Thanks for your comments, everyone!

There are some games that, without a doubt, test one's patience to the limit and the only way out is to either use a walkthrough, or chew the furniture to splinters from sheer frustration. (Yes, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, I'm talking about YOU! )

A game can be on such a different wavelength to your own way of thinking and logic that it can prove immensely difficult to play - whereas another gamer might breeze through it with no problems at all; it just "clicks" with them.

I'm getting better at playing games the whole way through without a walkthrough, but I'm so mighty glad and grateful that they are there if needed!

I try not to use a walkthrough, but there are some puzzles that are just impossible to figure out. I'm much rather have a hint rather then the solution. I like the WT's that give you hints and say "for solution click here". That way I can try and work them out myself.

Bets

If possible, I prefer to use U-Hints when I get stuck. Most WTs just tell you "go here, do this, push this button" without explaining the thinking behind puzzle solutions. I really don't like that. I also don't like the sense that you're playing someone else's game, not your own. And like many people here, if I have access to a WT (or hints) I'm likely to keep playing by getting the answer rather than backing off and finally coming up with it myself, as I can usually do if no WT or hints are available.

On the other hand, there have been many times when I've looked up the answer to a palce where I've been stuck and thought, "Well, I don't feel guilty about that at all because I NEVER would have come up with that!"

WW

That's me WW--When I have to look, and I see the answer and I know I would have found it if I had stuck it out, then I am disappointed in myself--But when I look and know, no matter how long I tried, I would never ever go there, then I am very

I agree with so many of the above comments. The more I game, the farther I can get in a game without peeking at the walkthrough. You DO actually try to think illogically to solve the puzzles or find the hidden object or something of that nature knowing full well that the game designers have designed it as such.

It does get to a point when you have to try every inventory item on everything to get through to the next part...that the game takes an "unfun" turn for me.

I don't print them out, though. That would make me peek all the more.

As one of those that are fast approaching that 'Great White Light', (and have a *yet to play* stack of about 150 game gathering dust) , I don't feel that using a walkthru after 15 minutes or so of frustration is in any way detrimental to my pleasure in the game.

After all , games are for having fun, and gnashing teeth & pulling hair really are NOT my idea of fun.

I agree Granny--at the point that the game is becoming work or frustrating versus fun or intriguing or absorbing, then it's time to get back to the fun by taking a look--

It's great to see how different folks play--My DS plays for the joy of overcoming a challenge so he will NOT look at a walkthrough! He will spend a month stuck on a spot and just play something else til he can figure it out. I like the satisfaction of figuring it out myself--but when I am head banging--it's time to yell Help--

exactly right,L4L - it is supposed to be fun, so why get stuck that badly that it isn't ? if i walk away,come back,and still can't get it i do whatever to get out of that real bad spot so it stays fun. i also have used MaG 's WT's in a couple in the beginning step by step because i had so much trouble with the interface (too new to this ) until i got the hang of it and could proceed without,so i guess it depends on the game itself sometimes...

I also agree with so many comments here. I never print a walkthrough but I always save one to my hard drive for an emergency. I much prefer to play without one and will work a puzzle until I am totally frustrated with it before resorting to posting on gameboomers. If I don't get an answere soon enough to comfortably move on, then I do a search on the walkthrough to find the spot I need help with trying to not peek at the rest of it.

I feel that walkthroughs take away some of my enjoyment when used too frequently but love the fact that they save me from abondoning a game of having the game lose its fun value when totally stuck or at a puzzle that I hate doing (like math puzzles). I really admire those who write them. It takes dedication, the willingness to replay several times to make sure its right, not to mention getting your thoughts in order and writing it in an understandable way. It's an art.

Melanie

yes,melanie1 - i agree with you about the WT's being an art ! i can only imagine the time it must take to do them ,and i've been grateful for them on more than one occcassion - like little "security blankets" - having places to go for helps also gives the confidence to try more complicated games ,i think

I keep the w/t on my puter but only access it when I have slept on the puzzle. unles I am so on a roll with teh game that I don;t want to loose the story!!!!

My frame of mind determines whether or not I use a WT. Many times, when I'm stuck on something, I'll visit game sites looking for clues rather than complete answers. I have printed out WTs but use them as a last resort. If I'm in the right frame of mind.

I always print the WT before I start a game. I can usually get by without it for a chapter or two, but always wind up stuck eventually. And it seems once Im stuck Im stuck through the rest of the game.
I am playing DiscWorld Noir at the moment. Played the first 2 chapters and referred to the WT once at the end of Chapter 2. It seems now that I am on Chap 3 I need it all the time.
Also whats funny is I always say before I start a game that I am not going to refer to a WT. I am going to work it out on my own. So much for that.

Printing walkthroughs cost too much printer ink and saving walkthroughs on the harddrive takes up too much space. So here is what I do:

Find the walkthrough online and leave it up. Disconnect from the internet. Return to the game. When you get stuck, press the Windows key (between Alt and Ctrl). This will switch you to the walkthrough that is open on your desktop. Then use your taskbar to return to the game. This will not work for all games but it has been very convenient for many of them.

I first try to do it on my own when I stuck then I have a Dutch and English WT.When I was younger I always print it out
-------------------------------------------------Playing: 80 days,Nd,Sherlock