All right, so I eagerly awaited FF9, and told my husband that this was the ONE thing I wanted for Xmas. No, I don’t want jewelry or clothes, I want the latest Final Fantasy. And it’s a great game, so far. I only play about 10 hours a week, so it’s lasting me a good long time. The story’s interesting, the combat system is great, the characters are rich in detail, and the graphics…well, the graphics are overwhelming.
It is my habit to pick up the strategy guide to RPGs when I obtain the games, because I play them slowly, and by the time I NEED the guide, it’s probably long gone. So I bought the strategy guide after Xmas. I got stumped on a sub boss a couple of nights ago, so I turned to the book.
Basically, the book is worthless. For ANY useful information, you are directed to go to Playonline, which means that instead of checking a book at the PSX, I need to kick someone off the computer in my house. And I’m reluctant to do so, since my daughter uses it for college homework and my husband uses it for business. Neither of them use it for recreation, as I do. What’s more, if the computer IS available, it’s impossible to get into the Playonline site. I registered some weeks ago, and received my confirmation email. However, the login and password didn’t work last night. I tried several times, even cutting and pasting the login and password. No good.
I advise AGAINST buying the Bradygames strategy guide for Final Fantasy IX. Go to Gamefaqs.com, or another gamers’ online guide. Don’t spend your money on the Bradygames book.
Incidentally, since registering at Playonline, I’ve received a lot more spam than usual. It might be coincidence. But I don’t think that it is.
Yes, I’m ROYALLY pissed off. I feel that I’ve spent my money on something that is virtually worthless. Learn from my experience.
Disgusted Lynn
From: “support” <support@squaresoft.com> Save Address - Block Sender
To: “Lynn Bodoni” <lynnbodoni@hotmail.com> Save Address
Subject: Re: Final Fantasy IX guide
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 16:53:18 -0800
{headers snipped}
Dear Lynn:
Thank you for your feedback on our recently published FINAL FANTASY IX Official Strategy Guide. This guide takes a new direction due largely to consumer feedback on previous strategy guides. A great deal of comments we’ve received in the past suggested that strategy guides often reveal plot
spoilers and provide too much of a “hand-holding” walkthrough. Many consumers felt that much of the satisfaction gained by self-discovery in an RPG was lost by using such guides. BradyGAMES and SQUARESOFT decided to try
and address gamers’ concerns with the release of this new and innovative guide.
It’s important to note, however, that our guide will lead players through the game in its entirety without relying upon the online strategy guide at PlayOnline.com. It covers every aspect of the game with the goal in mind of providing our readers with the necessary information, but without having to “hold their hand” every step of the way. The PlayOnline call-outs are simply references that will provide additional hints, tips, or strategy to supplement what is currently in the strategy guide.
As always, we are glad to hear any feedback you may have on this matter and we thank you for your continued support of SQUARESOFT.
Caroline
Customer Support Rep.
SQUARESOFT
----- Original Message -----
From: “Lynn Bodoni” <lynnbodoni@hotmail.com>
To: <BradyQuestions@bradygames.com>; <support@squaresoft.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 1:15 AM
Subject: Final Fantasy IX guide
> I despise the new FF9 guide. It is only a very basic overview, and for any
> USEFUL information, I am directed to the “Playonline” site. It is not at
> all convenient for me to pause my game, drop my game controller and get
> online when I find myself absolutely confounded by an area or puzzle. In
> the future, I believe that I will buy only UNAUTHORIZED game strategies, if
> this is how Brady guides will be written in the future. When I buy a
> strategy guide, I expect it to stand alone for the most part. It seems that
> 90% of the information I want or need is only available online.
>
> I generally buy each Final Fantasy (or other Square RPG) game as it comes
> out, and I buy the strategy guide when I pick up the game. Usually I try to
> finish the game without opening the guide, and then I replay it, to get the
> items and areas I missed the first time. This will not be the case any
> longer. I will still buy the games, but I will NOT be picking up Brady
> guides automatically. I do not like the Play Online feature, as it is yet
> another login and password that I have to remember, and it’s very
> inconvenient to drop everything, look up my login and password, and then go
> to the online area. I’ll just go to gamefaqs, I’m sure that the information
> is there, and is much more accessible.
>
> In short, Bradygames, you have lost a customer. I doubt that I will EVER
> purchase another one of your game guides, unless you make this purchase
> right for me, by sending me a COMPLETE hardcopy guide of the game strategy.
> This means that I want, in hardcopy, all the information that is available
> through the Keywords at Playonline.
>
> Demographics: I’m female, 43, the main game purchaser in the household, the
> main game player in the household, I buy every Square RPG that comes out
> (and until recently, every Bradygames guide to the games as well), and my
> household income is over $75K a year. In the past, I’ve been the monitor
> for online message boards about console games, and it’s possible that I will
> be one again.
>
> Lynn Bodoni
