GameFAQs - how do they know?

[CR34M3]

I like getting a fair amount of hours from a game -- makes me feel like I'm getting my money's worth. Doing side quests and optional extras [achievements are usually excluded] are a good way to extend a game's lifespan. I also feel that selectively using/reading an FAQ/game guide can add to the enjoyment of a game.

This brings me to my question; where do the people that write FAQs (e.g. on GameFAQs) get their info? Here's an excerpt from a Final Fantasy XII FAQ which got me wondering:

A 3/6/8/12% drop from this rare game. In order for it to spawn, you must defeat all Tartarus and at least 6 Cerberus, and then it has a 20% chance to spawn along the eastern edge of the area.

Do people just make this up? Do they ACTUALLY play a game enough to get these numbers? Or do they get it from the developers? If so, why isn't there "official" FAQs on GameFAQs?

Anybody have an idea? Or better, anyone write FAQs?

 

[stricken]

you get some mad crazy game junkies out there my friend. people that discover and quantify things beyond even the developers dedication.

 

[czc]

I just thought they replayed it until they found these things.

 

[HideInLight]

If you have access to the code of the game, you can, learn interesting mechanics. For example in UT3, with the flak cannon if the middle shard hits the opponent in a timeframe of 0.2 seconds (close range) you do up to a 100 bonus damage depending on the distance between you and the enemy.

Games like DotA/HoN has forums dedicated to advanced mechanics, which often includes developer communication. It's for die hard nerds like me.