NEWS: Books in the Age of the XBox

CULTURE: Books in the Age of the XBox

In the last fifty years, Random House has been a pillar of the literary arts. It has published Dr. Seuss, Vladimir Nabokov, Tom Wolfe, and Judy Blume. Today they celebrate a rare honor in the book publication business: the highest opening day of a single book in the history of their company since My Life. What was the high work of art that is second only to Bill Clinton’s memoir?

The Official Halo 2 Strategy Guide.

Who says the printed word is dead?

People are retarded.

So sad...

what fucking losers would use a strategy guide? isn't it kind of the point to figure shit out on your own. I don't play halo, but if i did i wouldn't buy a strategy guide. I save the reading for trashy fucked-up novels.

*raises hand*

O

M

G




that is awesome.

no, it really isn't.

ok ok sorry let me re-phrase: not a loser, a winner in fact (assuming you have all your fingers, can read, and follow directions) but you cheated!

Well considering that the game shipped 2.38 million units in one day, I would imagine that sales of the stratagy guide would be high. What is wrong with this? At any rate, Random House has been getting bitch-slapped by Scholastic for years now. Besides, Random House published The DaVinci Code, so what respect they had has gone by the wayside anyway.

[Edited on Nov 13, 2004 by Akira]

I'd rather read a strategy guide than a book about Clinton, the Bushes, or Trump.

Or the Da Vinci Code.

[Edited on Nov 12, 2004 by robosagogo]

That's almost as sad as Howard Stern's first book being one of the previous record holders.

Shit, at least people are buying books.

My Life came out, what, six months ago?

Rare honor, indeed.

IT'S THE BEST EVER!

The funny part about all this is where you all act surprised.

You can stop being sold one by the assistants quite easily



(Edited for spelling, yet again)


[Edited on Nov 13, 2004 by mat8drb]

while hundreds of thousands of gamers will be reading the halo 2 guide. a few fuckers in suits will be reading
and probably be selling the halo 6 guide to your kids.

The only time i could justify a strategy guide would be on a game like Morrowind., that's mainly cuz the game is so open-ended. First Person Shooters SHOULD NEVER require a guide.

my two scents.

What the hell is Halo2?

Video game. You shoot aliens.

Video game. You shoot aliens.

Being a Halo 2 fan (for reasons other then the massive marketing, thank you Marathon, the greatest game in known history, if you've played it, you agree, if you haven't, play it already, well... get a mac, then play it), I personally enjoy knowing that people are buying Halo 2 (more opponents on xbox Live), and I am pleased to hear of the high selling of the strat. guide (easier opponents on xbox live). I don't know why people are getting so upset about it, you weren't forced to buy one, so shut it, don't complain about something that doesn't concern you, it's pointless. Almost as pointless as buying a strategy guide, but hey, that's their choice, they wanna throw 15 dollars away, -shrug- now lay off. Don't make me come down there.

Phoenix. (gamertag: PhoenixOfTheK (der))

false oppositions is the name of the game

no doubt when novels first appeared they were heralded as the end of civilisation-as being vulgar

Games are valid, they are games, not novels, not plays by shakespeare, they are not subsitutes for any of these. Games are for playing so go play

spreedom, i don't think anyone's knocking the game itself (or games in general). It's the strategy guide.

I don't understand why people pay money for these things, when-
i) part of the fun of gaming is figuring things out for yourself
ii) you can read a free guide on the internet

hahahahaha

fucking lame!! though.. play the game first you asshats!!!

The size and quality of game manuals have been eroding for years now. Currently, much of what is printed in strategy guides are the basic rules and mechanics of the game that should be included in a manual (see Master of Orion)

It's normally a popular idea to get a new game and start playing right away. Strategy guides are written with early release versions of the game, so they come out well in advance of anything that someone writing a guide from a retail copy would be able to do.

Also, it's a console game, and not everyone has a computer.