Best of
Video-Games

2009

Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe


Tobias S. Buckell - 2009
    Learn about the origins of the game, its place in gaming history, the mechanics behind it, and--of course--EVERYTHING about weapons, villains, heroes, vehicles, locations, and more.

Dawn: The Worlds of Final Fantasy


Yoshitaka Amano - 2009
    "Dawn" collects the paintings, detailed line art, and preliminary sketches designed for the first four games.---From book cover:There is only one Final Fantasy.Through more than two dozen wildly diverse adventures since the first game was released in 1987, the international influence of the game is legendary both inside the video-game industry and throughout popular culture. It is a tale of bold heroes and heroines, breath-taking landscapes and terrifying creatures. Through Final Fantasy, characters such as Luneth, Refia, Rosa Farrell, Cecil Harvey, and many others have become household names to millions of players across the globe. And for many of the games, the epic landscapes have all been brought to life through the remarkable vision of one man: Yoshitaka Amano.Now, for the first time outside Japan, Amano and Square-Enix, Inc., have permitted the artwork that inspired the designs of the Final Fantasy games to be published. In Dawn, you will see the development of the first four games through Amano's paintings, detailed line art, and preliminary sketches.If you've taken this journey before, prepare to see the world you know through new eyes. If you're embarking on this quest for the first time, brace yourself. Your life will never be the same again.There's never been a game, a world, an adventure, like Final Fantasy.Cover design by Scott Cook

Final Fantasy XIII: Complete Official Guide - Collector's Edition


Piggyback - 2009
    It is limited to just one print run and each copy will be sequentially numbered. ·   Exclusive additional 16-page section featuring an overview and analysis of the Final Fantasy XIII story·   The 100% complete guide to FINAL FANTASY XIII·   Every secret, every side-quest, every mini-game, every bonus, every Achievement and every Trophy revealed and explained in a dedicated Extras chapter ·   Dedicated walkthrough charts the most rewarding path through this epic adventure ·   Strategy & Analysis chapter exposes hidden mechanics, advanced battle tactics and techniques for obtaining optimal rewards ·   All-encompassing Inventory and Bestiary chapters feature exhaustive lists and tables covering all enemies, weapons and shops ·   Bears all the hallmarks of a Piggyback guide, including annotated maps, hi-res screenshots and a wealth of exclusive, official artwork ·   Carefully designed to avoid unnecessary story spoilers

Gears of War: Volume One


Joshua Ortega - 2009
    The best-selling video game franchise arrives in comic books stores with a blast - one month before the debut of the new Xbox 360 game! This story bridges the end of the first Gears of War game and the start of the second one, following the brutal adventures of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad in the battle against the Locust! What happened after the Lightmass Bombing and how did the Locust react to this devastating weapon? Find out in this new series by Gears of War 2 game-writer Joshua Ortega (Death Dealer) and artist Liam Sharp (LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS).

Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition - Prima Official Game Guide


David Hodgson - 2009
    • Covers the entire main game and all five Add-On games: Operation: Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel, Point Lookout, and Mothership Zeta.• Your Essential Wasteland Companion: walkthroughs and over 200 detailed maps give you all the tactics, locations, items, and rewards!• Info and stats on all the perks, armor, weapons, items, factions, and entities you'll encounter.• Moral compass choices revealed! Villain or virtuous? Our guide's flowcharts will let you know which road to follow for your chosen path.• Giant map poster to guide you through the Wasteland.

Pokemon Platinum Official Strategy Guide


Future Press - 2009
     A fully-loaded, all-inclusive Pokedex completes this all-in-one strategy guide, with information on moves, locations, and data for all Sinnoh Pokemon. A separate bonus Pokedex includes annotated data on all 492 Pokemon in the National Pokedex.

Mega Man: Official Complete Works


Udon Entertainment - 2009
    Mega Man: Official Complete Works showcases 20 years of artwork from this classic series and features character designs, box art, promo art, and loads of rarely seen art pieces. No Mega Man fan would dare miss out!

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Signature Series Strategy Guide


Brady Games - 2009
    He joins Organization XIII and slowly begins to discover the truth behind his existence and the Organization itself.He meets and befriends the fourteenth member of the Organization, who also has no recollection of her past. What will Roxas see during his time in the Organization? What is the connection between him, Sora, and the fourteenth member? And what's to become of them? Covers Story Mode & Mission Mode Complete coverage of every playable mission. Includes strategy for Story Mode, every challenge & bonus mission, and Mission Mode! Exhaustive Bestiary Detailed coverage of every foe in the game, including all the bosses. Each foe's strengths, weaknesses, HP, and EXP are revealed! Comprehensive Panel & Ability Lists Learn how to acquire every panel in the game! Plus, game-tested strategies for combining panels for maximum damage. Character Analysis Extensive weapon charts for all 19 playable characters Area Maps Each area is mapped out in detail, complete with item locations for Story Mode and Mission Points for Mission mode! Exclusive Foldout Quick-reference weapon chart for easy use!Platform: Nintendo DSGenre: Role-Playing GameGuide Book

