Does anyone actually play games anymore?!

seriously, what is up with all of these threads asking help in shadow complex. my goodness people.  
 
i never once used a strategy guide before. ever. i think it defeats the entire purpose of playing a videogame.  
 for instance, i can't imagine ruining the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at the end of every puzzle in Trine, or Braid. 

What's a video game?

People have grown too dependent on FAQs IMO.  I know I find myself turning to them now more then I used too.  Once you find some way to make it easy, it's hard to stop.

" @TwoOneFive: So people can ask their fellow Bombers for some help in a video game? "

I only turn to a guide if I'm running around for literally an hour + not knowing where the hell I'm supposed to be going.

" @JJOR64 said:

" @TwoOneFive: So people can ask their fellow Bombers for some help in a video game? "

yeah but dude, it totally ruins the whole point. when its a great game like braid, the guy who made it worked his fucking tail off to create a puzzle so clever in design that it would hurt your brain trying to figure it, but holy shit do you feel awesome once you do beat it. i can't imagine having somebody tell me how to beat and ruining the entire experience.  "

" @JJOR64 said:

" @TwoOneFive: So people can ask their fellow Bombers for some help in a video game? "

yeah but dude, it totally ruins the whole point. when its a great game like braid, the guy who made it worked his fucking tail off to create a puzzle so clever in design that it would hurt your brain trying to figure it, but holy shit do you feel awesome once you do beat it. i can't imagine having somebody tell me how to beat and ruining the entire experience.  "

Although I do agree that sometimes I see people asking for help when the answer is just blatantly obvious and they could have easily figured out on there own.

I actually went the other way. I used to cheat and use guides like a mofo until my late teens. Now that I'm in my mid twenties I pretty much just play all games with little to no help. If I can't get through it or it isn't fun, I just give up.

I use the heck out of guides with RPGs (checking on Gamefaqs usually) to make sure I do not miss out on characters or something, but with a Legend of Zelda game I generally refuse to use guides at all, especially as it regards puzzles. 
 
Usually though, I play games that rely more on the difficulty of performing a certain action (platformers, shooters) than in the difficulty of finding out what to do, so I rarely am put in a position where a guide would do me any good either way.

When I play games, I'm trying to have fun. If I'm not having fun because I can't get passed a silly puzzle in an FPS or I keep getting killed on the same part, I'll open an FAQ. But if I'm playing a game that encourages you to experiment, (Trine, Portal, Braid, etc.) I don't look up FAQs, it ruins the fun for me. But it's all relative, if people like to play games to shoot people or see a story, not to solve puzzles or wander aimlessly, then they'll take the walk through. There's nothing wrong with that.

Ok mr. holier than thou

 OK, there are stupid questions that pop up on the threads now and then. We can all admit that. However, guides are a pretty invaluable resource in video games. I really used a thorough guide for Fallout 3, the Vault. It is an astonishing website and shows truly how much content the game has. I couldn't find every nook and cranny without it, so I find that a good use of it.

" @TwoOneFive said:

" @JJOR64 said:

" @TwoOneFive: So people can ask their fellow Bombers for some help in a video game? "

yeah but dude, it totally ruins the whole point. when its a great game like braid, the guy who made it worked his fucking tail off to create a puzzle so clever in design that it would hurt your brain trying to figure it, but holy shit do you feel awesome once you do beat it. i can't imagine having somebody tell me how to beat and ruining the entire experience.  "

Or on the other end, without a FAQ the puzzle snaps my brain and I smash my TV then kick a puppy. "

Cool story, bro

For as long as I can remember, I've always used a strategy guide here and there. It kills the reward of discovering something yourself, but I'd rather progress than stay stuck for two hours.

...Video games? 
 
I think I'm on the wrong website.  Can someone direct me to Bed, Bath & Beyond?  I can't find their website.

yea. I know a guy. He plays games.

I use them for a couple of reasons.  I like to run through a game once w/o a guide, just to get the story. Then I'll play through it again with the guide to get all the widgets/areas I missed.  I also find myself going to a guide when I get stuck for a long time on a particular part of the game. To me, I'd rather enjoy a game than be constantly frustrated by it.  I'll give it an honest go for a while, but if my skills or brain power is lacking, I'll look for a helping hand.

