Barbara's edit: We are working with Plimus to correct several issues related to downloading the game guide and other extras, but until they are resolved, everyone will need to follow the procedures in Heather's edit at the bottom of this post. There are a lot of people with the same problem, and Heather is getting new links to everyone as fast as she can. We really do appreciate all of you hanging in there with us.


When we purchase the game is that the special developer's edition package?, is that suppose to include the Official Game Guide free of charge?..and if so where do I find it?

When you buy the game you should get an email containing a link to the Special Developer's Edition package, which includes the Guide.

I have kind of the same question...I did dl it but can't find it on my comp now. Anyone know where it is stored?

It's a .zip file. Does that help?

I found it thanks. Just looked in Adobe

I cannot find my game guide either. I searched for zip and pdf files and found nothing related to the game. The link i received in the email didn't work. I had to contact Xay. Could this be the reason I don't have the guide?

What did Xay's answer say?

She sent the correct download link and my key code. After using this, I was able to play the full game version. I just can't locate the game guide. I'm wondering if I'm not searching for the correct file or if i never received it.

I can't find mine either. The link in the e-mail with the "extras" just never worked. I have no idea where the game guide is - or any of the other extras. Hopefully I can get a link that works soon

I get this when clicking on the "Extras" link: "The page you are trying to reach is currently unavailable. This may be due to a scheduled maintenance, please try again later." I think we'll be able to get it later, I'm sure the site is being overwhelmed with hits.

RoseArienh, contact me with your order information and I'll assist you.

Hi. I was in such a hurry to play I didn't even know there WAS a guide. Now that I need it I went back to email & clicked link but it says cannot download due to too many attempts for downloaders or something along those lines. What now?

If you have emailed in a support form, please be patient, as I am working on those as I type If you haven't, then click the link in my signature and send in a support form with your order information and I will help you.

Same Issue

Same problem for me too.I was so anxious to play,by the time I remembered the guide I was too late.

Yeah I checked my email for the extra link and when I clicked on the link, I got this message:

Cannot download


This product is no longer available for download, this may be due to the maximum number of allowed attempts exceeded or the allotted time.
Please contact the manufacturer of the product for support.

I downloaded it, and it worked, but I've searched for all adobe and zip files and didn't show up.

I am unable to locate my game guide the link I received with my purchase email does not work I get the following message -This product is no longer available for download, this may be due to the maximum number of allowed attempts exceeded or the allotted time.
Please contact the manufacturer of the product for support. This message appeared straight after I purchased the game and with my first attempt at trying to get the guide

Anyone who has trouble with the game guide can click on the link in my signature and then fill out a support form to contact me for help.

Please include your name, order number, and the problem you are having! (If you don't, it will take me longer to help you )

I do sleep so if I don't get back to you in the night hours of the US, don't fret, I'll get to you as soon as I can in the morning!

Thanks!

~Heather

I'm also having the same problems getting my game guide. When I click on the link in my email it tells me that it's no longer valid. I just bought the game yesterday. First time I clicked the link today it told me it wasn't valid. GRRRRR...I'll be patient for a couple more days. I'm sure LDW is working on the problem. :-D

SillyGranny, I received your support form, and will answer you as quickly as I possibly can. It will definitely be soon! Thank you so much for your patience!

I also get a bad link saying no longer valid and that I have exceeded the maximum number of downloads, but i have never been there, I just bought the game.

I just bought VV4 yesterday and cannot find the game guide and even tried clicking on the extras link and it said it was currently unavailable. I tried again this morning but still couldn't access it

i went into email and clicked on the link it says its no longer available
i am speaking of the link for the game guide

PM Xay Send a support form to Xay, she can help you.

I get the following message on the Plimus web site "This product is no longer available for download, this may be due to the maximum number of allowed attempts exceeded or the allotted time. Please contact the manufacturer of the product for support."

I have been trying to get the Extras since yesterday afternoon. I know that there must be a lot of people trying to download the Game Guide since you just sent out emails announcing the availability of Virtual Villagers 4. However, I would expect Plimus to resolve this problem within a short period of time. It has been almost 18 hours since I first tried to download the Extras. When is this problem with the Plimus web site going to be fixed?

Sorry I sent this as a Reply instead of a support to Xay. I am a newbie at this.

Unfortunately, Plimus scheduled system maintenance at the same time as our launch of VV4. They appear to be having continuing problems, but we are handling the issues everyone is having as quickly as we can. We do ask for everyone's patience and understanding; we are as unhappy about this as you all are.

When I try the link- this is what I get:

Cannot download


This product is no longer available for download, this may be due to the maximum number of allowed attempts exceeded or the allotted time.
Please contact the manufacturer of the product for support.

PM Xay she can help Send a support form, instead, please.

I'm new too- how do I PM Xray?

Instead of PMing click on her click on the link in her signature and fill out a support form

I just tried to get the game guide and the link didn't work for me. It said something about the time alloted being expired. How can that be? I bought it yesterday. Is there a way to get it without paying for it?

