"Hey, maybe we should look at the manual!"

Started by Hiatus October 3rd, 2013 2:00 AM
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  • 26 replies

Hiatus

Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted July 24th, 2021
12,283 posts
10.8 Years
Most of the time, every game comes with a manual, which introduces us to the game's mechanics, controls, main characters, and so on. When you purchase a new game, what do you usually do with its manual? Do you keep it in the box and leave it untouched, or do you like to take it out and flip through the pages before putting the game into your console? Have you ever thrown out or given away any of your video game manuals before? If so, then why?

As for myself, every time I get my hands on a new game, I like to look through its manual first—even if it's only for a few seconds. By skimming through it, I'm able to gain a bit of an idea about what buttons do what, which gives me a good reason to skip the most basic in-game tutorials. When I'm done, I'll put the manual back into the box and never look at it again. xD" If I did open it up again at some point, then that'd be because I wanted to see all the artwork that were in there.

Orifiel

Priestess

Female
Tokyo, Japan
Seen May 3rd, 2015
Posted May 5th, 2014
413 posts
9.8 Years
Nope, nope, nope. (Yeah, 3 Nopies is fine)
I NEVER read the manual and just know the controls by experiencing. I think it's better this way to surprise and give excitement to players like me who doesn't read the manual.
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alisaie

they/them
Seen March 14th, 2023
Posted February 3rd, 2022
13,598 posts
14.8 Years
I usually read the manual if I had gotten the game while we were out somewhere and I didn't have the game system (usually a console) to play the game right then and there because it was something to do and it gives me an idea of what I'll be jumping into. For some games I'll read it because of the content that are normally in them, like who the bachelors and bachelorettes are in Rune Factory so I can get an idea of who I'm able to marry and start making a decision.

Other than that only when I want to remember/learn the controls or I'm bored will I read the manual.

Dragon

lover of milotics

Age 30
Male
Viridian City
Seen 5 Days Ago
Posted October 24th, 2022
11,170 posts
9.7 Years
I like to keep manuals, only if they're colorful and elaborate enough. Nowadays, I don't really like looking at manuals siiince the game tells us how to play the game already. xD Well, except for fighting games, where they'd usually show the character skills on there, so it's easy to look back to when I'm practicing~


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Wings Don't Cry

Maybe she's born with it

Age 28
New Zealand
Seen January 24th, 2020
Posted May 19th, 2016
1,939 posts
14.7 Years
I used to read the manual on my way home from picking up a game but I try to avoid them now since I've had a few plot points because a manual just gave away too much information.

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Male
USA
Seen December 27th, 2021
Posted July 4th, 2014
322 posts
9.8 Years
I think some of you are confused about what he means by manual. He says most of the time games come with them, meaning the small booklet that is included with the game. It usually tells you the controls, gives you an introduction to the story/gameplay/characters, and a few common items you can pickup. Not the $20 strategy guides that have maps of every level and tell you absolutely everything you need to know to get 100% completion.

When I buy a game I ALWAYS read the manual because before you play a game you should at least know how to play it. The story/levels/pickups are fun to be discovered while playing, but there is no sense in guessing at the controls and possibly never ever learning how to do certain things even after multiple playthroughs like what's happened to me in the past. Whether I'm playing on easy or the hardest difficulty setting, I want to know how to play so that I can use my game character to his/her full potential. It's also cool to have a brief idea of what the game is about, the same as people usually have before watching a movie.

I would never throw it out! Even if you knew you'd never look at it, why would you throw out something you paid money for? And giving it to someone else would be pointless because if they don't have the game they won't need it, and if they do have the game they'll have their own. Also if you ever want to sell the game you might get less for only having the game and case.

Strategy guides on the other hand are only worth my money if I really like the game. I'll use them to assist me during gameplay of course, but they are more of a reading material than anything. If I really like a certain game series it's cool to have a detailed book that talks about the different characters, locations, and history of the game it's for.
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Sheep

She/Her
Australia
Seen 5 Hours Ago
Posted 5 Hours Ago
39,267 posts
16.6 Years
They're for collecting purposes only for me.. I still have my old, almost 15 year-old manuals sitting around somewhere. Just so hard to let go! Would never toss any of them no matter how unappealing they look. They're miiiine!
Seen September 18th, 2020
Posted February 18th, 2018
7,741 posts
16.6 Years
I generally look at the manual during the game's installation process, then replace it, disappointed at its brevity. Ideally, I'd use a manual as an out-of-game reference, but the lack of tech trees, item lists and so forth in recent manuals has left me somewhat upset about the matter. As for controls, ironically to me the one thing manuals still consistently have sections about, I prefer to refer to the in-game control options, and indeed rebind controls to my preference and hardware configuration.

T!M

Four Category MoTY (VG) Winner

Age 31
Male
Georgia, United States
Seen May 20th, 2016
Posted April 25th, 2014
1,422 posts
14.4 Years
It depends on the complexity of the game as a whole. Games like Fable III, I would read the manual. Mass Effect too.

But simple games like Street Fighter, super hero games, etc. I don't bother.

Sweets Witch

I just love ham jerky.

Age 30
Male
Old People Community, USA
Seen December 10th, 2014
Posted December 10th, 2014
1,388 posts
10.4 Years
I'll glance through the manual to see if there's anything about the story or characters, but I prefer learning the controls and important stuff like that through actual gameplay. Hell, most of the time I don't even look for character or story stuff since I'll get that by playing the game anyway. Manuals are pretty useless, but I like when games come with maps and stuff as well. I have so many video game maps.

Firox

eepz, come help pwease!

Age 37
Male
Seattle, WA
Seen September 15th, 2021
Posted July 17th, 2020
2,585 posts
11 Years
To be honest, the only time I look at the manual, usually just for fun, is when I'm sitting in the toilet (I get tired of the same magazines) or when I'm waiting for Sim City 4 to load. Aside from that, the manuals stay inside the box.

As with most games (not just Pokemon) I learn by messing around, and figure out what each button does.
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Starry Windy

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Liberty Garden
Seen April 28th, 2020
Posted April 28th, 2020
9,307 posts
10.4 Years
I did read the manual on the first time playing the game that I just bought.

Pyrax

Midnight Guest

Age 27
he/him
UK
Seen 10 Hours Ago
Posted 1 Day Ago
1,522 posts
14.1 Years
Man..ual? What is this...'man-ual' you speak of?

To be honest, I only read manuals to learn the basics such as controls, and even then most games have a tutorial, basically rendering the controls page more or less useless.
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msdmario

Age 33
Male
Texas
Seen August 29th, 2016
Posted April 3rd, 2014
784 posts
16 Years
I rarely read manuals anymore. Then again, there is barely anything in the manuals these days except the controls which can easily be found from in-game tutorials or menus.

They just don't make them like they use to where manuals were over 20 pages long.

droomph

weeb

Age 26
Male
nowhere spectacular
Seen February 1st, 2017
Posted January 3rd, 2017
4,282 posts
11.7 Years
Oh…maybe this is why I suck at all games.




…wait, nope. I just have bad reflexes. ¬.¬


In all seriousness though, I don't really look at the manual because I find the actual game more…engaging. And experience is better than knowledge.
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