Printed game guides are dead! Long live printed game guides!

Hello again everyone,

After a loooooong hiatus (for a whole slew of personal reasons), I've found myself being - once again - drawn back into the murky waters that is video game guide creation. This time however, I've decided to, sort of, pick up where Prima left off and I've begun creating and selling printed game guides (unofficially - for now...). Turns out, there's quite the market still for that old-school, flicking through the pages, admiring the artwork, and then sniffing the paper before putting it back on the shelf experience (or is that just me... ).

I've had the permission from the GRcade staff to post this (with a view of doing some official sponsorship again, the details of which we're still working our way through).

Outside of writing game guides, there's some major long-term plans on actually taking over the gaps that Prima wanted to do (before they went belly-up) by doing some really nice coffee table books that truly celebrate the many different aspects of video games as a whole (including some of the grossly underserved communities found within gaming - think fan translations, mods (hardware and software), and many, many more.) Those plans will pick up steam in 2023, as I'm openly still learning the joys of laying out my guides in Affinity Publisher, the pain that's offset printing (versus the much simpler - but less profitable and lower-quality - Print on Demand), and all the other business-related shenanigans that goes alongside such a venture. There's genuinely an unlimited amount of areas within gaming (as a hobby and an industry as a whole) that deserve covering with care and genuine passion, so hopefully that's what I can deliver.

I'm already learning an awful lot that will carry future projects in great stead (such as the vast difference in the 'good enough' quality of Print on Demand vs the pro-grade paper stock used in the glossy offset printed editions). If anyone's genuinely interested, then I'll be more than happy to document my experiences, plans, and learnings here as I go.

For now, I'll drop some images of my two most recent printed guides I've had on sale since 2020 and 2021 - both of which I completely redesigned within the last few months). Granted, I'll stick my hands up and say Zelda was my first ever time laying out a guide by hand (which, I'm well aware shows... ), but it's still leagues ahead of the competition as far as unofficial printed guides go - which are the equivalent of printing GameFaqs guides off in black and white with virtually no images to speak of.

I'll leave some images here, and if anyone would like to buy a copy of either guide, let me know as they're available either direct (for the best price), or other online channels.

(If the images continue to refuse to show - no idea why, the URLs work in the browser ), then I've added a direct link to how they currently look on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Legend-Zelda-Links-Awakening-Strategy-dp-1739902378/dp/1739902378/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metroid-Dread-Strategy-Guide-2nd/dp/1739902351/

Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (3rd Edition) - 128 pages
(Offset version with 115gsm coated glossy pages available direct from me for £10, vs £18 on Amazon):




Metroid Dread (2nd Edition) - 234 Pages



PS: If there's anyone here working at an indie dev that may be interested in an official printed guide for their game, let me know...

I still like game guides for big event titles. Got Cyberpunk (still not got the game!), most recently Horizon Forbidden West, and always get one for a Tomb Raider (unlike the old days not really needed, but a bit of a tradition on my part).

Was common to have unauthorised/unofficial strategy guides back in the day and I know with YouTube and Sony’s own help system on PS5 they’ve since gone out of fashion but for me there’s always something nice about having a tangible guide to go through as you play.

Link's Awakening you say

KK wrote:I still like game guides for big event titles. Got Cyberpunk (still not got the game!), most recently Horizon Forbidden West, and always get one for a Tomb Raider (unlike the old days not really needed, but a bit of a tradition on my part).

Was common to have unauthorised/unofficial strategy guides back in the day and I know with YouTube and Sony’s own help system on PS5 they’ve since gone out of fashion but for me there’s always something nice about having a tangible guide to go through as you play.

Well, it turns out they're very popular with parents who want their kids to spend less time on YouTube/screens (the irony isn't lost on me). I think they also pull on the nostalgia strings as we inch ever-closer to an "all digital" world. There's something to be said for being able to sit back and engross yourself in a weighty, printed tome.

I've already sold close to 2,000 copies of my Link's Awakening guide (between paperback and hardback - but mainly paperback) and I can see the (rough) numbers of other unofficial paperback guide sales on "The 'Zon".

I used to love these, had them for Metal Gear solid 1-3 and GTA San Andreas (which was so useful for hidden items).

Printed off a PDF version of Red Dead Redemption 2’s Prima guide a few years back at work.. nearly went through the whole toner

This is pretty interesting. Knowing how litigious Nintendo can get, do you have to get permission to use their artwork? And then pay a %?

I got the sense some titles were intentionally designed in such a way as to sell the official strategy guides with it. Wasn't uncommon to see a bundle with the game cellophaned to the front of a Prima guide (usually too tightly!) in Electronics Boutique and Virgin Megastores.

