What do you think of Strategy Guides?

So just a general question here.

What is your opinion on strategy guides and do you use them?

For me, I support the whole strategy guide scene and I really like the concept of them but I don't really like using them. Something about pausing the game all the time to look up stuff I would have enjoyed more if I found it my self (open-world games) is what turns me off I think. I would love to like using them though.

So what do you think of them? Love or hate? Support or deride?

My opinion? Waste of money!

I like to figure things out in games myself and even if i do get stuck there plenty of walkthroughs and guides for free online.

Each to their own though.

I just look up online walkthroughs if I need more info. Printed strategy guides are often rushed out and inaccurate, where online stuff can be updated any time, and even include info for DLC when it comes out. With a whole online community contributing ideas, every little trick and technique can be added to the guide once they're discovered. And they can include links to the latest Youtube videos, which for certain things are just irreplaceable.

And I don't see the point in spending money on a guide when it'll just be another piece of useless junk cluttering up the house once I've finished the game.

Back in the day, before the days of the Internet, they were really useful. Nowadays, you can look up everything without having to dish out the $20 for it. I would only buy a startegy guide if it's any useful, like for 3rd Strike, which was one of the best guides I've ever read.

I like the pictures.

Waste of money. I can see the walkthroughs on Youtube for free.

Only one I've ever used was for Wind Waker. Never used one before that and haven't since. I prefer to figure as much as I can out by my self. If I'm just REALLY stuck I'll turn to an online walkthrough.

utter nonsense, games are easy enough these days, stratigy guides are never necessary, I'm at a less to understand why they are there.........

My opinion? Waste of money!

I like to figure things out in games myself and even if i do get stuck there plenty of walkthroughs and guides for free online.

Each to their own though.

noones-my-name

but why would you get stuck in a game nowadays? In which game? It would be useful to find that damn key in old resident evil or silent hell or tomb rider games, but now.............!!!I cant think of a game needs any guide

I buy the Collector's Edition strategy guides for my favorite games.

I never use strategy guides for their intended purpose, helping you though a game. In fact, when I'm playing through a game, I don't use printed or online strategy guides at all. The only reason I buy strategy guides is because I think they look cool, and they have cool artwork inside of them. That's why I buy the Collector's Edition strategy guides and not the paper back ones. If I ever do have a question about a game or where to find a particularly hard to find item, I just look it up online, even if I have the strategy guide on hand, just because it's faster to google it than it is to look it up in the strategy guide.

I especially like the Zelda Collector's Edition strategy guides. They have those gold pages like a bible, and the really nice artwork inside of them. I also really like the Dark Souls Collector's Edition strategy guide. It has all these large pictures of every boss and enemy in the game, and the art design is wicked in that game.

I'm still looking for the Collector's Edition Skyrim guide. I'll probably have to Amazon it. I already have the paper back one, which I kind of bought as an impulse buy, because what I really want is the CE one.

I don't buy them, because it's more enjoyable to figure things out myself.

As an Avid RPG player, and a big multi-playthrough/extra content person, I like Strategy Guides, both the books and the guides that are available online. I don't, however, like that all guides include walkthroughs. I'd prefer to just be able to take advantage of Item/Gear guides, Bestiaries, Recruitment Guides and Synth/Alchemy charts.

Even though i said in my earlier post theyre a waste of money,the games i play dont tend to need them much as i dont really play rpgs,except ones like Fallout 3 etc,the more accessible ones.

I can understand people wanting to collect guides too,i collect marvel graphic novels and anything marvel related.

Personally though i wouldnt get the use out of a gide.

I usually get them for the artwork inside. If companies would just release an art book, then I would have no use for the guides.

I dont buy them anymore there a complete waste of time.

Youtube is a strategy guide for gamers. Strategy guides are useless in the days of the internet