Instruction manuals

[saruto]

In all honesty, the only time I ever looked at one was when I had to wait to play the game , so I'd psych myself up by reading the various things you can do.
So, question is... Is there anyone out there who actually reads them thoroughly before playing?

 

[Lucky Chainsaw]

I have ceased to ever read them, but I still get pissed when I buy a used game without one.

 

[Cherry Cola]

I read them when I'm bored, it's entertaining enough when I don't have anything else to do.

 

[GundamSentinel]

I don't read them before I play, most just flip through them, but eventually I always read them in their entirety. I do love game manuals. Sometimes I just buy games because I want the manual... Silly me.

 

[Richard Eis]

Yep, since it takes 20 minutes to install the games 4 gig onto your hard drive. Although I don't see the point of a full manual with pics if the first thing you have to do in a game is go through the "let's practice walking left, talking to you like you're a two year old" intro for the first 30 minutes of the game.

 

[DazZ.]

Yes, on the toilet.

Pretty much the only time other than installation.

 

[GodsAndFishes]

I read the background, and maybe some weapon descriptions, but nothing else.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

Ive only ever read the baldurs gate 2 manual. 260 pages of pure english instructions. After that I actually knew what I was doing. Which is good, because otherwise I mightve turned out like my brother and played JRPGs

 

[sirdanrhodes]

I am a man, 'nuff said.

 

[ma55ter_fett]

sometimes, usually if I have a problem with the game I'll consult the manual... like for brutal legend, I had no idea how to free the dragons.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Shit, dude. I don't just read the manual. I smell them to get that "New Manual Smell" when they just came out of the box.

Plus, most manuals nowadays are like six pages long counting the epilepsy warning and the notes page, so it's not as if it takes a long time.

- J

 

[Antiparticle]

I don't read manuals before I play the game for the first time (I don't want to get spoiled), but I do read them after I've played the game a couple of times (to make sure I'm not missing anything).

 

[Kyle Hyde]

Usually I don't, though I just got Dead Rising and the game's text is so awful that I need the manual to understand what to do.

 

[KhaineII]

I read the foreword that describes the game...

...what really needs to happen is more lore books, like the one I recieved in my PC copy of Oblivion. Oh my god, yes.

 

[TheColdHeart]

I used to read them to get a quick overview of the button layout and maybe some other background but now the obligatory tutorial mission is there I dont need to bother. Sometimes they get a read whilst the game is loading.

 

[BlueMartian]

I have ceased to ever read them, but I still get pissed when I buy a used game without one.

Same, bought Dead Space used from Video Ezy when it had just come out for $35, alas no manual.
Went to Big W the next day and nicked a fresh new manual from a case.
Man I am so fucking extreme.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

I read them occasionally, and I refer to them when my fighting games don't have a command list in-game (for whatever stupid reason). Or is the command list's text is super tiny so I can't make sense of any of it on my stupid TV.

 

[Ori Disciple]

I tend to.
I mean, why not read it?
Games got to install, you know, and what else are you going to do while you wait?

 

[Vlane]

I actually read them every time I buy a new game because sometimes there are some really useful tips in them or funny stuff (GTA manuals and all that stuff).

 

[willard3]

Maybe not thoroughly, but I do like to have them. But stupid EA never puts any significant manuals in their games.

Now I did read the Street Fighter 4 manual pretty well, because I hadn't played a straight SF game in a while.