I always liked the step-by-step nature of Prima, but the quality of the product paled in comparison to Piggyback and I think maybe Brady Games was another one.

PowerStation or PlayStation Solutions were always a staple purchase for me as well.

Rex Kramer wrote:This is pretty interesting. Knowing how litigious Nintendo can get, do you have to get permission to use their artwork? And then pay a %?

Quick! Look! Behind you! A distraction!

*Sneaks away quietly*

I have the Metroid guide, not that I’ll be buying a second copy but is there any major differences between the first and 2nd edition? I do plan to fully use the guide when I eventually get around to replaying Dread, some day

There really is something about a physical guide over a digital/video one though even if the video ones are normally a lot quicker

Andrew Mills wrote:

Rex Kramer wrote:This is pretty interesting. Knowing how litigious Nintendo can get, do you have to get permission to use their artwork? And then pay a %?

Quick! Look! Behind you! A distraction!

*Sneaks away quietly*

Best of luck fella, that's not a bunch of people I'd be risking it with.

Robbo-92 wrote:I have the Metroid guide, not that I’ll be buying a second copy but is there any major differences between the first and 2nd edition? I do plan to fully use the guide when I eventually get around to replaying Dread, some day

There really is something about a physical guide over a digital/video one though even if the video ones are normally a lot quicker

Thanks for buying it. It's been updated to include the latest modes and it's been redesigned from scratch and is in full colour (unlike the first edition).

The first editions were function over form, so I spent time really improving the visual aspect (allowing me to also reduce the page count by about 15%).

How did you find the guide?

Rex Kramer wrote:

Andrew Mills wrote:

Rex Kramer wrote:This is pretty interesting. Knowing how litigious Nintendo can get, do you have to get permission to use their artwork? And then pay a %?

Quick! Look! Behind you! A distraction!

*Sneaks away quietly*

Best of luck fella, that's not a bunch of people I'd be risking it with.

If they issue a cease and desist, so be it. They can't take away the lessons learned in the production of them.

Andrew Mills wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:I have the Metroid guide, not that I’ll be buying a second copy but is there any major differences between the first and 2nd edition? I do plan to fully use the guide when I eventually get around to replaying Dread, some day

There really is something about a physical guide over a digital/video one though even if the video ones are normally a lot quicker

Thanks for buying it. It's been updated to include the latest modes and it's been redesigned from scratch and is in full colour (unlike the first edition).

The first editions were function over form, so I spent time really improving the visual aspect (allowing me to also reduce the page count by about 15%).

How did you find the guide?

From what I read when I got it, it seemed good, got it a while ago though (Amazon said I ordered it in February) but as I said, planned to properly use it alongside a second run which I’m yet to get around to. I’m kind of tempted by the Links Awakening one as that’s another game that’s waiting to be given a second play through when I find the time.

Robbo-92 wrote:

Andrew Mills wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:I have the Metroid guide, not that I’ll be buying a second copy but is there any major differences between the first and 2nd edition? I do plan to fully use the guide when I eventually get around to replaying Dread, some day

There really is something about a physical guide over a digital/video one though even if the video ones are normally a lot quicker

Thanks for buying it. It's been updated to include the latest modes and it's been redesigned from scratch and is in full colour (unlike the first edition).

The first editions were function over form, so I spent time really improving the visual aspect (allowing me to also reduce the page count by about 15%).

How did you find the guide?

From what I read when I got it, it seemed good, got it a while ago though (Amazon said I ordered it in February) but as I said, planned to properly use it alongside a second run which I’m yet to get around to. I’m kind of tempted by the Links Awakening one as that’s another game that’s waiting to be given a second play through when I find the time.

PM me the purchase receipt and I'll refund that for you so you only need to pay the difference between the editions instead (it's a night a day difference - really).

Andrew Mills wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:

Andrew Mills wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:I have the Metroid guide, not that I’ll be buying a second copy but is there any major differences between the first and 2nd edition? I do plan to fully use the guide when I eventually get around to replaying Dread, some day

There really is something about a physical guide over a digital/video one though even if the video ones are normally a lot quicker

Thanks for buying it. It's been updated to include the latest modes and it's been redesigned from scratch and is in full colour (unlike the first edition).

The first editions were function over form, so I spent time really improving the visual aspect (allowing me to also reduce the page count by about 15%).

How did you find the guide?

From what I read when I got it, it seemed good, got it a while ago though (Amazon said I ordered it in February) but as I said, planned to properly use it alongside a second run which I’m yet to get around to. I’m kind of tempted by the Links Awakening one as that’s another game that’s waiting to be given a second play through when I find the time.

