History Main / StrategyGuide

* ''WebComic/EightBitTheater'': A strategy guide (specifically, the aforementioned Nintendo Power guide) is part of the [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/03/20/episode-007-kamehameha-or-something/ set up]] for what is possibly the longest, most {{Spoiler}}-tastic BrickJoke [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2010/02/20/episode-1221-longest-set-up-in-webcomic-history/ in webcomic history.]]

** ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' was also sold with the Player's Guide included.

* The guides released for ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' are an interesting case. The ''Solid'' franchise titles had several titles released by Brady Games and Prima Games in the U.S. (up until ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''), but Piggyback Interactive has retained the exclusive international rights, and subsequently produced their own series of guides for all 5 games (and ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''). Starting from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' (and in an effort to counter online free guides), Piggyback has produced both "standard" and "collector's" versions of the guide, with the latter versions each featuring an exclusive lithograph by series artist Yoji Shinkawa, hardcover binding and additional art galleries/production information.

In the end, strategy guides fell into disuse with [[TechnologyMarchesOn the advent of the Internet]]. Online forums, text guides and walkthroughs from websites such as [=GameFAQs=], video guides covering all kinds of content from secrets to strategies, and [[TheWikiRule community wikis]] combining the knowledge of hundreds of players, left the idea of actually needing a physical strategy guide redundant.

* While they've gotten ''slightly'' better about this, Prima guides tended to be full of errata, particularly their ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube) guide, which had ''tons'' of misplaced screenshots and incorrect dates and times. Their ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'' and ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' guides weren't even ''finished,'' ending before they could tell you how to fight the final boss (and in the case of ''Crystal Shards'', claiming that the TrueFinalBoss is a "[[LightIsNotGood friendly]] [[BloodyMurder inhabitant]] [[EldritchAbomination of Shiver Star]]", among [[BlatantLies other insanity]].). Their guide to ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' lacked a walkthrough for both the Gerudo Training Grounds and Ganon's Tower. The guide for ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' didn't even cover the full main quest, much less the side quests and {{Bonus Boss}}es.

** ''Space Quest IV'' went meta by featuring the "Space Quest IV Hintbook" as an item ''in the game itself''. It featured a few bits of info needed to progress further in the game, but was mostly a [[http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/Space%20Quest/chapter26.html send-up of strategy guides]].

* The official ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' guide was amazingly sparse. It was very general and less than 100 pages. Why was it so empty? Well, it had several codes that would reveal "secret information" if you joined Squaresoft's website and entered them. Yes, they made an awkward competitor to [=GameFAQs=]. [[https://web.archive.org/web/20051207135601/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/readers/ GameSpy readers listed it among the dumbest moments of the gaming industry]], noting this only made Square avoid this for ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''.

* ''WebComic/EightBitTheater'': A strategy guide (specifically, the aforementioned Nintendo Power guide) is part of the [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/03/20/episode-007-kamehameha-or-something/ set up]] for what is possibly the longest, most {{Spoiler}}-tastic BrickJoke [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2010/02/20/episode-1221-longest-set-up-in-webcomic-history/ in webcomic history]].

A few of the more notable strategy guide publishers were Prima Games, [=BradyGames=] and ''Magazine/NintendoPower'', none of which are around anymore, as [=BradyGames=] merged with Prima Games in 2015 and ever since then, all strategy guides had been made and published by Prima until it announced it'll stop making guides in early 2019. As for ''Nintendo Power'', their guides ceased production in 2007 and no guides from then have since been released. Considering that ''Nintendo Power'' itself ended in 2012, it's unlikely that we'll see any more from them. In the end, strategy guides fell into disuse with [[TechnologyMarchesOn the advent of free strategy sites like [=GameFAQs=] and more and more people making video walkthroughs of every game imaginable and covering every possible secret]], which left the idea of actually needing a physical strategy guide redundant.

Due to the idea of competition with free walkthroughs, official strategy guides are extremely prominent now, usually containing nice art or extras to justify their price, which is usually around $15-$20 USD, although in certain cases, some can end up at more than $40. Many companies will sell it along with the associated game at a lowered price.

* ''VideoGame/SwordOfVermilion'' was actually packaged with its own strategy guide, which contained a largely complete {{walkthrough}}.

Unfortunately for a small number of video games, when some strategy guides are made to go with games, they aren't released outside of Japan, meaning that for some games, you have to use other means to get through difficult sections of games, unless you buy the Japanese strategy guides and can understand the Japanese language.

