What are the most sought after/ expensive game guides?

[Mason P.]

I was talking to friend of mine about why certain guides are worth more than other guides. He really was confused that certain popular game guides are worth $5 while other non-popular game guides(the ps2 sphinx game for instance) go for $35-$40.

It got me thinking; what makes a guide like sphinx go for $30 and are there any other "high dollar" guides I should keep my eye out for?

Thanks,
Mason

[Slimedog]

Not sure how much its worth, but I've been looking for the guide to the Dreamcast version of Half Life for years now. I saw it at B&N way back when and obviously not for long since the game was never released.

[QBert]

I really don't know for sure, but it could have to do with the rarity of the game that the guide is for?

But production amounts probably contribute to it as well.



Then again, I could be talking out of my ass. :)

[Ed Oscuro]

Some popular games have multiple guides produced - not as bad here as it was in Japan where you had, say, Konami's various guides that have a different color stripe along the top (red, GH-green, blue, lol), but you often have different guides, say Versus and Prima Games (or whatever).

[Dangerboy]

Guides can be expensive for 3 reasons:

1. The guide was printed in short supply.
2. It's attached to a once popular game that had a short supply.
3. Or, the game was HUGE back in the day, and now a rebirth for it has shot demand for it since they are no longer in print.

Or all of the above.

Lately PSX RPG guides for the oddball ones like Thousand Arms and such, have been going for mad, mad cash.

Jason

[WanganRunner]

The most expensive guide I know of is this one:

http://i14.ebayimg.com/03/i/00/92/be/eb_1.JPG

It's the Versus Books unofficial FF7 Guide. This picture is taken from here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15302&item=8202157979&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

That BIN is a *bit* high, but really not ridiculous, I've seen it go for more. I'd say fair value for a flawless copy of this, w/original poster, is between $80 and $100.

I had one, sold it for $75 awhile back, value has been going up.

Isn't the original Earthbound guide worth a fair bit?

[Mason P.]

I thought Lunar 2 was a $80 guide.
I think the special edition warcraft guide was $80 too.

[Ed Oscuro]

Well, and then there's guides for the import market; that's an area where I don't have a clue if I'm getting ripped off. I paid over $100 for the Rondo of Blood guide, for example (damn good purchase though). :)

[rhiohki]

PSX RPG guides as mentioned above can rake in some cash.

typical $$ makers are

Suikoden - in MINT condition (black cover so it's hard to get one in Near-Mint to Mind condition)

Koudelka

Star Ocean 2nd Story

Suikoden II

Thousand Arms

Valkyrie Profile

If anyone has ever seen a Rhapsody guide, I'll pay some serious CASH for it, though I am not sure one was even made.

[pacmanhat]

Isn't the original Earthbound guide worth a fair bit?

This is what I was thinking. I've seen this one go for a ton.

[Aussie2B]

Versus Books guides in general seem to be better moneymakers than say Prima or Bradygames.

I'm just happy to have the guides for Star Ocean: The Second Story and Valkyrie Profile. It's funny, the Valkyrie Profile guide used to sell for under 10 bucks for a long period of time, but once the price of the game started to skyrocket, so did the guide. Mine is pretty much still unused, so I bet I could get a pretty penny for it. However, it's a permanent part of my collection, and I do plan on using it the next time I replay Valkyrie Profile.

I also love my Chrono Trigger guide. :) It's not perfect and minty anymore, but man, I sure got my money's worth with that one. Easily the most enjoyable guide book to both use and browse through I've ever seen.

[coreycorey2000]

Earthbound Guide worth a ton? Really? I knew it was valuable and I have one. I don't think it is close to the top ten guides though pricewise. Lunar 2? No way that's an easy one to get. I got Lunar 1,2 and Vay with guides and a nomad for less than $150 so it can't be worth that much. Suikoden has always stood out to me as being one of the most sought after guides.

[SoulBlazer]

Here's some guides I've sold for between $50-80:

Suikoden 2
Final Fantasy Tactics (original print)
Star Ocean: 2nd Story
Valkrie Profile
Harvest Moon: Back to Nature
Versus Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy III from Nintendo

Suikoden only got me $25.

Plus I believe I could sell my WD Lunar 2 guide for that price range if I wanted to.

[Jibbajaba]

The Prima official guide for Star Ocean Second Story is worth bank? I found one a few months back at a thrift store for like 50 cents. Its sitting on my shelf now. Maybe I should sell it...

Chris

[Aussie2B]

If you like the game, it's worth keeping. It's one of Prima's best guides, I think.

