Sims 3 guides

[ignition365]

I'm getting ready to make an entry for Sims 3 strategy guide and I noticed there are two strategy guides that look similar but are indeed different.  I'm uncertain how they should be listed to differentiate them

Sims 3 Standard Strategy guide
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0761561374

Sims 3 Console Standard Strategy Guide
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307469794

I'm mostly trying to confirm how they should be titled.  I only really intended on submitting the console one, but knowing that this could easily become an issue if someone tries to make the PC guide on the site, I'm planning on making both entries.

[tripredacus]

Sims 3, The: Officially Licensed Game Guide (Covers Xbox 360)
Sims 3, The: Officially Licensed Game Guide (Poster Included)

[ignition365]

Sims 3, The: Officially Licensed Game Guide (Covers Xbox 360)
Sims 3, The: Officially Licensed Game Guide (Poster Included)

Just the (Covers Xbox 360), or should it be the full text of (Covers Xbox 360, Playstation 3, & Wii)?

[tripredacus]

Well it is a descriptor, only there to separate it from the other entry with the same title. It doesn't need the full text in descriptor to fulfill the need for it. Now if there was a third guide that also had Covers Xbox 360 but was different than that one, then you can add more text into the descriptor.

[tripredacus]

Also want to point out that the formatting of item titles in strategy guide are wrong for many entries. Many entries (maybe most) are using edition notation for non-edition titles.

Examples:
007: Nightfire - Prima's Official Strategy Guide
https://vgcollect.com/item/55006
The "Prima's Official Strategy Guide" in the title is not needed and should not be present.

007: Quantum of Solace - BradyGames Official Strategy Guide
https://vgcollect.com/item/22937
same as above

Alan Wake - Official Survival Guide
https://vgcollect.com/item/57253
Should be: Alan Wake Official Survival Guide

etc

[ignition365]

So when I've created entries for guides, I followed that standard because it was the most prominent (Yes, I understand just because it's prominent doesn't mean it's right) and the style guides information didn't specifically call out how to treat strategy guides and it seemed to make sense.

There are tons of guides like Donkey Kong 64 where there are 4 or 5 different publishers/versions, so you do Donkey Kong 64 - Prima's Official Game Guide and Donkey Kong 64 - Bradygames Official Game Guide, etc.  Right?  If that's the case, then since we know there could be multiple guides per game we could always include an "edition" for them, at least that was what I figured the logic was.  It just seems to me that if you let the first entry be Super Mario 64 and then someone creates Super Mario 64 - Prima Game Guide, someone would need to go edit the original to Super Mario 64 - Nintendo Power Player's Guide.  Alternatively you might wind up with two Super Mario 64 entries for different products with no descriptor.

[tripredacus]

If they are not editions they should not use hyphen. Putting a publisher in descriptor is no different than we do for video games.

So Donkey Kong 64 (Prima) and Donkey Kong 64 (BradyGames) are fine.

The fact you need to do edits once there are two things with the same name to add a descriptor is nothing new. I don't think we will get away from it.

[ignition365]

If they are not editions they should not use hyphen. Putting a publisher in descriptor is no different than we do for video games.

So Donkey Kong 64 (Prima) and Donkey Kong 64 (BradyGames) are fine.

The fact you need to do edits once there are two things with the same name to add a descriptor is nothing new. I don't think we will get away from it.

Ah, I misunderstood.  That does leave me with some questions for clarification, because if I can get a firm set of rules or whatnot I can go scan through the whole Strategy Guide section and start correcting titles where necessary.

I have a bunch of examples if I can maybe get some input on what the final title should be.

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/55006
Would become 007: Nightfire (Prima)?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/56361
Would become Animal Crossing: City Folk (Prima), Animal Crossing: City Folk - Premier Edition (Prima), or stay as is Animal Crossing: City Folk - Premier Edition?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/104532
Would become Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Collector's Edition (Prima), Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Collector's Edition, Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Prima Collector's Edition, or stay as is Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Official Collector's Edition?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/198965
Would become Diddy Kong Racing (Prima)?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/63374
Would become Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo Power), Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo), or Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo Power Player's Guide)?  I'm not sure what's the right descriptor for the Nintendo guides

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/9893
Would become Fallout 3 - Game of the Year Edition (Prima)?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/83983
Would become... uh... actually I'm not sure about this one at all... maybe just remove the Official Game Guides and leave it as Final Fantasy Box Set (FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX).

