What Happaned to My Strategy Guide?!

GameStop has been disappointing lately in its stock of strategy guides for any non-AAA titles. They didn't have the strategy guide for Valkyria Chronicles and a couple other new games I've picked up over the last six months or so. That being the case, instead of waiting until release day and being disappointed again, I ordered the Persona 4 guide directly from the publisher, Double Jump.

It arrived very quickly - two days after I ordered it, which was nice. It gives me time to learn about the game systems before the game actually comes out (next week), so I can hop right in without worrying too much about screwing something up.

The problem? The guide is the size of a paperback book. I'm talking physical dimensions. When it arrived yesterday I thought they got my order wrong, because the packaging it was in sure wasn't big enough for a strategy guide. But, sure enough, it was. Its just so...small. I will be honest - I don't particularly like the change. I assume the change was made to save materials yet I'm still being charged the full price of a typical strategy guide (although I did get a discount that they happened to be having on Monday when I ordered it).

The print is also rather small and the guide is impossible to lay flat across my lap. Its like the difference between reading a paperback novel and a magazine. The magazine easily lays flat on any surface while the novel will close up if you attempt the same thing.

Don't get me wrong, the guide is very comprehensive (and actually reads like a novel, which is funny, yet sad). Its not a problem with that, I just wish, for logistic purposes, they wouldn't skimp on game guides. They just don't "work" the same way they used to.