Game Manuals - Page 2

General Ludd · January 26, 2004, 09:01

Quote:

Originally posted by 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

.

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

MattH · January 26, 2004, 10:57

I always read the manuals from cover to cover. Neverwinter nights is pretty comprehensive (with a cloth map!). Starcraft was the most fun to read. CIV IV pissed me off because it was missing half the info I wanted to know.

Pave · January 26, 2004, 11:38

Quote:

Originally posted by MattH
CIV IV pissed me off because it was missing half the info I wanted to know.

CIV IV?

I usualy read the basics of the game, aka how to move and that kind of stuff, and later, when I´m stuck I read the complicated things.

Best manual I ever seen is Zeus: Master of Olympos, it was made to be a story of Democrates, who with ancients gods and heroes builds a magnificent greek city and learns the game basics.

SpencerH · January 26, 2004, 12:01

Two ends of the stick

Medieval Total War: Game basics, but virtually nothing else.

Great game, ****ing terrible manual

SM's Gettysburg: It even had a significant history component.

Great game, great manual

rah · January 26, 2004, 16:29

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.

And yes, no one seems to make good manuals anymore.

General Ludd · January 26, 2004, 16:50

The less packing the better. I wish they'd just sell the CD in it's plastic case, ,maybe with an instruction card on the inside. No boxes full of air and junk, no manuals, nothing. Just put everything you need on the CDs.

The Mad Monk · January 27, 2004, 03:57

I love manuals, every page.

They do not leave my bathroom until I'm done with them.

Main_Brain · January 27, 2004, 05:30

Some Manuals are even finished before Installation is complete

(Half-life)

General Ludd · January 27, 2004, 08:34

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
I love manuals, every page.

They do not leave my bathroom until I'm done with them.

Jeez, what's wrong with toilet paper?

The Mad Monk · January 27, 2004, 18:10

Nothing, why do you ask?

EternalSpearman · January 28, 2004, 23:10

I'm somewhere in between options 1 and 2. I usually read everything, but sometimes I install it and try out the tutorial (if there is one) before reading the manual.

asleepathewheel · January 28, 2004, 23:20

Madmonk

I usually read a bit of the gameplay part while installing. Then I play for a while. I usually don't read the rest of the manual until i have to take a crap. A bit too much information, I know, but hey, its what I do.

Dis · January 29, 2004, 03:51

I must be the only person who does not read on the crapper

Adagio · January 29, 2004, 06:37

No, you're not

Rasbelin · January 30, 2004, 07:35

I think the manual for either The Sims or Civ III, was the latest one I read completely. More and more retail games ship just in a DVD case, so the manual isn't that great, which leaves little left to read.

Whaleboy · January 31, 2004, 00:12

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

Imran Siddiqui · January 31, 2004, 02:29

Quote:

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 · February 1, 2004, 21:31

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

General Ludd · February 1, 2004, 21:42

Quote:

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 · February 2, 2004, 02:11

Quote:

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 · February 2, 2004, 09:05

Quote:

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 · February 4, 2004, 03:37

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 · February 4, 2004, 06:22

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 · February 4, 2004, 06:45

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 · February 4, 2004, 08:31

Quote:

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 · February 5, 2004, 03:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Quote:

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 · February 6, 2004, 10:56

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 · February 6, 2004, 12:36

Quote:

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 · February 7, 2004, 07:50

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 · February 7, 2004, 11:47

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...