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/74114
Would become Final Fantasy Tactics (Sybex)?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/20477
Would become Final Fantasy XI Online - Fall 2003 Version (Bradygames) or Final Fantasy XI Online (Fall 2003 Version)?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/198834
Would become Mortal Kombat (Gamepro)?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/74508
Would become Luigi's Mansion (Versus Books) or Luigi's Mansion - Perfect Guide or Luigi's Mansion - Perfect Guide (Versus Books)?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/198838
https://www.vgcollect.com/item/12870
These are different.  Would become Mortal Kombat 3 (Fighter's Kompanion) and Mortal Kombat 3 (Fighter's Kompanion w/PC CD ROM)?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/62546
https://www.vgcollect.com/item/45889
Would become Resident Evil 4 (Bradygames Gamecube) and Resident Evil 4 (Bradygames PS2) or just Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube) and Resident Evil 4 (PS2)?

I think that covers a lot of the different situations I've wondered about.

[oldgamerz]

Not to but in but  I want to help somewhat because I have both "The Sims 3 Box Set 7 Guides In one" and the entire The Sims 2 expansion set of strategy guides

1: the biggest book in the set is titled "The Sims 3 Encyclopedia" then it says "Prima Official Game Guide" (on all of the books in the set) on the end of the spine covers. and then there is a tiny red logo that has the letter P and Prima written in small text on the spine. They are all Paper Back books, also noting this is the ones included in my box set.

1: The Sims 3 Encyclopedia Prima Official Game Guide
2: The Sims 3 Pets: Prima Official Game Guide
3: The Sims 3 Generations Prima Official Game Guide
4: The Sims 3 Late Night Prima Official Game Guide
5: The Sims 3 Ambitions Prima Official Game Guide
6: The Sims 3 World Adventures Prima Official Game Guide
7: The Sims 3 Prima Official Game Guide

Also I have "The Sims 2 7 Complete Strategy Guides for your favorite The Sims 2 games" written in a large blue banner, with white text on the side of the sleeve each guide.
 

The Sims 2 box set is all different.

The Sims 2 Prima Official Game Guide is written together. "with the title" then it has in a red banner on a couple of the spines that say the word "Cheats" then the a bigger red Prima logo  with a letter P on it.  similar toThe Sims 3 box set of game guides. I'll name each books spinal differences. for the Sims 2 Box Set

1: The Sims 2 Prima Official Game Guide "Cheats"
2: The Sims 2 University Prima Official Game Guide "Charts And Tables Covering Objects And Socials"
3: The Sims 2 Nightlife Prima Official Game Guide "Cheats"
4: The Sims 2 Open For Business Prima Official Game Guide "Talent Badge Secrets"
5: The Sims 2 Pets Prima Official Game Guide "Discover The Keys To Developing Your Pets Behavior"
6: The Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack Prima Official Game Guide "Complete Details For All New Objects, Socials And Careers"
7: The Sims 2 Bon Voyage Prima Official Game Guide "All Vacation Collectable Revealed"

these are the PC versions of both games

This is not me in the video but this is one of the 2 Box Sets I have currently

THE SIMS 3 GAME GUIDES UNBOXING WITH SHORT DETAILS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48HceCOo3NM

this is the Sims 2  On PC set I was talking about

[tripredacus]

Ah, I misunderstood.  That does leave me with some questions for clarification, because if I can get a firm set of rules or whatnot I can go scan through the whole Strategy Guide section and start correcting titles where necessary.

I have a bunch of examples if I can maybe get some input on what the final title should be.

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/55006
Would become 007: Nightfire (Prima)?
Descriptor is not needed as no other entry with this name is present in this category.

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/56361
Would become Animal Crossing: City Folk (Prima), Animal Crossing: City Folk - Premier Edition (Prima), or stay as is Animal Crossing: City Folk - Premier Edition?

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/104532
Would become Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Collector's Edition (Prima), Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Collector's Edition, Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Prima Collector's Edition, or stay as is Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - Official Collector's Edition?
Assassin's Creed Syndicate: Official Collector's Edition Guide (title from spine)

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/198965
Would become Diddy Kong Racing (Prima)?
Prima's Unauthorized Guide to Diddy Kong Racing

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/63374
Would become Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo Power), Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo), or Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo Power Player's Guide)?  I'm not sure what's the right descriptor for the Nintendo guides
Donkey Kong 64 Official Nintendo Player's Guide and put The Official Gorilla Guide from Nintendo Power in alt-name and box text.

