Why do they make game boxes so small now?

[Victor Galis]

I'd rather have a manual that I can put next to the keyboard and read while I play, something that I don't have to read in front of the screen.

-Yeah, I like having something to read on my way back from the store... except when I'm driving.

[Grumbold]

I think its all been said already. The initial drive apparently came from the retailers who wanted to fit more units per shelf, more shelves per rack etc but once they got all the publishers persuaded that big odd shaped boxes cost more to produce than they sold extra units it became a reality. Now that games like NWN have shown its possible to put a quality manual into a case that smal I'm sold on the idea. I need my papaer but my shelves were getting jammed full too so downsizing is cool.

[FrustratedPoet]

Didn't HOMM4 come in a nifty NWN-shaped box?
No quality documentation there.

Or shouldn't I get you started again on HOMM4's pdf manual Grumbold?

Some publishers just can't be bothered. More shame them.

[Dis]

NWN's manual is decent.

But I want more!!

They have decent charts at the back. but not a real spell description in the spells section.

I want the format that shows up when you push the ? on the spell book. It shows the range/duration etc.

And BTW magic circle of alignment shows 1 Hour/level in the game but it only lasts for a minute or so. Error? I assume so.

[Urban Ranger]

I don't mind they make boxes smaller, some games have excessive packaging.

I also don't mind the lack of manuals if there are extensive help facilities that are easily accessible.

I just don't like Acrobat manuals.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Victor Galis
Print out the .pdfs

Suppose the idea behind not including manuals is to conserve trees, printing out the .PDF's will have just the opposite effect. While a company can print manuals on recycled paper, how many people have that at home?

[Dis]

and think how much is wasted with 8 1/2 by 11" paper when a regular manual is printed on much smaller recycled paper.

[Victor Galis]

Suppose the idea behind not including manuals is to conserve trees, printing out the .PDF's will have just the opposite effect. While a company can print manuals on recycled paper, how many people have that at home?

-I don't know. I would just send the print job to the printer over in OIT where they print mass amounts of stuff for free

and think how much is wasted with 8 1/2 by 11" paper when a regular manual is printed on much smaller recycled paper.

-True, but most people would probably not bother printing the .pdfs.

As for documentation, well depending on how close the game comes to 3rd edition rules, you could just buy a player's handbook.

[chronocrator]

Starting in 2002 all PC Games will be packaged in DVD cases or in boxes with the same front dimensions as a DVD case.

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
I don't mind they make boxes smaller, some games have excessive packaging.

...and some games just have no packaging other than the CD. I'm fine with the new size as long as they use the thicker box with a manual and extras (I would have almost written "other extras" here, hopefully a manual will never be considered an extra) for those games that need them. As for those games that don't need more than a thin manual, the DVD case is enough.

BTW what is that NWN everyone keeps talking about?

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by Dissident
And BTW magic circle of alignment shows 1 Hour/level in the game but it only lasts for a minute or so. Error? I assume so.

I think it means one hour in the Game World, not in the Real World.

[Darkworld Ark]

The new cases don't really do much for displaying them on a bookshelf in a book-like manor, since the're just as thick as regular cases.

[Victor Galis]

BTW what is that NWN everyone keeps talking about?

-A very nice RPG, that I will not get to play until I come home

[chronocrator]

Neverwinter Nights - got it!

[Victor Galis]

Yeah... I hear you get to go to Waterdeep in the game

[Dis]

Yes but I have other spells that are 1 hour/level and they last much longer (like 10 minutes or so).

anyways that is slightly off topic