A few of the more notable strategy guide publishers were Prima Games, [=BradyGames=] and ''Magazine/NintendoPower'', none of which are around anymore, as [=BradyGames=] merged with Prima Games in 2015 and ever since then, all strategy guides had been made and published by Prima until it announced it'll stop making guides in early 2019. As for ''Nintendo Power'', their guides ceased production in 2007 and no guides from then have since been released. Considering that ''Nintendo Power'' itself ended in 2012, it's unlikely that we'll see any more from them. In the end, strategy guides fell into disuse with the advent of free strategy sites like [=GameFAQs=] and more and more people making video walkthroughs of every game imaginable and covering every possible secret, which left the idea of actually needing a physical strategy guide redundant.

* Fan-made class handbooks exist for ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' fans for every edition from 3.5 onward. They can be found at Gleemax, [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick GiantITP]], and Podcast/BrilliantGameologists (the latter having a subforum dedicated to handbooks). These are more min-max related than guides here, but what do you expect from a tabletop game? Links to them are being added to the Class Page.

A few of the more notable strategy guide publishers were Prima Games, [=BradyGames=] and ''Magazine/NintendoPower'', none of which are around anymore, as [=BradyGames=] merged with Prima Games in 2015 and ever since then, all strategy guides had been made and published by Prima until it announced it'll stop making guides in early 2019. As for ''Nintendo Power'', their guides ceased production in 2007 and no guides from then have since been released. Considering that ''Nintendo Power'' itself ended in 2012, it's unlikely that we'll see any more from them. In the end, strategy guides fell into disuse with the advent of free strategy sites like GameFAQs and more and more people making video walkthroughs of every game imaginable and covering every possible secret, which left the idea of actually needing a physical strategy guide redundant.

A few of the more notable strategy guide publishers were Prima Games, [=BradyGames=] and ''Magazine/NintendoPower'', none of which are around anymore, as [=BradyGames=] merged with Prima Games in 2015 and ever since then, all strategy guides had been made and published by Prima until it announced it'll stop making guides in early 2019. As for ''Nintendo Power'', their guides ceased production in 2007 and no guides from then have since been released. Considering that ''Nintendo Power'' itself ended in 2012, it's unlikely that we'll see any more from them.

* The Prima strategy guides for major ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games since ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' (and Nintendo's ''Diamond and Pearl'' guides, back when Nintendo still published guides) are split into two for each title, a "beat-the-game" guide and a post-storyline/"catch-em-all" guide. The exception is ''Platinum'', checking in at 624 pages and having both move data and a full walkthrough.

Due to the idea of competition with free walkthroughs, official strategy guides are extremely prominent now, usually containing nice art or extras to justify their price, which is usually around $15-$20 USD. Many companies will sell it along with the associated game at a lowered price.

A few of the more notable strategy guide publishers were Prima Games, [=BradyGames=] and ''Magazine/NintendoPower'', none of which are around anymore, as [=BradyGames=] merged with Prima Games in 2015 and ever since then, all strategy guides had been made and published by Prima until its closure in late 2018. As for ''Nintendo Power'', their guides ceased production in 2007 and no guides from then have since been released. Considering that ''Nintendo Power'' itself ended in 2012, it's unlikely that we'll see any more from them.

* The guides released for ''Franchise/MetalGear'' are an interesting case. The ''Solid'' franchise titles had several titles released by Brady Games and Prima Games in the U.S. (up until ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''), but Piggyback Interactive has retained the exclusive international rights, and subsequently produced their own series of guides for all 5 games (and ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''). Starting from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'' (and in an effort to counter online free guides), Piggyback has produced both "standard" and "collector's" versions of the guide, with the latter versions each featuring an exclusive lithograph by series artist Yoji Shinkawa, hardcover binding and additional art galleries/production information.

A few of the more notable strategy guide publishers are Prima Games, [=BradyGames=] and ''Nintendo Power'', with only the former being the only one of the three that's still around, as [=BradyGames=] merged with Prima Games in 2015 and ever since then, all strategy guides have been made and published by Prima. As for ''Nintendo Power'', their guides ceased production in 2007 and no guides from then have since been released. Considering that ''Nintendo Power'' itself ended in 2012, it's unlikely that we'll see any more from them.

