The Sims Revised & Expanded: Prima's Official Strategy Guide

I ordered this book expecting something comparable to Prima's strategy guide for SimCity 3KU (which is huge, rich, and utterly indispensible). Not even remotely. I knew I was in trouble when the table of contents did not match the pagination of the book (and it was way off -- not just by a page or two).

Most of this too-slim-for-the-price volume is pure filler: a grainy B&W photo catalog of all the objects Sims can buy (information which is readily accessible within the game, and of little strategic value anyhow), and way, way too many tedious B&W screenshots of the author's own gameplay, supposedly for illustration.

It contains a few bits of useful information -- such as detailed tables of the Careers (jobs, hours, salary, promotion criteria) -- all of which and more is available on the Web.

It also contains enough glaring falsehoods (e.g., that Sim kids can't use dishwashers) to suggest that the author played the game just long enough to crank out this piece of...Read more

I have bought every strategy guide for the Sims, and I have to admit that all versions have duplication, but the information included in the books is invaluable! Although, if you don't already have the previous versions, I would only buy this one--it will have all the information you need for all expansions. Even the most die-hard fan will find information in here helpful, and I've learned new things from each book! I would definately recommend the strategy guide for any Simmer, whether he be a Bob Newbie or an old pro!

cool stuff, but how much of this isn't available free, online, if you bothered to look ?? A great purchase for the lazy (and Newbies - Bob or otherwise) but if you have the slightest motivation Google has cleared it all up for you already.