Mega Man X: Official Complete Works


Udon Entertainment - 2009
    The original blue bomber's futuristic counterpart has won over fans with his unique gameplay and dynamic designs, and now the artwork of this fan-favorite series is collected for the first time. Mega Man X: Official Complete Works features character designs, box art, promo art, and many rarely seen art pieces. Zero, Sigma, Axl, and all of X's unique robotic animal bosses are packed into this gorgeous collection.

Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide


Mike Searle - 2009
    •Essentials: Over 300 pages packed with every quest, NPC, monster, and item across the world of Ferelden!• Classes: Complete ascension guides with level-by-level tips on how to maximize a warrior, mage, or rogue class!• Maps: Over 100 jam-packed maps displaying every critical piece of information! • Walkthrough: Detailed walkthroughs to master all quests, puzzles, and pivotal story choices!• Equipment: Full equipment lists to gear out your PCs!• Bestiary: Comprehensive bestiary with everything from arcane horrors to werewolves!• Combat: Expert tactics to conquer the intricacies of combat!

Ashley Wood's Art of Metal Gear Solid


Ashley Wood - 2009
    And it's little wonder why. The story follows infiltration expert Solid Snake as he attempts to save the world.In addition to showcasing art from Ashley Wood's graphic novel adaptations of Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty, this all-new collection features the work Ash did for the Metal Gear Solid: Mobile Portable Ops video game.

Sf20: The Art of Street Fighter


Capcom - 2009
    Included are character designs, concept art, sketches, promo artwork, plus many never-before-published pieces from both Street Fighter's past and from the all-new Street Fighter IV!

MOTHER 3 Handbook: A Guide to Nowhere


Jon KaySteven Campos - 2009
    Each of the game's eight chapters is covered in-depth, individually designed and illustrated with hundreds of pieces of original artwork. This unofficial guide is packed with facts, hints, and trivial minutiae to help you navigate and enjoy the weird, funny, and heartbreaking story of MOTHER 3.

Assassin's Creed II: The Complete Official Guide Collector's Edition


Piggyback - 2009
    With detailed overview maps, the Walkthrough is perfect for both newcomers and die-hard completionists. EXTRA ART GALLERYPresented thematically, the 20-page Art Gallery unveils the game’s concept art. An atmospheric must-have for all fans of the series. EXCLUSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES SECTIONFeatures exclusive revelations from the development team with background details to the creative processes behind Assassin’s Creed® II. HIGHLY DETAILED, HUGE MAP POSTER INCLUDED ABSOLUTELY NO SPOILERS! SUITABLE FOR USE WITH ASSASSIN’S CREED® II ON XBOX 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 AND PC

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks - Prima Official Game Guide


Stephen Stratton - 2009
    * Detailed Overworld and dungeon maps revealing every hidden goodie*Step-by-step walkthrough covering every possible twist and turn in Link's latest adventure, including all optional asides* Tips and techniques for overcoming every monster and obstacle* Strategy for every boss battle to help you triumph!* Comprehensive "Legendary Checklist" covering all vital items, from Heart Containers to treasure chests* Multiplayer tips, tricks and strategies* Labeled World Map!

Batman: Arkham Asylum Signature Series Guide


Doug Walsh - 2009
    Only one person can bring back the sanity to Gotham City--Batman. Although outnumbered, Batman has the advantage with an incredible selection of gadgets courtesy of Waynetech. Using these top-notch weapons and his fear takedowns, Batman plans to foil The Joker’s demented scheme.   Boss Tactics & Comprehensive Walkthrough Use our game-tested strategies and tips to regain control of Arkham Asylum from The Joker and the inmates. Using an arsenal of Waynetech weapons, this guide shows you how to incapacitate The Joker’s minions and defeat every boss.   Solve the Riddler’s Challenges There are 240 separate Riddler Challenges to decipher. There are trophies to find, tapes to uncover, riddles to solve, and more. We’ll show you how to find every last one of them!   Unlock Every Hero & Villain Bio Discover what it takes to unlock every character bio in the game. Learn about each character’s attributes, motivations, and connections to Batman.   Explore Challenge Mode Overview of every Challenge Mode map, including specific tips and hints for completing each mode.   Exclusive Foldout Get the lowdown on the game’s Achievements and Trophies. The foldout includes specific strategies to master some of the game’s toughest feats.   Platform: PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360Genre: Action/Adventure

