instruction books
- Thread starter Worgen
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I wish the instruction manuals were all like the Guild Wars books. I'd be nice if companies actually took the time to make their products attractive again. Even collector's editions are getting chincy on the add-ons.
Good instruction books are nice to have, but i think the reason for the decline is that modern game design calls for in-game instruction. Older games used to not have tutorials or in-game instructions, so they put all that information in the instruction booklets.
Makes me wonder what Portal would be like if it used the old doctrine, considering that nearly all of the game is teaching you how to use the portal gun with the last two levels testing the skills you developed. You'd have like...two levels and a massive instruction booklet telling you how to perform certain manuevers.
Makes me wonder what Portal would be like if it used the old doctrine, considering that nearly all of the game is teaching you how to use the portal gun with the last two levels testing the skills you developed. You'd have like...two levels and a massive instruction booklet telling you how to perform certain manuevers.
I like instruction books, I always read them to get a heads up on what to expect from the game and get down the controls and whatnot quicker. Then again I am also one of those people that demands hard copies, shuns digital, because I like box art...oh and actual sense of ownership. I remember when I first got guild wars...that manual was HUGE, had some kick ass back story along with your game knowledge.
Come to think of it, you are right. Very few to none games have a nice instruction booklet. I really miss the old days... Oblivion had a pretty and useful one though 
AND it had a map along with it. I love maps ^^
GTAs had awesome folding city maps. I had once hung the map of San Andreas on my wall. Then I ripped it off, because we were moving to another house :/
AND it had a map along with it. I love maps ^^GTAs had awesome folding city maps. I had once hung the map of San Andreas on my wall. Then I ripped it off, because we were moving to another house :/
Instruction manuals really seem to be a lost art these days. I suppose between tutorial levels and cinematic cut-scenes, instruction and exposition are handled in-game. I once read that some old PC games (namely RPGs) would actually refer the player to a specific page in the instruction manual because these were the floppy-disk days and memory was at a premium.
Some good instruction manuals:
Double Dragon (NES)
Metroid 2: Return of Samus
Rise of the Dragon (PC/MAC)
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (PS1)
MDK
Starcraft
Okage: The Shadow King
Lifeline
Metal Gear Solid 2
Sky Gunner
side-note about MGS2: I liked the 'previous story' that basically serves as a kind of novelization of the first game. The whole bit with the guy who puts peanut butter on everything (even in his flask) was a little weird, but it's probably one of the most memorable novellas I've ever read. I don't know how long it actually is since it's on-screen text, but it begs the question of why it wouldn't be printed along with the manual.
Some good instruction manuals:
Double Dragon (NES)
Metroid 2: Return of Samus
Rise of the Dragon (PC/MAC)
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (PS1)
MDK
Starcraft
Okage: The Shadow King
Lifeline
Metal Gear Solid 2
Sky Gunner
side-note about MGS2: I liked the 'previous story' that basically serves as a kind of novelization of the first game. The whole bit with the guy who puts peanut butter on everything (even in his flask) was a little weird, but it's probably one of the most memorable novellas I've ever read. I don't know how long it actually is since it's on-screen text, but it begs the question of why it wouldn't be printed along with the manual.
All of the new 360 games have manuals the width of tissues. It really angers me. I LOVE a manual that has all of the good details in them, such as characters and weapons.
With you there, dude. From the cloth map that would come with Lunar to even one of the posters that came with an old issue of Nintendo Power, it really is the one 'extra' you can't do without. Story is one thing, you probably won't have to refer back to that if you get stuck, but maps are always useful.Russian_Assassin said:
I liked the Fallout 3 instruction book quite a bit. Had a very nice look to it, and wasn't strictly controls.
Mirroga said:
But wasn't GTA 4's just maps? Or did I miss something?
I remember liking Crackdown's Instruction Manual, though I can't remember why...
And Fallout 3's was impressive, although it did scare me a bit when i thought the 'shielding your eyes' bit was a gameplay feature...
'If you need instructions on how to get through the hotels, check out the enclosed instruction book!'
OT: I always liked the little text Bethesda adds to the first page of an Elder Scrolls game instruction book.
OT: I always liked the little text Bethesda adds to the first page of an Elder Scrolls game instruction book.
About the GTA 4 booklets. The game box includes a map of the game plus the instruction booklets about controls, gameplay, even commercial products as well as commercializing stores and places (which was kind of immersive to me as if I was going to visit an actual tourist spot).the protaginist said:
@quiet_samurai: right on about the intro tutorial... but as some other people have commented, that can prove to bore me right out of the game. And I'm not sure it can encompass all that a user manual can offer.
@Mythomaniac: great thoughts about the intro being repetitive. (yes, I see the irony of pointing out that being repetitive is boring, and that I just repeated the comment)
@cyrad: To your example, Portal proves that if done correctly, it's not so intrusive and actually fun as hell.
I am a technical writer and to hear you all agree that a user manual isn't so bad encourages the heart! Whenever I describe what I do it usually begins with: "You know those manuals you never read... I write those."
And I also agree that it shouldn't just be restrained to 4 languages telling you press A to shoot. Some back story is always awesome, and even gets your brain into the imagination part of the game play as well.
I would also not be completely turned off by offering it as a PDF online in order to save a few trees. (I'm not completely evil.) I would want the option to print it out on my own though.
@Mythomaniac: great thoughts about the intro being repetitive. (yes, I see the irony of pointing out that being repetitive is boring, and that I just repeated the comment
)@cyrad: To your example, Portal proves that if done correctly, it's not so intrusive and actually fun as hell.
I am a technical writer and to hear you all agree that a user manual isn't so bad encourages the heart! Whenever I describe what I do it usually begins with: "You know those manuals you never read... I write those."
And I also agree that it shouldn't just be restrained to 4 languages telling you press A to shoot. Some back story is always awesome, and even gets your brain into the imagination part of the game play as well.
I would also not be completely turned off by offering it as a PDF online in order to save a few trees. (I'm not completely evil.) I would want the option to print it out on my own though.