See if you can spot why this walkthrough is noteworthy: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/588741-super-metroid/faqs...
What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
11–20 of 62 posts
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#12Before online walkthroughs you read official guides from Nintendo Power, or you contacted your local game guru via the guy that knew a guy.
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#13I used to LOVE reading GameFAQs walkthroughs for RPGs as a kid. The fact it was just a big text document made it super easy to hide in my "computer typing" classes too. I'm kind of sad that the whole scene has largely slowed down, at least for modern games... Now you can just find video guides on any subsection of a game you're playing; or follow an IGN guide. I have huge respect for authors of the oldschool guides t…
IGN guides with, sorry if I sound old, auto playing videos on every page. Ugh.
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#14[...guide authors approach games with the mindset of a medical examiner. They do not play games so much as dissect them, which erodes enjoyment of the hobby they like best. Rarely can authors “just enjoy the game;” instead they must “stop every 20 seconds to write something.” ...] Is this really the case? I would rather believe that the writers are gamers too. It's quite common for gamers to play a [fun] game through…
I find it more likely that people following a guide are not having fun than the person writing the guide.
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#15[...guide authors approach games with the mindset of a medical examiner. They do not play games so much as dissect them, which erodes enjoyment of the hobby they like best. Rarely can authors “just enjoy the game;” instead they must “stop every 20 seconds to write something.” ...] Is this really the case? I would rather believe that the writers are gamers too. It's quite common for gamers to play a [fun] game through…
Or they enjoy dissecting games as they play through, and the author is over here shouting no, you’re enjoying it wrong!
I would argue this the most likely case - I do similar with movies. It's usually not until the 2nd or even 3rd time through a movie I'll really pay attention and 'understand' the plot, I spend a lot of time focused on the background and technical aspects, trying to pick up on Easter eggs for instance, or marvelling at how well something was shot.
You can ask me how I liked the movie, but it's highly unlikely I'll have any idea what happened or even the characters' names, but you bet I'll be remembering a certain shot, a piece of music, maybe the way a prop worked. Am I enjoying the movie wrong? Or just enjoying it in my own way?
(Just to throw out an anecdote, my high school physics teacher had us watch the 1998 movie Contact over a couple classes. That scene near the beginning after the father collapses, where our main character runs upstairs to the bathroom for medicine, I don't know what it was about that shit but it stuck with me for a long time. It was about 5 years later I finally sat down and watched the movie, twice back to back actually, that I realized what was going on and couple appreciate the film even further)
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#16Nothing beats a high quality FAQ with ctrl+f searching shortcuts. Loads instantly, can be downloaded offline, etc. Now every game has its own wikia instead and you have to wade through garbage to find the info you are looking for.
Flashback 15-18 years ago to searching on GameFaqs :')
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#17[...guide authors approach games with the mindset of a medical examiner. They do not play games so much as dissect them, which erodes enjoyment of the hobby they like best. Rarely can authors “just enjoy the game;” instead they must “stop every 20 seconds to write something.” ...] Is this really the case? I would rather believe that the writers are gamers too. It's quite common for gamers to play a [fun] game through…
Yeah I always assumed the people that write these have played the game a bunch of times. There will always be superfans, and its kind of cool they have an creative outlet for their passion that helps others.
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#18I used to LOVE reading GameFAQs walkthroughs for RPGs as a kid. The fact it was just a big text document made it super easy to hide in my "computer typing" classes too. I'm kind of sad that the whole scene has largely slowed down, at least for modern games... Now you can just find video guides on any subsection of a game you're playing; or follow an IGN guide. I have huge respect for authors of the oldschool guides t…
Morrowind walkthroughs in particular used to read like an adventure novel written in second person. For example, what's below is from https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/913818-the-elder-scrolls-ii...:
Next, we're looking for a staff. Felen Maryon's staff. It's an ebony staff, too. Oooh. However, Felen is a powerful wizard and will most likely kill you in one wave of his hand. If you want the job, take it. If not, pass.
Felen Maryon is in Tel Branora, to the south, and he's one of Mistress Therana's personal retainers. If you know little about the Telvanni, let me inform you that Therana is one of the six head honchos, and this personal retainer will be a damn sight powerful. But hey, it's your skin :)
Take the boat to Tel Branora, and head towards the tower off to your left. Follow the paths up as far as you can, then enter the Upper Tower. More info about telvanni - the most powerful people in each tower always live at the very top. And you were given the levitation potions because you'll need them. Telvanni aren't real fond of stairs.
Follow the tunnel opposite the doorway up, then take either door to Therana's Chamber. Use one of the potions to ascend the chute, and you'll find Felen in one of the end rooms. Note the shiny staff behind him.
SAVE, importantly. You'll screw this up a few times before you get it right, I know I did. Firstly, if you're REALLY good you can get the staff without even using magic, simply sneak around behind him until the hand appears, and seize the moment.
But if you're like me, you're not that good :( So have your custom Chameleon spell handy. The idea is to get both the sneak hand and chameleon working in your favour, and the easiest way to do this is to get BEHIND the bookcase it rests against. You'll always have the sneak hand, even if he faces the bookcase.
Cast your chameleon, and swipe the staff without a hitch. Hike back to Sadrith Mora, and proudly show it over to Big Helende. You good little thief, you."
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#19[...guide authors approach games with the mindset of a medical examiner. They do not play games so much as dissect them, which erodes enjoyment of the hobby they like best. Rarely can authors “just enjoy the game;” instead they must “stop every 20 seconds to write something.” ...] Is this really the case? I would rather believe that the writers are gamers too. It's quite common for gamers to play a [fun] game through…
My internal monologue when I do anything even for the first time is always as if I am “writing a guide”. Taking something apart, cooking, playing a game, etc. It doesn’t prevent me from enjoying things and I don’t think actually writing it down would be that different
I’ve thought about how I would create a game walkthrough and taking short notes or audio/video recording while thinking out loud and then expanding it at the end of the session wouldn’t be too difficult or intrusive.
Re: What motivates the authors of video game walkthroughs and FAQs?
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
Or they enjoy dissecting games as they play through, and the author is over here shouting no, you’re enjoying it wrong!
I would argue this the most likely case - I do similar with movies. It's usually not until the 2nd or even 3rd time through a movie I'll really pay attention and 'understand' the plot, I spend a lot of time focused on the background and technical aspects, trying to pick up on Easter eggs for instance, or marvelling at how well something was shot. You can ask me how I liked the movie, but it's highly unlikely I'll hav…
It's been a long time since I saw Contact but I'm pretty sure I remember the shot you're talking about. It's the one with the mirror?