Quick Take
If you are looking for a video game strategy reference, the first decision is format: do you want a general history, an official guide for one game, an out-of-print companion, or a magazine issue? This roundup compares four options with listed prices from $5.48 to $18.99.
Listed-Price Comparison
| Product | Listed price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|
| A Brief History of Video Games | $5.48 | |
| SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide | $10.95 | |
| Tips & Tricks May 2006 #135 | $14.95 | |
| Resident Evil 6 Video Game Strategy Guide | $18.99 |
Decision Matrix
- General reading and game history: A Brief History of Video Games, a Good-condition trade paperback.
- Official SimCity help: SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide, a Brand New sealed 2003 guide.
- Resident Evil 6 playthrough: Resident Evil 6 Video Game Strategy Guide, a 2012 Capcom/Brady out-of-print guide.
- Retro magazine and Kingdom Hearts 2: Tips & Tricks May 2006 #135, a Very Good glossy magazine.
Product Notes
A Brief History of Video Games
At $5.48, this trade paperback is the lowest-priced item in the group and the only one taking a historical view of video games. Richard Stanton's book covers the medium broadly instead of providing stage-by-stage instructions for a single title. The condition is Good ex-library, so expect the usual library markings and stickers, and the ISBN is 9780762456154. If you want a general reference to read by chapter, this is the one. If you need a walkthrough for a specific game, it will not replace a dedicated strategy guide.
SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide
At $10.95, this 2003 guide from Prima is a Brand New sealed copy. It is a 320-page trade paperback covering SimCity, with David Knight and Prima Games Staff credited as authors. The sealed condition makes it a good fit if you want an official play companion in untouched shape. The trade-off is scope: the guide focuses exclusively on SimCity. If you are not currently playing SimCity, you will not get general gaming history or coverage of other franchises. This is a straightforward official guide for one specific city-building game.
Resident Evil 6 Video Game Strategy Guide
At $18.99, this is the highest-priced item in the roundup. It is a 2012 Capcom/Brady paperback in normal sturdy condition, with light wear and no markings inside. The title includes OOP, which points to an out-of-print guide. For players working through Resident Evil 6, this is a dedicated companion rather than a general history. The limitation is that it is tied to Resident Evil 6; if you want a multi-game reference or a broader survival-horror overview, this guide will not give you that.
Tips & Tricks May 2006 #135
At $14.95, Tips & Tricks May 2006 #135 is the only magazine in the group. It is a glossy issue in Very Good condition and is described as bagged and boarded. The featured series is Kingdom Hearts 2, which makes it a direct fit for fans of that game or for readers who want retro strategy magazine content. The limitation is that a single 2006 issue is not a complete guide to every game on your shelf; it captures that month's strategy content and a featured Kingdom Hearts 2 section. This is a focused collectible magazine, not an exhaustive reference book.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
- Want a low-priced, broader history? Go with A Brief History of Video Games.
- Need an official sealed guide for SimCity? Pick SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide.
- Playing Resident Evil 6 and want a dedicated out-of-print guide? Choose Resident Evil 6 Video Game Strategy Guide.
- Collect retro strategy magazines or focus on Kingdom Hearts 2? Grab Tips & Tricks May 2006 #135.