Same problem here I also bought the game yesterday and can't download the guide :-(

I too am having the same problem with no extras for the game. Have filled out a support form.

Please rest assured that everyone who has filled out a support form will receive a reply from me.

If you have yet to fill one out and have a problem with getting the game or the game guide, please go to our Support FAQ by clicking the link in my signature, and I will respond as soon as possible!

@xay: I got the same problem, that the link has expired. But I sent a mail to the email address, mentioned in the order confirmation from plimus (support@ldw.com). Are you see this one also?

Yes, Heather will respond to email sent to support@ldw.com. The support form is the best choice, since it asks for the information that we need about the order, but an email will reach us, as well.

Now the game won't even open up. Just scrambles my desk icons and that's it.

Anybody there? What should I do?

I'd just like to thank LDW for the support they're giving - it wouldn't be easy with the flood of messages that would come on release of the game. We too didn't get the game guide (I can't help but wonder if gmail is a part of the problem as it'll block certain emails without even advising you) but after contacting LDW they were in touch with us within a short time and solved the problem.

I hear if you purchased VV4 D.E. you get a sat guide?? How?

There will be a link in your confirmation email that allows you to download the guide and extras. If the link does not work, or you have difficulty locating the email, please send in a support form via our Support FAQ, (you can reach the FAQ by clicking the link in my signature), and I will get back with you as quickly as possible.

~Heather

Deztoy, it's best if you don't post a technical issue in here, which is why you haven't yet received an answer. I don't normally look at threads that Heather is handling, since we work on different areas of support.

The issue you refer to is usually caused by a display setting. If you go through the procedures in this answer in our Support FAQ, you should be able to resolve the problem.

My link goes to a page and says "This product is no longer available for download, this may be due to the maximum number of allowed attempts exceeded or the allotted time.
Please contact the manufacturer of the product for support."

Anyone who has trouble with the game guide can click on the link in my signature and then fill out a support form to contact me for help.

Please include your name, order number, and the problem you are having! (If you don't, it will take me longer to help you )

I do sleep so if I don't get back to you in the night hours of the US, don't fret, I'll get to you as soon as I can in the morning!

Thanks!

~Heather

Thanks,

I was finally able to download the game guide, but when I click on it, it doesn't extract and, although it's a Word file, I can't open it in Word because it looks to be encoded. HELP!!!

(I've already sent an email to support. I'm posting this hear hoping someone can give me a quicker answer.)

Threefarmers, I am emailing you back right now with instructions. Thank you!

~Heather

I have a similar problem too, I bought VV4 and the Extras link doesnt work. it just says that "The page you are trying to reach is currently unavailable. This may be due to a scheduled maintenance, please try again later." I really need that game guide D: how do i get it?

Please see my post that is 4 posts above yours.

I am having the same problem as imScott and I sent in a Support Form about 3 hours ago! Wanting my Game Guide, but please take your time Xay!

I got the message that I had either tried to access it too many times, or that teh time limit had expired.
Only bought the game 2 days ago, and accessed it only once.

We are working with Plimus to correct these issues, but until they are resolved, everyone will need to follow the procedures in Heather's edit at the bottom of this post. There are a lot of people with the same problem, and Heather is getting new links to everyone as fast as she can. We really do appreciate all of you hanging in there with us.

I thought I had this problem, but I don't. Here's what happened to me: Buying VV4 results in two emails. One email landed in inbox and the other in spam box. Since one made it in inbox, I didn't think to check spam box.

Then when I found the email in the spam box, the link was not live -- so you won't notice it unless you look closely.

Hope this helps someone.

Heather thank you so much for your prompt action.
I have the guide now.

I also have not been able to find the guide?

As I mentioned in the first post in this thread, we want everyone who has bought the game guide or the Developer's Edition bundle to receive everything you paid for. The way to do that is to follow the instructions I posted there:

I am having trouble unzipping the files. It doesn't seem to want to use anything but WinZip and I have not bought that (can you tell I am not computer savvy?) Is there an easy way?

Have you installed WinZip to your computer in the past, and then perhaps uninstalled it? It may have taken over the association for this file type. Windows from XP and later has support for zip files built-in; you should be able to right-click on the file/folder and choose "extract". If you have a different archive program, try right-clicking and choosing "Open with..." and choosing the program.

It might be an idea to download a free utility such as 7-zip to take the place of Winzip. When installing, make sure it is associated with zip files.

thank you Arnie, extract worked perfectly

do you have to buy the game to get the guide- I need help- everyone is starving and can not figure out how to get more food. All I have is the berry bush- I have boiling water but the fruit on the fruit tree they pick and it tells me that it has to be cooked but they do not bring it to the pot. I can not fish - I have nothing - lol - 0 food, not enough on the berry bush, 7 villagers - HELP

The game guide is free when you purchase the game directly from LDW. It's also sold separately by LDW here (near the bottom right of the page).

There's always help here in the VV4 forum too. You need to Do you have any children to gather mushrooms until then?

Thank you- I was not sure were to even start to get food.- now I might have a chance.