Game Manuals

[Dis]

I got 2 games for christmas. Actually both are expansions- but one game, dungeon seige, I have not played the full game. I want to play, but I always feel a need to read the manual first.

Are you the type to dive right into a game without reading the manual, do you ever read the manual. Must you read every page including appendices before playing the game?

discuss

Lately I only read the important stuff like interface before playing. I used to read every page. A few instances I brought a manual to work and read it while I was working. But my my attention span has dropped, and I cannot wait to read the whole manual first.

[Sava]

I only read the manual if it is complicated... usually I dive right in, maybe glance at the manual to get an idea of controls. Later on, I'll use the manual as dune reading material (duning=pooing)

[Imran Siddiqui]

I read the manual for interface and stuff and end up usually reading the whole thing within a week. I hate it when the make shitty manuals. I prefer the ones that have a nice little backstory as well.

[Skanky Burns]

For the more complicated games such as Civ, I will read the manual first. With pretty much every game released nowadays though, the manual is largely useless. Most games are remakes of previous ones, so the interface is obvious and the function of things in the game are standard.

[Paddy]

I like to read the manuals after the 3rd or forth attempt at a game, or when totally frustrated by it...

Otherwise they are great for on the train to and from work...

[Case]

I used to read the manuals from cover to cover, but these days I only consult the 'quick keys' sections upon installation, and generally only dive into the rest of it if the games confusing/doesn't work.

That said, I'm still prepared to pay more for a game with a proper manual then one with a two page installation guide and/or a .pdf file on the CD.

[Rubychaser]

A good manual is worth so much.

But then companies are run by scrooges, there for the profit.

[Space05us]

I usually go right to playing until I get stuck or I just cant seem to get the hang of it, then I read the manual from front to back and return to gaming. Sometimes, as in the case with most of my games, I wont read the manual until Im bored and want something to do. They're like short stories

[Skanky Burns]

Most newer manuals aren't worth the paper they are printed on.

[Alex]

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Most newer manuals aren't worth the paper they are printed on.

Ditto.

Having said that, I'm still one of the few who reads manuals from cover to cover before playing. It's just an obsession to me, I simply cannot play before reading the manual. I even read the Civ2 manual TWICE before actually playing the game. But I did it in 4 hours.

[Maquiladora]

I read the manual as im playing, but as said most arent worth **** nowadays. The last manual that was any good to me was Pharaoh, but that included a nice poster too.

I really wish theyd get rid of those PDF manuals, dont people know its awkward to read them, let alone while playing the game

[General Ludd]

A good game doesn't require a manual. I prefer tool-tips and in-game help or tutorials.

[Maquiladora]

Maybe im old-skool then but i prefer serious flight sim size manuals for every game, its the feeling of a small manual can mean a rushed game, although my Deus Ex original release came with a very tiny book, surprising really inside one of the old style pc game cardboard boxes.

[DrSpike]

Games like Civ I skim, then refer back later if I am confused about something.

Most manuals I don't read until there is a problem.

[Adagio]

I hate manuals... it's the worst thing ever invented...

Last time (and first time) I read a manual was the one for Civ2... and I only read it because I was bored...

I'm glad they release games in those DVD boxes now, so there's not room for some 1000+ pages large manual...

[Space05us]

I was always dissapointed whenever i got a game in a big box and there wasnt a huge manual in it. dont know why but I felt like I was getting ripped off. Maybe I got spoiled with Civ.

[Father Beast]

My playing time is too limited for me to stumble about in a game, not knowing what I'm doing. And I don't play enough variety to automatically know how to play every game.

The Price of having a Life.

I will read the manual through before playing, often before installing, but I'll skip the appendices until I actually play some, and then I use it for reference.

[Jamski]

I'll read the manual while it installs, and then start playing. The later on I'll finish reading the manual with a cup of tea, or on the bus or something. Even during the adverts on TV. There's so many moments when a manual can be useful.

Then if its a game with lots of units or spells or skill or something, I'll look stuff up in the manual as I play. I really like a good manual. If its a PDF I'll probably never even open the file though.

-Jam

[Sarxis]

I really like to read game manuals- it helps build up the suspense of playing the game; kinda like an Hors d'Oeuvre.

[BustaMike]

Your banana option is weak and unimaginative.

I'll refer back to manuals after playing for a while. It pisses me off when the info I want isn't there, which seems to happen a lot lately.

[Zero]

I NEVER read manuals.

I preferably dive into game and try to experience it firsthand. No matter how complicated the game is, I'll skip the manual. This probably stems from the fact that I download most games....

Usually if its a game I have been anticipating, my first knowledge will probably come from what i have read online (like ptw, I knew everything I needed to know before playing). After those two, I always refer to game forums (such as apolyton for civ for ex.) for more info.

Only time I'll read a game manual is probably for boredom. Like when my ps2 mainboard got fried... I wanted to play virtua fighter so I just indulged myself by reading the manual and reading stuff online... or there is sava's example.

Strategy guide and maunals SUCK compared to community of good players.

[child of Thor]

It depends on the game................

PacMan i can do without the manual, Civ type game or a flight sim i use the manual from the begining.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I liked the old manuals for Baldur's Gate 1 & 2, Fallout 1 & 2. You don't see those anymore. Part of them was an explination of the world and stuff.

[vmxa1]

I tend to read the whole thing first, even that did not help for Moo3.

[Dis]

I miss big thick manuals. Just looking at the manuals for civ2 and SMAC. oh how I miss those. The thicker and bigger, the better.

Anyways I just got done with Knights of the Old Republic. I started the game before reading the manual. I found the interace crappy, and I stopped playing. but then I read the manual, and then started playing again. I have now finished the game. I still don't like some interace issues, but the game is playable.

I also got NWN: heroes of the underdark. I did read that manual despite the fact the gameplay is the same as the other nwn games I have. But I wanted to read up on the new epic classes and spells. I skip the builder stuff though, since I don't build anything in that game.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Zero
I NEVER read manuals.

I preferably dive into game and try to experience it firsthand. No matter how complicated the game is, I'll skip the manual.

I like to see you play a competent game of Harpoon without reading the manual

[Imran Siddiqui]

I miss big thick manuals.

Hear, Hear! The worst part of getting an XBox is that the size of the game box prevents any large manuals from being made for a game of that system.

SMAC was the best manual ever, especially the reference stuff in the back. SOOOO awesome.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Dissident
I miss big thick manuals. Just looking at the manuals for civ2 and SMAC. oh how I miss those. The thicker and bigger, the better.

I don't mind getting manuals in soft copies, but most manuals are useless. The important stuff are in the "strategic guides" now bloody evil money grubbers.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The old Black Isle manuals were amazing as well. Fallout, Baldur's Gate, those series had some really nice manuals which had notebook spirals, allowing you to fold it over nice .

[Dis]

yep, I like the comments by Volo as well