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/9893
Would become Fallout 3 - Game of the Year Edition (Prima)?
Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition: Official Game Guide
The edition here is not the edition for the book, but the subject matter. I do not think we need the hyphen in this instance.

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/83983
Would become... uh... actually I'm not sure about this one at all... maybe just remove the Official Game Guides and leave it as Final Fantasy Box Set (FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX).
Final Fantasy VII / VIII / IX with Prima Final Fantasy Box Set in alt-name.
It is a tough one but I think the name works as it is what is on the item itself, and there is no name collisions that I can see. The "common name" for this "Final Fantasy Box Set" only appears on the box that the item ships in. So unless you want to change this entry to a plain cardboard box, this name can't be put in item title. ref: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Y90AAOSwnatgGaa0/s-l1600.jpg

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/74114
Would become Final Fantasy Tactics (Sybex)?
Final Fantasy Tactics Ultimate Strategy Guide or Sybex Unofficial Final Fantasy Tactics Ultimate Strategy Guide with the other name to go into alt name.

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/20477
Would become Final Fantasy XI Online - Fall 2003 Version (Bradygames) or Final Fantasy XI Online (Fall 2003 Version)?
Final Fantasy XI Online Official Strategy Guide: Fall 2003 Version
Not edition nor descriptor. The version is part of the title on both the two guides in the db, so they are not fit to be descriptors.

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/198834
Would become Mortal Kombat (Gamepro)?
Current name is correct, no change needed

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/74508
Would become Luigi's Mansion (Versus Books) or Luigi's Mansion - Perfect Guide or Luigi's Mansion - Perfect Guide (Versus Books)?
Luigi's Mansion Official Perfect Guide
current name is correct but the hyphen shouldn't be used

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/198838
https://www.vgcollect.com/item/12870
These are different.  Would become Mortal Kombat 3 (Fighter's Kompanion) and Mortal Kombat 3 (Fighter's Kompanion w/PC CD ROM)?
Official Mortal Kombat 3 Fighter's Kompanion (Sega Genesis / Super NES / PlayStation)
Official Mortal Kombat 3 Fighter's Kompanion (Sega Genesis / Super NES / PlayStation / PC CD-ROM)

https://www.vgcollect.com/item/62546
https://www.vgcollect.com/item/45889
Would become Resident Evil 4 (Bradygames Gamecube) and Resident Evil 4 (Bradygames PS2) or just Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube) and Resident Evil 4 (PS2)?
For this you want to find a significant text difference between the two and use that actual text in the descriptor. If the text difference is the console name, only use "PS2" if it is written that way.

I think that covers a lot of the different situations I've wondered about.

Bold are my name suggestions. Italics are my comments.

Look at the cover for a name, or the spine. These are books in this category and not games, so we should use the book titles instead of a game name and then some descriptor for the type of book. For any situations where a book title may not match up to a common type name, add the additional terms into alt-name, as in the Final Fantasy Box Set example.

EDIT: Also, feel free to put the publisher into alt-name. So if you want to put Prima or Bradygames into alt-name where it is not needed in the title, there's no problem there.

[tripredacus]

Not to but in but  I want to help somewhat because I have both "The Sims 3 Box Set 7 Guides In one" and the entire The Sims 2 expansion set of strategy guides

1: the biggest book in the set is titled "The Sims 3 Encyclopedia"

Also I have "]The Sims 2 7 Complete Strategy Guides for your favorite The Sims 2 games

Box set guides get multiple entries. 1 for the set and 1 entry for each of the guides inside. If the guides themselves are different than the standalone versions that are sold, that needs to be determined as descriptors may need to be used.

