I suggest ....

[Mannamagnus]

I suggest we no longer buy games that don't have a good manual until the price of the game has dropped so much that the price of the game plus a good strategy guide equals the price the game was sold for when it came out.
All those in favour say aye.

[The Viceroy]

Theoretically AYE!! but problem is, how do you know if the manual is any good, if you haven't got the game in the first place ??

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"Wherever wood floats, you will find the British" . Napoleon
[This message has been edited by The Viceroy (edited December 18, 2000).]

[Mannamagnus]

Ask, download, open a box in a shop or through a forum such as this.

[Atahualpa]

Manuals? Who needs them anyway!

I suggest companies dont write any hard-copy manuals anymore, just some notes on the most important things in some text file and make the game cheaper instead.
Never read a manual for years! Only when I am very very bored or when I dont have a book to read. They should do more posters or charts or put plastic figures in the game boxes or what do I know.
That would be cool actually. Every game ships with a plastic figur of one of the main characters or a character that you can identify with (CtP2: Tank, Legion,...). That would really give a perfect collection!
I also think that software piracy is then reduced!

Like Gus Tarballs in Jagged Alliance 2 said: "Learnin' by doin' Woody!"

Ata

[Dyzee400]

Sorry, no legions in CTP2

[Mannamagnus]

I think you might be on to something Atahualpa. A plastic diplomat would be very helpful at figuring out how diplomacy works in CtP2!

[aebbeka]

quote: Originally posted by Dyzee400 on 12-18-2000 07:37 AM Sorry, no legions in CTP2

Hehe, maybe he should start reading the manual...

[rwz]

I too am not happy with the manual, but it is a tough question. Wait another month or two for them to write a good manual or just get the game right away and jump in. Maybe Activision should just offer the strategy guide as a down load to the register buyers of the game for like $10. O but wait two minutes later people would be posting it so that wouldn't work.

I can't believe they printed an ad for the Strategy guide as the last page of the manual!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ata, you must be kidding! I love manuals! I read all through them. SMAC's manual was excellent as was Civ2's. Baldur's Gate II had a large great manual (spiral bound too!). It shows me how much work they put into this and also is some good reading to understand how the game works!

Give me a good manual anyday!

[XWaste]

Yeah, a good manual is more than a handy tool for the gamer, its a sign that the makers cared more about producing a good package rather than just rushing out their next game...a good manual conveys the enthusiasm of the makers, doesn't just give you the rules but pulls you into the feel of the game....makes you feel that the game is more than a bunch of rules and graphics slapped together but an experience.

The physical components of a game are so cheap that not including a manual would hardly affec the price at all - give me a good manual and cut out the large margin the retail chains add anyday.