Guides and FAQs

Kargath · 04-09-2010, 11:32 PM

If you're having difficulty with a game, how long will you persevere before you look up help? Do you try and avoid guides entirely?

**Valigarmander** · 04-09-2010, 11:36 PM

I use guides sometimes when I'm going for 100% completion. Other times if I'm replaying an old game and can't figure out how to do something I did before, I'll usually check a guide rather than wait for my stupid memory to kick in.

If I'm playing a new game though, I try to stay away from them. Most of the fun in a game is figuring everything out for yourself.

***Ace Mercury*** · 04-10-2010, 12:08 AM

I usually don't, unless I have a reason (i.e. I know there's a no-going-back point coming up in a game).

Also, when I finish a (good) game, there's that satisfying period afterwards where I search for anything online about that game: FAQs, walkthroughs, fan shrines, etc.

ZeldaGirl · 04-10-2010, 01:06 AM

My first playthrough, I avoid guides. Next time around, when I want 100% completion, I may look up stuff to see what I'm missing, but I try to only read them once and figure it out for myself after that.

t3hDarkness · 04-10-2010, 01:41 AM

I use FAQs for maps and Alchemy guides generally, but only after I'm done making an absolute mess of everything.

***Booyakasha*** · 04-10-2010, 11:14 AM

I think the only time I've ever fully relied on a guide was with 'Return to Zork', which was stupidly difficult, non-straightforward, and obscure even for a point-and-click adventure game. Like 'Myst' squared.

Aside from that one instance, I don't use a lot of guides or FAQs. I'll resort to one when stumped, but, to be honest, most of the games I play are more about skill and timing than about logic and smartness-brain-using.

***Cosmonautical*** · 04-10-2010, 11:20 AM

I use a guide if something is outside the logical bounds of my knowledge or consideration. If, for instance, I've tried killing a boss 6 times with no idea what I've done wrong, and there's little left I can think to try, I'll try and search up a solution for it. Online FAQs are freaking awful when it comes to strategic advice, though, since they're often written by some schmuck who simply put down the first thing that worked for him.

***Ace Mercury*** · 04-10-2010, 01:22 PM

I also look up stuff that's obviously are time-wasting trial-and-error exercises (c.f. Guide Dang It - Television Tropes & Idioms ). Example: The World Ends With You's pin evolutions; I could just try every possible evolution route (levelling to max each pin with battle, shutdown, and mingle PP), but I don't feel like it.

Dizzy · 04-12-2010, 08:10 AM

I'll only use a guide if I'm absolutely, positively stuck.

04-09-2010, 11:32 PM	#1
Kargath et in Arcadia ego Join Date: Jul 2001 Gender: Posts: 8,334 Thanks: 1,226 Thanked 780 Times in 488 Posts	Guides and FAQs If you're having difficulty with a game, how long will you persevere before you look up help? Do you try and avoid guides entirely?

04-09-2010, 11:36 PM	#2
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I use guides sometimes when I'm going for 100% completion. Other times if I'm replaying an old game and can't figure out how to do something I did before, I'll usually check a guide rather than wait for my stupid memory to kick in. If I'm playing a new game though, I try to stay away from them. Most of the fun in a game is figuring everything out for yourself.

04-10-2010, 12:08 AM	#3
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,274 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I usually don't, unless I have a reason (i.e. I know there's a no-going-back point coming up in a game). Also, when I finish a (good) game, there's that satisfying period afterwards where I search for anything online about that game: FAQs, walkthroughs, fan shrines, etc.

04-10-2010, 01:06 AM	#4
ZeldaGirl Awesome member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 15,896 Thanks: 1,130 Thanked 1,919 Times in 1,046 Posts	My first playthrough, I avoid guides. Next time around, when I want 100% completion, I may look up stuff to see what I'm missing, but I try to only read them once and figure it out for myself after that.

04-10-2010, 01:41 AM	#5
t3hDarkness Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I weep oily black tears of joy. Gender: Posts: 7,590 Thanks: 119 Thanked 418 Times in 306 Posts Blog Entries: 5	I use FAQs for maps and Alchemy guides generally, but only after I'm done making an absolute mess of everything.

04-10-2010, 11:14 AM	#6
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	I think the only time I've ever fully relied on a guide was with 'Return to Zork', which was stupidly difficult, non-straightforward, and obscure even for a point-and-click adventure game. Like 'Myst' squared. Aside from that one instance, I don't use a lot of guides or FAQs. I'll resort to one when stumped, but, to be honest, most of the games I play are more about skill and timing than about logic and smartness-brain-using.

04-10-2010, 11:20 AM	#7
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	I use a guide if something is outside the logical bounds of my knowledge or consideration. If, for instance, I've tried killing a boss 6 times with no idea what I've done wrong, and there's little left I can think to try, I'll try and search up a solution for it. Online FAQs are freaking awful when it comes to strategic advice, though, since they're often written by some schmuck who simply put down the first thing that worked for him.

04-10-2010, 01:22 PM	#8
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,274 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I also look up stuff that's obviously are time-wasting trial-and-error exercises (c.f. Guide Dang It - Television Tropes & Idioms ). Example: The World Ends With You's pin evolutions; I could just try every possible evolution route (levelling to max each pin with battle, shutdown, and mingle PP), but I don't feel like it.

04-12-2010, 08:10 AM	#9
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,161 Times in 804 Posts Blog Entries: 116	I'll only use a guide if I'm absolutely, positively stuck.