Sims 3 Box Set, The: 7 Guides in 1
- Sims 3, The
- Sims 3 World Adventures, The
- Sims 3 Ambitions, The
- Sims 3 Late Night, The
- Sims 3 Generations, The
- Sims 3 Encyclopedia, The

Would like to see covers of these instead of spines.
ref: https://ebay.com/itm/202994294422

Sims 2, The: 7 Complete Strategy Guides
Sims 2, The
Sims 2 University Expansion Pack, The
Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack, The
Sims 2 Bon Voyage, The
Sims 2 Nightlife, The
Sims 2 Open for Business, The

Now it could be formatted as (example) Sims 2 The: University Expansion Pack, but I think that these do not get to match up to the common names formatting we use for games since these are (again) book titles and not game titles. I do not think we need to use the text of "Prima Official Game Guide" in the title at least, unless there is some other strategy guide that does not have that text on it. Certainly, that text can go into the alt-name field.

[ignition365]

Okay, so if I understand correctly... Title/Spine and then (descriptor) if necessary to differentiate two items with same Title/Spine?

I think it just seems weird to me (Again opinion which I fully understand is meaningless) to name the book the same as the game.  Is there someplace to source book titles like we do for games with gamefaqs/moby/etc?

[oldgamerz]

Not to but in but  I want to help somewhat because I have both "The Sims 3 Box Set 7 Guides In one" and the entire The Sims 2 expansion set of strategy guides

1: the biggest book in the set is titled "The Sims 3 Encyclopedia"

Also I have "]The Sims 2 7 Complete Strategy Guides for your favorite The Sims 2 games

Box set guides get multiple entries. 1 for the set and 1 entry for each of the guides inside. If the guides themselves are different than the standalone versions that are sold, that needs to be determined as descriptors may need to be used.

Sims 3 Box Set, The: 7 Guides in 1
- Sims 3, The
- Sims 3 World Adventures, The
- Sims 3 Ambitions, The
- Sims 3 Late Night, The
- Sims 3 Generations, The
- Sims 3 Encyclopedia, The

Would like to see covers of these instead of spines.
ref: https://ebay.com/itm/202994294422

Sims 2, The: 7 Complete Strategy Guides
Sims 2, The
Sims 2 University Expansion Pack, The
Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack, The
Sims 2 Bon Voyage, The
Sims 2 Nightlife, The
Sims 2 Open for Business, The

Now it could be formatted as (example) Sims 2 The: University Expansion Pack, but I think that these do not get to match up to the common names formatting we use for games since these are (again) book titles and not game titles. I do not think we need to use the text of "Prima Official Game Guide" in the title at least, unless there is some other strategy guide that does not have that text on it. Certainly, that text can go into the alt-name field.

I don't know how to properly make photos of the entire sets but that one you linked to an ebay seller is the exact same one I have, The vary reason why I don't edit the database myself is because I don't know how to properly do it but yes the box set in the link is the same exact one I have.

(edit) my Sims 3 Box Set, The: 7 Guides in 1 is factory sealed like the one in the video if this helps any

[tripredacus]

Okay, so if I understand correctly... Title/Spine and then (descriptor) if necessary to differentiate two items with same Title/Spine?

I think it just seems weird to me (Again opinion which I fully understand is meaningless) to name the book the same as the game.  Is there someplace to source book titles like we do for games with gamefaqs/moby/etc?

Right so books like anything else, as you say Title (descriptor if needed) [TLD if needed]

Certainly opinion matters! I agree that naming a book just the game name is dumb... but I mean... Prima and BradyGames did it right?

Some books have the actual print title on the backside of the cover page, or in a copyright text. The issue with that is that you have to be able to see inside of a book which typically means having it in hand. Doesn't help with using online sites to get book info because those pages are not going to be shown in photos and sometimes not scanned.

Is there a resource? There are many, but there is a problem. Those book resources are going to be using a format like Title by author and I do not think we want to be getting into putting authors in titles.

How about something like this for books: item title name priority
- spine title
- cover title

The issue becomes that some books that have spine titles can be hard to find pictures for. But let's use this example and the 007 Nightfire guide you posted earlier. If we say "use spine title" and here is a pic of the spine:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZCAAAOSw2sRfkk3g/s-l1600.jpg

Is it
007 Nightfire
or
007 Nightfire Prima's Official Strategy Guide
If it is the second, do we leave the text as is, or type it like this?
007 Nightfire: Prima's Official Strategy Guide

I don't think we care about that it has 3-D MAPS! on the spine, but that could be put into Box Text field.

[ignition365]

...

Yes, these are exactly the things I'm wondering about.

Personally, I'd say 007 Nightfire: Prima's Official Strategy Guide