Prima Games Author Blog » dawn of the dragon http://www.primagames.com/blog Prima Games Author Blog Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:08:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 en hourly 1 The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon Author Tips http://www.primagames.com/blog/2008/10/13/the-legend-of-spyro-dawn-of-the-dragon-author-tips/ http://www.primagames.com/blog/2008/10/13/the-legend-of-spyro-dawn-of-the-dragon-author-tips/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:31:05 +0000 m3rcutio http://primagames.wordpress.com/?p=457 The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon will soar to store shelves in just over a week. The thrilling conclusion to the popular series finds Spyro and Cynder pitted against the Dark Master himself. With everything at stake in this final confrontation, we thought a few tips were in order.

1. When dealing with Grublins and Winged Grublins, rely on your seize attacks to thrash them into submission.


2. Use Spyro’s Ice Spikes or Cynder’s Venom breath attacks to weigh down a Wyvern’s wings. Once he’s grounded, beat him to a pulp.

3. When taking on Axe Orcs, use Spyro’s Lightning Bolt breath attack to disarm them. As they scramble to pick up their weapon, take advantage of the opening.

4. If you’re looking for a little burst of speed while flying, tap the jump button quickly.

5. For those moments when Grublins have you outnumbered and surrounded, use Terrador’s Sentence or Dragon Dance to thin the herd.

6. Crossbow Orcs are most dangerous at a distance, so get in close and stay there.

7. Trolls are powerful foes, but a jolt of Spyro’s Lightning Bolt breath attack will stun them, if only for a moment.

8. Metal Gates might seem impassable, but Cynder’s Shadow Strike breath attack will allow you slip under them.

9. Snake Skill is a great way to avoid enemy attacks, and it also works while in flight.

10. If you find Spyro low on Life or Mana, try switching to Cynder and vice versa.

]]> http://www.primagames.com/blog/2008/10/13/the-legend-of-spyro-dawn-of-the-dragon-author-tips/feed/ 1 Completing the Guide http://www.primagames.com/blog/2008/10/03/completing-my-first-guide/ http://www.primagames.com/blog/2008/10/03/completing-my-first-guide/#comments Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:51:16 +0000 m3rcutio http://primagames.wordpress.com/?p=413
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Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise was a wonderful first guide to write, giving me an amazing opportunity to work with seasoned authors like Bryan Stratton and David Hodgson. Their patience and willingness to work with “the new guy” truly made all of the difference in my taking on the mantle of strategy guide author. The Product Management and Editing teams were likewise great to work with. In addition to being a lot of fun, co-authoring Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise really gave me the experience I needed to tackle my first guide alone.

As of September 18th, at around 4:00 PM PST, I had officially turned in the last portion of my first solo project, The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon. In roughly two and half weeks, I managed to write the entire guide, compile screenshots, and label all of the maps. Try as I might, I don’t think I can fully convey the sense of accomplishment that comes along with being able to say that. Despite the tight deadline and long hours, I had a lot of fun putting this one together. The game was a blast, offering me a nice change of pace from the tactical first-person shooters that tend to serve as the staple in my gaming diet. It had truly been a while since I played a good platformer.

As my second completed guide for Prima Games, I have to say I’m feeling more and more confident. Naturally, I still have a lot to learn, but if you had told me a few months ago that I’d have one book out on shelves and another rolling to print by this stage, I wouldn’t have believed you. Thanks a bunch to my Copy Editor, my Editor, Product Manager, and everyone else at Prima for helping me conclude my second project. Most of all, thanks to my wife and kids for their patience.

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