Resident Evil 5 Limited Edition Collector's Guide: The Complete Official Guide


James Pryce - 2009
    Packaged with a unique Resident Evil calendar that begins in March to coincide with the game release this 8 x 9 12 month calendar features stunning artwork as well as Resident Evil dates and trivia! Super visual Walkthrough with area maps detailing mandatory action on the left hand page and advanced data & secrets on the right. The Walkthrough is designed for the highest difficulty level and applicable to all difficulty settings. Guide Includes: Complete Extras chapter reveals all unlockables emblems explanation of the records system Achievements and special game modes developer Behind the Scenes section dedicated Art section packed with exclusive material direct from the development team complete Inventory chapter and complete Bestiary chapter. 224 pages

Massive Black: v.1: The Art of Massive Black


Dani Nomura - 2009
    Notable game projects featured in the book include Saboteur, Red Faction: Guerilla, Golden Axe: Beast Rider, Iron Man, Hellgate: London, Dragon Age: Origins, Maelstrom, Ride to Hell, Dead Head Fred, and Severity.

The Art of Brütal Legend


Daniel Bukszpan - 2009
    Jack Black stars as Eddie Riggs, the world’s greatest roadie, who must learn to command the power of rock to stop evil demons from enslaving humanity and to ascend to the legendary status of ROCK GOD! The Art of Brütal Legend is the lavishly produced collection of metal-themed concept art and behind-the-scenes features that provide an unprecedented look inside the game’s creative development and badass design. Script excerpts and exclusive fantasy lore make this lavish art book the ultimate showpiece for headbangers everywhere.

Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System


Nick Montfort - 2009
    The Atari VCS was affordable and offered the flexibility of changeable cartridges. Nearly a thousand of these were created, the most significant of which established new techniques, mechanics, and even entire genres. This book offers a detailed and accessible study of this influential video game console from both computational and cultural perspectives.Studies of digital media have rarely investigated platforms--the systems underlying computing. This book (the first in a series of Platform Studies) does so, developing a critical approach that examines the relationship between platforms and creative expression. Nick Montfort and Ian Bogost discuss the Atari VCS itself and examine in detail six game cartridges: Combat, Adventure, Pac-Man, Yars' Revenge, Pitfall!, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. They describe the technical constraints and affordances of the system and track developments in programming, gameplay, interface, and aesthetics. Adventure, for example, was the first game to represent a virtual space larger than the screen (anticipating the boundless virtual spaces of such later games as World of Warcraft and Grand Theft Auto), by allowing the player to walk off one side into another space; and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was an early instance of interaction between media properties and video games. Montfort and Bogost show that the Atari VCS--often considered merely a retro fetish object--is an essential part of the history of video games.

The Art of Joe Jusko


Joe Jusko - 2009
    For the first time ever, a volume devoted to one of the more popular fantasy/sci fi painters of the past 25 years - Joe Jusko! This book offers readers and fans a chance to witness Jusko's immense and phenomenal career from start to present, offering glimpses of previously never-before-seen material from his files and sketchbooks, his enormously popular comic work, covers and illustrations from his book publishing career, as well as beautifully reproduced images of his personal favorites and insights into his life and creative process.

Left 4 Dead 2: Prima Official Game Guide


David Hodgson - 2009
    • Step-by-step walkthrough of each campaign with expert strategies to eliminate the infected!• Detailed maps to get you and the other survivors to your objectives, along with locations of ammo caches and first aid kits!• Extensive coverage of additional Co-Operative and Versus campaigns.• Breakdown of movement, ranged weapons, melee and healing!• Expert advice from the Valve development team, team interviews, concept art and more!• Excerpts from Max Brook's graphic novel, The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks.

Pokémon: Sinnoh Hall of Fame Handbook


Katherine Fang - 2009
    Gotta read 'em all! Scholastic's publishing program is geared to appeal to Pokémon fans of all ages.Get the inside scoop on the latest Pokémon in the Sinnoh Region! The need-to-know facts, stats, and more are all in this book.

Harvest Moon: Animal Parade Official Strategy Guide


Rick Barba - 2009
    ACTIVITIES: Detailed chapters with tips on things such as farming, animal training, and fishing CHARACTERS: Get to know everyone in town including their favorite gifts, schedules, and more ANIMAL TRAINING: Learn how to take care of and train the exotic animals in the game Platform: WiiGenre: Simulation

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story: Prima Official Game Guide


Catherine Browne - 2009
    • Every Secret Uncovered—from Toad Town treasures to a special appearance from the Partners in Time foes• Full-Color Maps of the entire world with every single item, enemy, and coin marked• Equip the Heroes with the best gear, detailed in our full inventory• Complete Enemy Compendium with each enemy's weakness and attacks revealed• Earn Every Single Special Attack so the bosses never know what hit 'em!• Mario & Luigi Art Poster Inside!