One point to add. I think many games are created now in the full knowledge that their players will use guides. The challenge to designers is to make their games challenging and interesting whether a guide is used or not.

Walkthroughs are the last resort for me. I would prefer to solve things on my own for sure and mostly thats the case. But I also like to beat the game and experience everything in the games I pay for. So sometimes when I have been running around for a long, long time and cannot see an end to how to get through it I will resort.

Like some people said, I only use guides in games like Fallout 3 and Oblivion. When I know I'm not gonna find something on my own I have no shame in asking a little help from the beautifully obsessed. The only other case I can think of are all the stars in Braid. No way was I gonna ruin solving the puzzle-pieces on my own. But I would never have found those stars on my own either ... never! So the guide helped me feel I got my total money's worth. 
 
Also some people just ask for help 'cause they're bored. I see lots of threads on gaming forums where someone asks how to do something, then they answer their own question two posts later.

i have nothing more to add than what people already said : 
 
1) i try to figure shit out on my own. if i tried everything and have no goddamn idea where to go and what to do and i try for hours and it just aint happening, all i can do is get somebody's guidence 
2) sometimes some obstacles are really really not fun, those that u which never existed. so when u get someone's help and pass them u can try to erase them from your memory and move on. i'd rather play the game than say "fuck it" 
3) i *have* been more dependant on guides more than before, i should try on my own more.. its true

" I only turn to a guide if I'm running around for literally an hour + not knowing where the hell I'm supposed to be going. "

I have no problem using guides.  I almost always only use them in RPGs but, if necessary I'd flip one open if I got super stuck and couldn't progress any further in any other type of game.  For me, games are about having fun.  When they stop being fun, I'm willing to fudge the rules. As long as I feel the challenge a game presents is achievable, then I'll try and solve it myself, but when that challenge feels insurmountable  and an impediment  to my fun, "GameFAQs" here I come.   I am well beyond the point in my life where frustration is an opportunity to test my resolve.  I don't get any pleasure out of playing the same level 30 times to get it right.

As someone who is generally awful at puzzle games, I will use a walk-through to go through a game I find impossible otherwise (such as Portal) or not get through it at all. I agree that there is little satisfaction in not solving the puzzle myself, but if I want to experience the plot behind the game, I won't hesitate to use a guide. Otherwise, I would never beat it.

" seriously, what is up with all of these threads asking help in shadow complex. my goodness people.   i never once used a strategy guide before. ever. i think it defeats the entire purpose of playing a videogame.   for instance, i can't imagine ruining the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at the end of every puzzle in Trine, or Braid.  "

I use FAQ's and Strategy Guides all the time, the only thing I'm shaky on are cheat codes (which are much less common than they used to be). I don't really find continued attempts at solving a puzzle fun, so I find myself just using the guide to get me through that part. 
 
I think the whole point of playing games is to have fun, and if you're not having fun then you're either playing ET or you're stuck.

Well they spent money on the game so I'm sure they'd like to see the end of it.  If they want to take some of the challenge out of the game then I think that's fine.  Just like when people pay for cheats in some EA games.  They may not have the time to finish the game normally or they might just have more fun that way. 

" @TwoOneFive said:

" @JJOR64 said:

" @TwoOneFive: So people can ask their fellow Bombers for some help in a video game? "

yeah but dude, it totally ruins the whole point. when its a great game like braid, the guy who made it worked his fucking tail off to create a puzzle so clever in design that it would hurt your brain trying to figure it, but holy shit do you feel awesome once you do beat it. i can't imagine having somebody tell me how to beat and ruining the entire experience.  "

If I'm stuck and have no idea what the fuck to do, I'll use a guide/ask someone.  I usually try not to but, if I have to I have to.  I would rather use a guide to help me then say "Fuck This" and quit and never play the game again. "

I always beat games on my own. Then, I'll use an FAQ to  help me get achievements if I can't figure out how to get them.