PM me the purchase receipt and I'll refund that for you so you only need to pay the difference between the editions instead (it's a night a day difference - really).

Honestly thank you for the offer but I think I’ll be fine with the first edition (obviously will be worth more when your strategy guides become world renowned ), in reality my bookshelf is overflowing with stuff anyway so having 2 copies of a book on the same doesn’t make much sense to me (I think the only books I’ve got multiple copies of are Scott Pilgrim, the black/white ones and then the hardcover colour editions), do you put out a new revision each year? Obviously up to a 3rd one for Links Awakening now.

Your plans sound like they’re something to keep my eye on though, loved reading the Hyrule Historia books (sounds like that might be the vibe you’re aiming for with some books in the future?)

Robbo-92 wrote:Honestly thank you for the offer but I think I’ll be fine with the first edition (obviously will be worth more when your strategy guides become world renowned ), in reality my bookshelf is overflowing with stuff anyway so having 2 copies of a book on the same doesn’t make much sense to me (I think the only books I’ve got multiple copies of are Scott Pilgrim, the black/white ones and then the hardcover colour editions), do you put out a new revision each year? Obviously up to a 3rd one for Links Awakening now.

Your plans sound like they’re something to keep my eye on though, loved reading the Hyrule Historia books (sounds like that might be the vibe you’re aiming for with some books in the future?)

Fair enough. I only had a 3rd Edition of the Zelda guide because I learned that the A5 trim size was much better value for money (all-round) and the 2nd Edition was a different size. Unfortunately, that meant a new ISBN, which meant a new edition. Live and learn as they say!

I re-did the Metroid one to get more experience on the layout-side of production. Took a couple of months, but I learned a whole lot more in the process, so it was worth it.

KK wrote:I got the sense some titles were intentionally designed in such a way as to sell the official strategy guides with it. Wasn't uncommon to see a bundle with the game cellophaned to the front of a Prima guide (usually too tightly!) in Electronics Boutique and Virgin Megastores.

I always liked the step-by-step nature of Prima, but the quality of the product paled in comparison to Piggyback and I think maybe Brady Games was another one.

PowerStation or PlayStation Solutions were always a staple purchase for me as well.

It was more because Prima et al would spend tens of thousands of dollars on the license, so they did everything they could to sell it alongside the game (as the guide had to be ready for launch day (unless you're called Future Press; Future Press seem to prefer selling their guides long after a game's been out ). Granted, their work is top-notch (shame they pay their staff horrendous money for the amount of work required ).

Brady was bought over by Prima in the end, then Penguin House killed the print-side of Prima. I don't need silly margins to make a fair return (especially while I do everything myself). Of course, that'll change as the projects become bigger, and more polished over time.

Is there a reason Future Publishing never did official guides more often? I can only recall one, which was for Tekken Tag Tournament on PS2, but it appeared as if Namco licensed the Official tag out to multiple places as there was one from Prima and then there was this really expensive one from I can’t remember who but it was 30 quid in EB.

KK wrote:Is there a reason Future Publishing never did official guides more often? I can only recall one, which was for Tekken Tag Tournament on PS2, but it appeared as if Namco licensed the Official tag out to multiple places as there was one from Prima and then there was this really expensive one from I can’t remember who but it was 30 quid in EB.

They didn't need to. I'm sure Pell could chime in better on this but, I was once told by an ex-editor of GM (not Pell), that Future had a "Gentlemen's agreement" when it came to publishing unauthorized guides (both in-mag guides and the covermounted booklets). The mags give the games a shed load of coverage, and in return, the publishers turned a blind eye to the tips and cheats stuff.

Licenses can cost a bomb up-front. I had it on very good authority that Bradygames paid over $100k for the Resi 6 license (print only may I add...). I'm pretty confident that they didn't get a return on that investment...

I'll more likely be pursuing a rev-share model (and initially with some of the smaller game publishers/indie devs) if that's even an option. A decent guide is a solid amount of genuine hard work, there needs to be a reasonable/good return on that significant time investment. Prima had scores of F/T employees to pay, I'm currently relying on 20+ years guide writing experience and an ability to learn new concepts and tools very quickly (but it's clearly far from ideal).

Many thanks to Gecko for helping me get around Imgur's way of handling the URLs for sharing.

Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (3rd Edition)
(Offset version with 115gsm coated glossy pages available direct from me for £10, vs £18 on Amazon):




Metroid Dread (2nd Edition)



Time to return to my Pokémon Scarlet and Violet guide...