Game Manuals

[Whaleboy]

I rarely read the manual for anything. Cheat sheets are good though...

[Imran Siddiqui]

They could of reduced it to the spread sheets at the back and a small pamphlet with spell descriptions.

Why? So uncultured you are. There is nothing better than opening up your game box and finding a nice 400 page manual.

[Andemagne]

I usually dive right into the game, but if something prooves to be complicated in the game, I look at the manual.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
There is nothing better than opening up your game box and finding a nice 400 page manual.

Except starting a game and finding a comprehsive information layout and tool-tip system.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Except starting a game and finding a comprehsive information layout and tool-tip system.

Nope, that ain't better. The large manual shows the company cares more.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

The large manual shows the company cares more.

No it doesn't, it just shows they're wasteful and perhaps unable to make a comprehensive in-game help system. If they want to show they care, they can make a good game.

[Dis]

in game help is lame. It ruins the gaming experience. especially in rpg's.

You think I want to wake up in Irenicus's dungeon and have the mood ruined by some voice telling me to left click a spot to move, and left click to open the cage? No.

[DrSpike]

I like chunky manuals because it often (not always)indicates some depth to the game. But big manuals should always be a complement to a good in game tutorial.

[Skanky Burns]

It seems most games these day just have an in-game tutorial, a quick install guide and perhaps a key reference sheet. The manual doesn't even rate as an afterthought.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Dissident
in game help is lame. It ruins the gaming experience. especially in rpg's.

You think I want to wake up in Irenicus's dungeon and have the mood ruined by some voice telling me to left click a spot to move, and left click to open the cage? No.

That's crappy in-game help. Nobody needs to be told that, I don't know why they ever have those idiotic tutorials anyways. I'm talking more about tool-tips that explain what your attributes or spells do, in the case of RPGs. or civelopedia style things in the case of strategy games.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Except starting a game and finding a comprehsive information layout and tool-tip system.

Nope, that ain't better. The large manual shows the company cares more.

Caring companies are important.

[Pave]

In-game tutorials are for me actualy quite a fun, if it´s not like "put the cursor over the unit and press the left button to choose it" and so on. But with good tutorials I really play them over and over again.

[Japher]

I'll skim through the manual while installing. After playing for awhile, then I'll go back and read the manual. Manuals make more sense after you've played a bit.

I keep manuals by the toilet and read as I sit, and rip the pages that have read out and wipe my arse with them... Makes me feel better.

[da_hal]

back in the day, the manual provided most of the graphics. computers couldn't put together sprites in a way that was recognizable, so the manual had to tell you about the dungeon, forest, monsters, etc.

imho, the manual is a seperate art form from the game. if all you want to do is fool around, then the manual is meaningless. but, if you try to look at the big picture, and see a particular game as meaningful and historic, then sure, the manual is important.

personally, i don't have 90% of my games anymore (do to a tape drive mishap in the mid 90's.) But, i still recall a lot by looking at the manual. i wish i took better care of them for collecting reasons, but the memories suffice.

[Father Beast]

I admit to being a manual Junkie. I read the manual before I even install the demo. Often the manual will give me a good idea if I want to try the game. My last recommendation by manual like this was for Dungeon Keeper. I've got to try that pretty soon. But first I'll read the manual and then install the freelancer demo...