A few of the more notable strategy guide publishers are Prima Games, Bradygames and Nintendo Power, with only the former being the only one of the three that's still around, as Bradygames merged with Prima Games in 2015 and ever since then, all strategy guides have been made and published by Prima. As for Nintendo Power, their guides ceased production in 2007 and no guides from then have since been released. Considering that Nintendo Power itself ended in 2012, it's unlikely that we'll see any more from them.

** In [[Literature/TheKingsQuestCompanion one particular book]] that covers the first SIX games as a walkthrough, the events of the ''VideoGame/KingsQuest'' series up to that point are novelized. There the phrase "[[KleptomaniacHero Take everything that isn't nailed down, and if it is, check for loose nails or boards]]" is used by the main character; extremely revealing for the genre.

* While they've gotten ''slightly'' better about this, Prima guides tended to be full of errata, particularly their ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube) guide, which had ''tons'' of misplaced screenshots and incorrect dates and times. Their ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'' and ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' guides weren't even ''finished,'' ending before they could tell you how to fight the final boss (and in the case of ''Crystal Shards'', claiming that the TrueFinalBoss is a "[[LightIsNotGood friendly]] [[BloodyMurder inhabitant]] [[EldritchAbomination of Shiver Star]]", among [[BlatantLies other insanity]].). Their guide to ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' lacked a walkthrough for both the Gerudo Training Grounds and Ganon's Tower.

* The Prima strategy guide for the Gamecube remake of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' updated the information for the bonus missions and unlockables, but the information for the connectivity feature of the GameBoyAdvance was incorrect. Instead of having information on the Tiny Chao Garden, the guide instead discusses an "Adventure Walk," which did not appear in the released versions of the handheld games.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' had a Bradygames strategy guide that became notorious for two reasons: It started becoming out-of-date due to the constantly changing structure on an {{MMORPG}}, and some of the job advice presented was laughably bad. Yes, a Monk/Red Mage could use a sort of [[FlamingSword Flaming Fist]] with Enspells, but in an experience points party against monsters several levels higher than you, a half-level Enhancing Skill will cause hits to land for 0 extra damage instead of actual additional damage. Brady probably realized the futility of the whole deal with this guide, and hasn't released an updated version since, although the release of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' may be more responsible for it.

* The strategy guide for the old-school TBS ''MasterOfMagic'' was a massive tome with information about every unit, spell, and item in the game, along with page after page of data and charts detailing the math involved in combat. This was pre-Internet (or at least pre-Website/GameFAQs) so that information was largely unavailable otherwise.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' had a Bradygames strategy guide that became notorious for two reasons: It started becoming out-of-date due to the constantly changing structure on an {{MMORPG}}, and some of the job advice presented was laughably bad. Yes, a Monk/Red Mage could use a sort of [[FlamingSword Flaming Fist]] with Enspells, but in an experience points party against monsters several levels higher than you, a half-level Enhancing Skill will cause hits to land for 0 extra damage instead of actual additional damage. Brady probably realized the futility of the whole deal with this guide, and hasn't released an updated version since, although the release of ''WorldOfWarcraft'' may be more responsible for it.

Because they are generally released alongside the game and can not be updated, they almost never contain any gameplay tips, tricks, or glitches that are discovered by players post-release. However, in recent years, many strategy guide publishers have provided free updates and corrections on their websites.

* While they've gotten ''slightly'' better about this, Prima guides tended to be full of errata, particularly their ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' (UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube) guide, which had ''tons'' of misplaced screenshots and incorrect dates and times. Their ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'' and ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'' guides weren't even ''finished,'' ending before they could tell you how to fight the final boss (and in the case of ''Crystal Shards'', claiming that the TrueFinalBoss is a "[[LightIsNotGood friendly]] [[BloodyMurder inhabitant]] [[EldritchAbomination of Shiver Star]]", among [[BlatantLies other insanity]].). Their guide to ''VideoGame/TheLegendofZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' lacked a walkthrough for both the Gerudo Training Grounds and Ganon's Tower.
* A particularly good strategy guide company was Versus Books. Their guides were basically totally complete walkthroughs. Admittedly, they left very little to the imagination and basically told you how to do everything, but they did it very effectively (and usually with a good sense of humor). They had a tendency to list everything you could get at parts of the game and tell you how to get them, like extra powerups and such. Their MetroidPrime guide was even completely streamlined, having you collect the Chozo Artifacts before you even needed to (or even scan their locations). They usually had a checklist in the back of the guide as well. Their Ocarina of Time guide even had custom illustrated maps. Sadly, they appear to have gone out of business.