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No manuals. Are you ok with this?
- Thread starter Z_Y
- Start date
Steve Youngblood
Member
But the poster I was replying to stated that they had no problem with no manuals, so I don't understand the point you're making. It was simply a cynical observation about publishers are using this as yet another move to add money to their bottom line and not passing the savings on to consumers.balladofwindfishes said:
I would argue that most games should be sold at a cheaper price point anyway, but that has nothing to do with the inclusion of a manual.
SolidusDave
Member
TheSeks said:
Terranigma came with the whole strategy guide in a giant box!
(kinda felt insulting, "lol stupid Europeans won't be able to finish the game if we don't pack in a guide")
Dark Octave
Banned
Back when I was a kid, I would devour the manual of all it's information and images cover to cover. Nowadays, with the internet and most games pretty much being samey, samey, I rarley take them out of the case. Still, I wouldn't buy a game without one.
If it's like 5 pages long and 3 of those pages are the covers and warranty information then they may as well take it out. But I would rather they make a nice, colourful, funny and well designed manual with a few dozen pages.
Like why did they make the AC:Brotherhood manual so horrible after making a great one for AC2.
Like why did they make the AC:Brotherhood manual so horrible after making a great one for AC2.
sixteen-bit
Member
No manuals is the reason I couldn't go back to THPS1.
Aizu_Itsuko
Member
Yeah, save the trees, but I would be lying if I said I didn't love to open the case of a game and read (and smell) the manual on my way home.
"Feels good man" moment, like unboxing a new console (aka gamer porn).
"Feels good man" moment, like unboxing a new console (aka gamer porn).
Depends what game, I like a manual for a complex RPG, the NWN manual was pretty good. That was also the last manual I really used. Oh and I printed out the dark eye rulebook for Drakensang.
I like to have stuff on my desk while I play my RPGs, notebook for reminders and builds, a manual for skills and mechanics etc.
I like to have stuff on my desk while I play my RPGs, notebook for reminders and builds, a manual for skills and mechanics etc.
The Albatross
Member
I always loved well made game manuals as a kid... the crisp feel of them, and flipping through them on the drive home from the videogame store. I also always loved reading the back story on enemies from Mario Games and elsewhere, but, in truth, Game manuals have become so poorly made and sparse that the move to simply make PDFs and in-game manuals for most games just makes sense.
The few exceptions, I appreciate: GTA, God of War, maybe Uncharted and RDR, IIRC those had really well made manuals, and I respect the companies for taking the expense. But, for annual release ware like the CoDs, Maddens, racing games, and so on, there's no real need.
The few exceptions, I appreciate: GTA, God of War, maybe Uncharted and RDR, IIRC those had really well made manuals, and I respect the companies for taking the expense. But, for annual release ware like the CoDs, Maddens, racing games, and so on, there's no real need.
sixteen-bit
Member
Perhaps DD has an effect on that.Keiician said:
Starwolf_UK
Member
Its gone digital. Soon it won't even be a disc in there...Keiician said:
Before reading this I felt that a manual is always something nice to have handy. It adds a little value to it (in my mind), and it is rather disappointing to pick up a game case and have it feel light as shit. After reading this though I would agree that it makes sense to have no manual at all over having a skimpy, black and white, super basic manual that is mostly legal jargon to anyways.
So unless the developer/publisher is willing to lose whatever profit it is to add a "nice" manual, then I don't see it as being worth it.
So unless the developer/publisher is willing to lose whatever profit it is to add a "nice" manual, then I don't see it as being worth it.
Then we will complain about a skimpy box!Starwolf_UK said:
Joei
Member
I used to like reading them back in NES and SNES times, now they are just there cause they have to be there. For example, I just opened up Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and the manuel is 4 pages long, one of which is the table of contents. Of those pages, the only one worth reading is the one that says X is attack, Triangle is area attack, X jumps, etc... Nothing on character history, game story, enemy info... nothing
Diprosalic
Banned
the internet has ruined alot of magic when picking up a new game. i would always read the manuals to see some gameplay mechanics and infos on enemys and such. but nowadays with all the quicklooks and previews i feel that i know the game already and they really make sure to tell you every damn thing you can do at the start of the games. so no need for that anymore.
IonicSnake
Banned
I'm perfectly fine with no papermanuals.
Bomber Bob
Banned
i dont care for manuals, I'm not 7 (and with no internet) anymore 
UpperCaseN
Member
I prefer to have them... but I don't ever read them. Once in a while I might flip through it to see about something not mentioned in the tutorial.
Para bailar La Bomba
Banned
Steve Youngblood said:
It's not so much what they cost but the cost ascribed to them by publishers in their books.
KoreanBarbecue
Member
Yeah, the new Earth Defense Force doesn't come with a manual and instead tells you to download a PDF of it. Downloaded it and it's essentially like two pages of nothing. I guess this is the trend now, as publishers can save quite a bit of money not printing up manuals anymore. Still, seems weird to me. I'm used to my pretty manuals.
Steve Youngblood
Member
You think publishers think manuals cost five dollars per copy?Para bailar La Bomba said:
I love me my manuals. I hate that we get 2-3 page black and white useless pieces of shit now.
No tada.
Mailboxes are already only for mail, so anyone other than a mail carrier stuffing your mailbox with ads is already breaking the law.
And the mail carrier isn't allowed to determine whether or not you want a particular piece of mail, and has to deliver it as addressed.
Stumpokapow said:
No tada.
Mailboxes are already only for mail, so anyone other than a mail carrier stuffing your mailbox with ads is already breaking the law.
And the mail carrier isn't allowed to determine whether or not you want a particular piece of mail, and has to deliver it as addressed.
Current games don't need manuals. Partly because the games are not very complicated and partly because they appear designed to played without one. Every game seems to have a tutorial of sorts. Hell, you don't even need them to explain the game's story, since even the smallest puzzle games have opening cutscenes.
Para bailar La Bomba
Banned
Steve Youngblood said:
No. But they usually overvalue them for tax reasons. My initial post was sarcastic, you see.
Manos: The Hans of Fate
Banned
Hey it was nice to get manuals that were more like regular books than a warranty card you get with a vacuum and you need a big box for that!Pyrrhus said:
Shadow of the BEAST
Banned
I got pissed of when i found out mass effect 2 did not have a manual. Reading the manual on the way home from the shop is part of the whole thing.
No manual is bullshit. To me its like getting a pirate version. Why should i pay good money when i get the pirate experience?
No manual is bullshit. To me its like getting a pirate version. Why should i pay good money when i get the pirate experience?
JordanLMiller
Member
I like manuals that include story background and artwork. But I'm fine with getting rid of those ugly black and white ones.
Hearing some of you express affection even now for the way manuals look warms the cockles of my tired, burned-out heart. As someone who still WRITES some of those manuals, despite seeing what they've become, it still makes me glad to know the work is appreciated when time and effort are put in.
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