But yeah, it's been pulling in a fair sum for quite a few years now. In fact, for awhile it was selling for more than the game would.

[WanganRunner]

If you like the game, it's worth keeping. It's one of Prima's best guides, I think.

But yeah, it's been pulling in a fair sum for quite a few years now. In fact, for awhile it was selling for more than the game would.

I 2nd that. I think personally either that, or the FF7 guide I mentioned above are my favorite guides of all time. I have been meaning to play SO2 all the way to the end (didn't the first time, borrowed it), but I want the guide first, and I don't want to pay out the ass for it.

I also just sold a Xenogears guide for $45, for the record, so that's worth decent money as well.

[mjluther]

A friend of mine just found a Final Fantasy Tactics guide at Goodwill. The market on guides seems very inconsistent, though.

On a related note: I've got Breath of Fire 1 and 2 guides for sale/trade, if anyone's interested.

[maxlords]

There's a Thousand Arms guide? I need that. Personally I'm STILL looking for a Gamefan Tales of Destiny 1 guide. I've been looking forever, I know it exists...just can't find it.

As for valuable guides, most of the abovementioned ones are pretty valuable. I got a Koudelka guide online here at DP for like $8 last year though. I don't think that one is $$$.

The Star Ocean 2 guide is hilarious...I've passed up well over 30 copies of it for $1.99-3.99 each back in the day. It was EVERYWHERE. I've got a mint one for myself...it's sad that it's so expensive cause it's common as dirt.

Same goes for Valkyrie Profile...I snagged that one off eBay for $5 about two years ago, then it suddenly SHOT up in value.

I sold my Fine-VF FF 7 Prima guide for over $50 US on eBay, sans poster.

@ Soulblazer: I'd SLAY for a Suikoden 1 guide for $25...I've seen em go for up to $80+ sometimes.

@coreycorey2000: They mean the Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete Working Designs hardcover strategy guide. It sells for $75-100+ easily on a regular basis.

@ WanganRunner: I'm not sure that the Earthbound guide is necessarily spendy. I bought one with the Earthbound box for $20 last year. It's in demand, but it's not rare because EVERY copy of Earthbound came packaged with the guide.

@ rhiokhi: I don't think there's a Rhapsody guide. I've never seen one. I used to work at a bookstore during the PS1 RPG heyday and I ordered in EVERY guide that was in print for the RPGs.

[Aussie2B]

The Star Ocean 2 guide is hilarious...I've passed up well over 30 copies of it for $1.99-3.99 each back in the day. It was EVERYWHERE. I've got a mint one for myself...it's sad that it's so expensive cause it's common as dirt.

You don't even want to know how much of a pain it was for me to get it. o_O After all these years, I finally got it from a member here. :)

[SoulBlazer]

Heh, I bought the SO 2 guide with the game. ;) Almost all of the guides I mentioned I bought new with the game. Heck, I almost always buy the guide with the game it's a RPG or a adventure or sim game.

Max, this was the unofficial Prima guide....is there another one for Suikoden, perhaps? I bought it new with the game back in the day. I guess I just did'nt get much money for it.

Aussie, there's a reason that SO 2 guide is so good -- look at who wrote it. ;) Elizabeth Hollinger is one of the best strat guide authors out there. She's either done or helped on numerous guides, including Suikoden 2, Suikoden 4, Star Ocean 3, Valkrie Profile, both Kingdom Hearts books, Final Fantasy Tactics, and numerous others. Very good author.

Xenogears was one of those guides that was in the 'good' price range -- $25 to $45. I've sold Super Mario RPG and Front Mission 3 for that price range, as well as a Quest For Glory guide.

I have a original print version of the FF7 Official Guide also...did'nt know that could command a decent value.

[Speedy_NES]

For the NES there is a pretty rare Dragon Warrior strategy guide that sells for around $20-30 on average, and a very rare Dragon Warrior IV strategy guide that usually sells for around $50+.

-Speedy

[SoulBlazer]

Oh, yeah. Forgot that one. :) I had the Official Strat guide from Enix for DW 4, also bought new with the game. I sold that for around $50 also.

Now you know one reason I normaly buy a guide with the game....you never know when I might need the cash and find they have shot up in value. ;)

[Aussie2B]

Aussie, there's a reason that SO 2 guide is so good -- look at who wrote it. ;) Elizabeth Hollinger is one of the best strat guide authors out there. She's either done or helped on numerous guides, including Suikoden 2, Suikoden 4, Star Ocean 3, Valkrie Profile, both Kingdom Hearts books, Final Fantasy Tactics, and numerous others. Very good author.

Yeah, I did notice that she worked on the Valkyrie Profile guide as well, which is also quite good from what I've read and seen in it so far. That's good to hear that she also worked on the Star Ocean 3 guide. The game may have had a lousy localization, but it would be nice if their was a least a good guide on it. I just barely missed the chance to buy it from someone here awhile back, and I've been too lazy to seek it elsewhere.

[hezeuschrist]

This thread is depressing the shit out of me. Just reminds me how much I'm going to need to blow to really finish my PSX RPG collection... I've got a ton of the guides (Thankfully I own every WD Guide already), and I've got a few obscure ones (Thousand Arms, Grandia, Xenogears (which really isn't worth much, it's a terrible guide)), but I still need some of the big dogs: Star Ocean 2, Valkyrie Profile, and there was one other one I knew I needed... can't remember it now.

Man, when I start making real money (crosses fingers) I must say that my collection is going to get two things: A boost of games and guides, and some beautification. I need a better way to store/display all my stuff.

[maxlords]

Max, this was the unofficial Prima guide....is there another one for Suikoden, perhaps? I bought it new with the game back in the day. I guess I just did'nt get much money for it.

As far as I know, that's the ONLY Suikoden 1 guide. I've only seen it a few times myself, it's got a black cover, very simple. I've seen it go VERY high.

I have that Dragon Warrior 1 mag/guide thing too, as well as the Enix Takuma DW4 guide (got it from a fellow DPer).

I had a HELL of a time getting the Phantasy Star 4 guide as well...that one is HARD to get.

Another one I've never seen aside from the one I have is the Albert Odyssey guide. It's a mini-sized one, unofficial by Prima. There's also a Dragon Force one that's very hard to find...only seen it once. I've also been looking for the old Prima Vandal Hearts one, tough but it's a crappy guide. I just wish I could get the Tales of Destiny one... *sigh*

[SamuraiSmurfette]

As far as I know, that's the ONLY Suikoden 1 guide. I've only seen it a few times myself, it's got a black cover, very simple. I've seen it go VERY high.


I've got a different one. I'm pretty sure it's a Prima guide. It covers all the first-gen PS1 games inlcuding Suikoden 1.
Also covers FF7, Beyond the Beyond, and I think Vandal Hearts as well....
I'll have to dig it up to check.

And I just sold a Thousand Arms guide. If I only knew you were looking for one I would have offered it to you first.
http://i3.ebayimg.com/04/i/04/5f/04/ae_1_b.JPG

[Aussie2B]

It's by Acclaim? O_o Pretty bizarre.

[Mason P.]

dont tell me the Valkrie Profile guide is expensive. I just saw one at the flea market this weekend for 3 bucks and didn't pick it up.

Somebody told me the resident evil 2 & 3 combo book for the gamecube was worth a good bit. Any ideas?

[maxlords]

Yeah, I've seen the multi-guide that covers Suikoden 1, Vandal Hearts, Beyond the Beyond and a few others. I meant that that black-cover Prima one is the only one dedicated to Suikoden 1. :)

As for the Thousand Arms guide...neat! I've never seen that one. However, not really looking for one for Thousand Arms as I beat it back in the day. Am looking for one for Tales of Destiny tho :D

[rbudrick]

I really wish there was a DP list for guides...I've got so many of them and it's really difficult to keep track of them. Probably not going to happen, but, hey, I can dream, right?

-Rob

[Mason P.]

I just picked up the original Nintendo Power guides that came out in the early 90's. Final fantasy, Ninja Gaiden, Mario 3, and a football game (?) are now in my collection mint for $16. I thought that was a good deal. Just found out I have one of those Wild arms guides.

After staring this post and seeing the collectability of the guides, I have stared hunting for them. It is just hard to find them in decent shape, with all the pages.

[Aussie2B]

a football game (?)

That's the 4-player guide. It covers several NES games with 4-player capabilities.

[Griking]

I guess you can put Tales of Destiny 2 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8204468486&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1) in this list.

[Dobie]

The Zelda Collector's Edition Guide (GC) regularly goes for between $25-40.

[vintagegamecrazy]

I have sold countless guides for a lot of cash some include

Ogre Battle SNES $25
Zelda LTTP $25
Nights into dreams $20+

I also see that everyone is missing the Persona guide I sold my copy for $48 on Ebay like 2 years ago, quite a rare guide IMO, also if anyone has a Mega Man X and Super Metroid guide I will pay well for them.