" which is all fine and dandy but I'd really like to know what time that specfic moment is.

For a stratedgy guide the book lists a lot of hints and not enough "answers". Shit if I'm going to cheat I want to cheat properly god dammit. :P

[maxlords]

Heh....sounds like the Fable guide is almost as bad as the Knights of the Old Republic guide :) </cheap shot at Zach :D>

I've got well over a hundred guides as well...more than I really have room for! I started getting em in the Nintendo days too, and I have pretty much all of the ones I want (barring a few obscurities). However, I refuse to pay more than about $20 for a guide for ANY game. I just can't see paying more than the game for a book about the game. It's silly.

And @ Daria: Yeah...between guides and soundtracks... serious $$$!!

[Kamino]

I used to have strat guides, only official nintendo ones though. When i got ps2(my first non-nintendo system) i broke free of the SHACKLES of guides..lol.
sold them all a few weeks ago!!!! took a loss on most of them, but it's kinda like when i ditched the game genies; it felt soooo damn good.

[SoulBlazer]

I have'nt used the Fable guide much yet, Daria. When I got the game I played it on and off, but I was very busy at work at the time, and moving into my new apartment, and playing other games. I only put about five hours into it. Then I picked up Star Ocean 3 and started playing that heavily. I can only focus on one RPG at a time. :)

I was surprised at how much I sold some of my older guides for over the last year. Star Ocean 2, Suikoden II, and Harvest Moon each went for around $60-80. And I got lucky and picked up a good condition Valkrie Profile book for $30.

[Daria]

I have'nt used the Fable guide much yet, Daria.


Then please don't tell me it's "spot on". :roll:

[SoulBlazer]

I just ment for what little I HAVE had to consult it for I've found it to be fine. Not the best but not the worst. I try not to crack open guides for RPG's unless the game is finished or I HAVE to. :)

[Daria]

I just ment for what little I HAVE had to consult it for I've found it to be fine. Not the best but not the worst. I try not to crack open guides for RPG's unless the game is finished or I HAVE to. :)

So in the first five hours of the game you're not likely to have used it much? In other words you really can't contribute much of an opinion on the quality of the guide?

Personally I've played through the game three times, and I'm at the point where I'm really combing through every nook and crany of the game. And in my experience the guide sucks.

[SoulBlazer]

Okay, okay, I said that wrong. I should have said in what little I HAVE used it it seems fine. Do you want me to report to you after I do finish the game? ;) I'm sorry, forgive me. :D

[Daria]

Okay, okay, I said that wrong. I should have said in what little I HAVE used it it seems fine. Do you want me to report to you after I do finish the game? ;) I'm sorry, forgive me. :D

Aww... you're forgiven. Not like I could stay mad while watching the dancing black mage anyway. (: