Author Topic: Do you read the manual? (Read 16926 times)

MaxVance · « **on:** October 22, 2006, 12:13:36 PM »

There seems to be two schools of thought on manuals among gamers. The first is that the manual should be read all the way through before playing a game. The other says that the game should just be played and the manual should be consulted only for help on a specific function, or not at all. So which do you belong to?

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2006, 12:18:02 PM »

Always read the manual. If you want to truly pwn, always read the manual. There is from time to time, even in this age of tutorial, sometimes unique information there.

SolidShroom · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2006, 12:19:40 PM »

Hmm, I usually read the manual if I get a game and I have a long ride home to play it. If I get stuck or confused really badly, I will skim the manual for the answers, but if I get a new game at the local Gamestop, I'll go home and play it with very little manual-reading. Of course, with most modern DS games, you don't need to read the manual, like WarioWare Touched.

BP · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2006, 12:24:18 PM »

I voted yes, but only if I'm stuck. I mean, sometimes I'll know the controls for a game because I got that information from Wikipedia, like Kirby Canvas Curse. Then it has a tutorial, so the manual is made useless anyway. And for games like New Super Mario Bros., does anyone NEED a manual? Run, jump, stuff. Again, there are other sources prior to release that talk about the stuff you can do, like ground pound and wall kick... so you're good to go.
And sometimes when I'm bored, I just go read manuals. For hours.

TEM · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2006, 12:55:25 PM »

Always read the manual. You might find out certain little things about the videogame you didn't know. I personally find them interesting.

Vidgmchtr · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2006, 01:15:18 PM »

Yes. I've made it point to read the manual at many a GameFAQs forum, but was always chased out later on by idiots who started to revolt.

Every time I purchase a new game, I read the manual first (though if it's an awesome game I've been anticipating for a long time, I try to read the manual as quickly as possible).

MaxVance · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2006, 01:24:44 PM »

I always read it. I often download the manual from Nintendo before I get the game.

The Chef · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2006, 02:00:25 PM »

Yep. Heck, when I was little, I used look at the manual to see the pictures and diagrams.

Koopaslaya · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2006, 03:12:46 PM »

Reading the manual to a video gmae is like reading the sleeve to an album.

Robert · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2006, 03:41:02 PM »

I used to be big on reading manuals. Now... not so much. Nintendo usually always incorporates tutorials inside there games of today, so there isn't really a point in reading the manuals anymore. Some games, like MKDS, NSMB, Wario Ware touched and ACWW are already simple enough that when I pick up and play, I already know the controls. Other games, like VJDT, KCC and Star Fox Command do have foreign controls, but those games feature tutorials at the beginning of the game, making the game manuals obsolete.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2006, 06:42:52 PM »

Game manuals are not obsolete. Read them always.
It's not like tutorials tell you everything about the game.

HolyAarom · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2006, 06:43:44 PM »

Yes. I read them in school.

I read them, but the car ride home is short, so I only get a few pages done. I usually start the game as soon as I get home, then I read when I'm finished playing.

Mr. Melee · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2006, 08:08:32 PM »

I voted yes, especially for a game/ series I've never played. Or, maybe I'll do it for fun. However, I never read system manuals. But, with all of the things Wii has to offer, I plan on reading the manual.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2006, 09:09:15 PM »

I always read my system manuals too.

Luigison · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2006, 10:22:38 PM »

Quote from: Chupperson Weird on October 22, 2006, 09:09:15 PM

I always read my system manuals too.

Always? So, every time you get a new DS game you read the DS manual that comes in it. Always?

Games should be playable without reading the manual. The manual should help make the game pwnable though.

Fifth · « **Reply #15 on:** October 22, 2006, 11:57:47 PM »

I usually glance through the manual a bit before playing the game. I like to see if there's anything interesting or vital to know aforehand, but I don't usually read too in-depth, lest I find out too much about all the items/areas/what have you.
If a friend just bought the game and is playing it for the first time, I'll leaf through the manual a bit more and point out little tidbits that he may find interesting/helpful.
After I've played through the game to the point that I no longer worry about the manual spoiling anything unneccessarily, there's usually a time when I'll read through the whole thing and scoop up whatever info it's got left.

So I guess yeah, I do kinda read manuals. Just in stages.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2006, 12:16:02 AM »

Manuals are crap, though, compared to what they were when I was little. We're talking PC games here.

N64 Chick · « **Reply #17 on:** October 23, 2006, 12:24:27 AM »

Sure, I read them. The Luigi's Mansion one is rather interesting as it has quite a few little errors.

DeadAwake · « **Reply #18 on:** October 23, 2006, 12:50:57 AM »

I had to go with yes, because the question asks if I ever read the manual--and I have read the manual.

Sqrt2 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2006, 03:26:22 AM »

I only read the manual if it's a game whose controls I am completely unfamiliar with. Otherwise I tend not to read them unless I'm bored or something.

The Chef · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2006, 03:52:52 PM »

I kinda agree with LD on manuals not being made as good as they used to be. I hate when the manual is three pages long, in black and white, and gives half-arsed descriptions for everything.

Suffix · « **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2006, 05:18:40 PM »

I read the manual for the sake of the game sometimes. That is, I read the manual because it came with the game. I remember that the WarioWare Touched manual was really hilarious.

MaxVance · « **Reply #22 on:** October 23, 2006, 05:23:02 PM »

Quote from: Robert on October 22, 2006, 03:41:02 PM

Nintendo usually always incorporates tutorials inside there games of today, so there isn't really a point in reading the manuals anymore.

I think a lot of games have those tutorials bacause a lot of people don't read the manual.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #23 on:** October 23, 2006, 07:55:56 PM »

I'm reading the manual for Contact right now and I haven't even touched the game!

AbercrombieBaseball · « **Reply #24 on:** October 23, 2006, 09:33:15 PM »

Not only do I always read the manuals, I keep them next to me whenever I play because chances are I either forget the controls or need to look some up.

I got Madden 2007 a bit ago and while it's a great game the manual isn't that good. At least it plays a lot like 2005.

The Super Mario 64 manual was pretty weak. It had no clues on how to even get anywhere in the game! I can still remember playing with that game when I first got it and I couldn't even beat the first level. I went about a week without any stars. Then a friend told me I had to get one of those books if I wanted to beat it. So ten dollars and many pages later I was able to finally get one (and didn't get all 120 until nine years later).

I think the weak manuals may be a way to make money. Books have gotten awfully expensive (I usually pay eight or nine bucks for a paperback these days, used to only be about four to five tops). Since someone like me couldn't beat Super Mario 64 at all without one, I had to get one. Now keep in mind this was 1997 dollars as well, I'm sure those stategy books are about 17 bucks nowadays (but I haven't bought one in a long time so I wouldn't know).

It's even worse with computers. When I got my Macintosh LC back in 1992, it came with a huge, 300 page manual with a tutorial and reference. Also had a great troubleshooting section. My iBook, eight years later, had a little 80 or so page manual. Thankfully I knew enough about how to work a Mac that I didn't need the big tutorial section.

Software, though is worse than video games for manuals. The old programs were great. I have this ancient drawing program copyrighted 1988 for my Mac (I've used it on the old and still use it on the new) called MacDraw II. It had two large manuals. So did MacWrite Pro, my word processor. When I bought my scanner I got Photoshop Elements and I got no manual whatsoever with that. Just a little piece of paper saying how to set the scanner up. Thankfully I found a really good book on Photoshop that I keep under my desk at all times. The Sims is just as bad. The first game, which I got right about when I got that iBook, had a pretty good manual with it. I later bought Hot Date as an expansion pack and it only had a little piece of paper in the CD case.

I'm almost afraid to buy a new car. My Volvo has a nice big thick manual that explains every single control. But it's a few years old. What next, just a diagram showing how to turn on the radio?

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #25 on:** October 24, 2006, 12:01:44 AM »

With any luck, you know how to turn on the radio.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #26 on:** October 24, 2006, 08:45:17 AM »

Yeah, dude, but those preset buttons and stuff are tricky.

MaxVance · « **Reply #27 on:** October 24, 2006, 04:31:23 PM »

And also, have you ever tried to set the time on one? It's tough too.

Glorb · « **Reply #28 on:** October 24, 2006, 04:57:46 PM »

Oh c'mon, why is everyone picking on AbercrombieBaseball? Sure, his posts are long but well written, and it's nice to get an opinion from someone who isn't a rabid video game nerd.

I'd say the lousiest manual for any game is the one for Home Improvement (SNES) - crappy game, crappy manual. Literally, it was just a piece of paper saying "Real men don't use manuals!".

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #29 on:** October 24, 2006, 06:25:37 PM »

Hahahahaha, I like that manual. I'd consider that a plus to the game. It gets you in the mood.

TEM · « **Reply #30 on:** October 24, 2006, 06:50:08 PM »

They made a vidoegame based on Home Improvement?

smfan1085 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 24, 2006, 08:12:01 PM »

I usually read game manuals. I don't if I don't have the manual for a game, though, for obvious reasons.

AbercrombieBaseball · « **Reply #32 on:** October 24, 2006, 10:43:45 PM »

I agree, radio presents aren't easy. The clock on my car is (just two little buttons, one for hours and one for minutes).

The one I would probably have trouble with is cruise control. I never use it on the freeway since you never know when you have to change speeds/brake. Thankfully the knowledge of it wasn't part of my drivers test (stuff like wipers, turn signals, etc which I find easy enough to use were).

TEM · « **Reply #33 on:** October 24, 2006, 10:57:34 PM »

When you have cruise control on you can brake and slow down, you just can't go faster then what it's set at. I thought you were the car master.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #34 on:** October 25, 2006, 03:11:54 AM »

You can go faster than what you're cruising at by stepping on the gas. Not sure what you're talking about TEM. Also, braking generally disengages cruise control.

AbercrombieBaseball · « **Reply #35 on:** October 25, 2006, 05:37:17 AM »

I think you're right about the brake. Do you guys actually use cruise? I don't know of anyone who does, at least around my area...but then again I'm from western PA so it's really hilly even on an interstate. Also the drivers around here can be pretty lousy so I never want to even attempt using cruise. Besides, just sitting there on cruise takes the fun out of driving!

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #36 on:** October 25, 2006, 03:43:56 PM »

I always use cruise whenever driving on the highway. It's much less fatiguing. It doesn't take the fun out of driving for me, either.

TEM · « **Reply #37 on:** October 25, 2006, 04:36:34 PM »

When you live in the state of infinite BFE it's easy to feel that way, I think.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #38 on:** October 28, 2006, 12:43:51 AM »

I think driving is more about transportation than fun.

Koopaslaya · « **Reply #39 on:** November 03, 2006, 08:52:26 PM »

I would agree. I hardly ever drive just for fun. I can have much more fun at home doing worthwhile things while not buring gas.

Pt_Peach · « **Reply #40 on:** November 03, 2006, 09:44:21 PM »

I always read the manuals. It's interesting!

TEM · « **Reply #41 on:** November 04, 2006, 11:29:13 AM »

I was playing Pokémon Mystery Dungeon and fainted. When I woke up all my items were gone. At first I was like "OMG I WHY DIDN"T THE GAME TELL ME THAT HAPPENS?!?" and then I realized I had neglected to read the manual so it was my own fault.

Kojinka · « **Reply #42 on:** November 04, 2006, 05:21:08 PM »

Yes, but only when I'm stuck or just plain bored.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #43 on:** November 06, 2006, 02:17:27 AM »

TEM got pwned. Bwahahah.

Kojinka · « **Reply #44 on:** November 06, 2006, 09:13:31 AM »

TEM, if you talk to some of the Pokemon in Pokemon Square, they tell you that you lose your items and money when you faint.

DeadAwake · « **Reply #45 on:** November 11, 2006, 03:30:47 AM »

If I had to save one manual and have all my others thrown away, I'd go with HoMM:II.

GiftedGirl · « **Reply #46 on:** November 12, 2006, 07:58:15 AM »

I always read the manual that comes with the game, unless I've gotten the guide beforehand, as is the case with Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire. It helps because I might not know how to do a certain thing otherwise. I also sometimes use pictures in manual as reference for my art, although this can sometimes be a problem. Once, I was drawing Espio the Chameleon and I was using the picture in my Sonic Heroes manual as reference and when I had gotten it done, I was so proud of myself and it seemed so well done... Come to find out, when I played Sonic Heroes again, I noticed that Espio's shoes are purple. I gave him orange shoes. XP It might not seem like a big deal to you, but I go CRAZY when I mess up the colors on a picture.

Kojinka · « **Reply #47 on:** November 12, 2006, 09:31:02 AM »

If I've gotten so far into the game that help in the manual would be very unlikely, then I either go to the Internet or buy the strategy guide.

Metal Sonic v2.0 · « **Reply #48 on:** November 12, 2006, 11:47:16 AM »

I always read the manuals for my games, for two main reasons:

1) Most obviously, it provides very useful instructions on how to perform certain actions in the games, supplies various information about the game, etc.

2) As I read the manual, I tend to get more and more anxious to play the game (it's a good feeling).

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #49 on:** November 12, 2006, 04:42:00 PM »

Quote from: Metal Sonic v2.0 on November 12, 2006, 11:47:16 AM

2) As I read the manual, I tend to get more and more anxious to play the game (it's a good feeling).

Definitely. Same here. Thanks for pointing it out.

BriGuy92 · « **Reply #50 on:** August 10, 2007, 01:11:07 PM »

I always read game manuals before I start playing. It's never a bad thing to know what you're doing, after all!

Eric B. (Shnoogums) · « **Reply #51 on:** August 10, 2007, 01:52:45 PM »

When i buy a game for a specific console or handheld, when i open the box, i always (and i mean always) check the instruction manual that comes with it. That way, i know what to do, how to handle the specific action controls and where i'll be going with said game. I've done that for years now and i continue to do so today.

Kimimaru · « **Reply #52 on:** August 10, 2007, 02:55:38 PM »

Quote from: Metal Sonic v2.0 on November 12, 2006, 11:47:16 AM

I always read the manuals for my games, for two main reasons:

1) Most obviously, it provides very useful instructions on how to perform certain actions in the games, supplies various information about the game, etc.

2) As I read the manual, I tend to get more and more anxious to play the game (it's a good feeling).

I also agree with you. However, when I was younger, I NEVER used to read the manuals. Now, I always read the manuals. I even went back and read the manuals for the games that I didn't read when I was younger. I sometimes even read the manual for a game after I'm completely done with it. Manuals provide you with useful information usually not found in tutorials or anywhere else. Whenever a friend brings over a game I have never played, I ask for the controls. I adapt to them and sometimes find out things that my friend didn't know. I think it's rude to open the case and read the manual for a friends game except in the occasion where none of us know what we are doing.

Super-Jesse · « **Reply #53 on:** August 10, 2007, 07:25:13 PM »

I read the manual for one main reason:

After I buy a game, I usually need to use the restroom, so I take it in there with me for some good ol' reading material and then go about to play the game! :-D

N64 Chick · « **Reply #54 on:** August 10, 2007, 08:19:32 PM »

I usually read the manual first, although there are a few cases where I just rush right into the game. That happened when Mac and I got Diamond and Pearl anyway.

Glorb · « **Reply #55 on:** August 11, 2007, 08:26:01 AM »

Generally, I always read the manual unless I know it's going to have a weird control scheme (i.e., something other than A to jump, right shoulder button to shoot, etc.).

WarpRattler · « **Reply #56 on:** August 13, 2007, 01:20:18 PM »

I almost always read the manual for a game. The only cases where I wouldn't are if it's a puzzle game that I'm already good at already (I know how to play Tetris, stop trying to tell me otherwise) or if I don't have the manual (which usually only happens if I buy a game used or play a ROM). I know I didn't read the PMD manual immediately, because of how often I play Rogue and NetHack.

Great manuals (you know, like the one for Earthbound) aren't made as often nowadays...

The Blue Toad · « **Reply #57 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:39:21 PM »

Yes I read the manual, but for reasons other than practicality.
Generally, there's never anything imperative stowed away in those things, and if there is, it's something as minute as what button to press when attacking an enemy or how to block. Such basics as these aren't the sort of things that need studying before playing the actual game.
I simply enjoy reading the manual for the little trinkets of authenticity and brief previews of what the mood of the game will be. That's all.
I'm also rather pedantic, so I guess you could say that it relieves a yearning within.

Hacker Pikachu 25 · « **Reply #58 on:** August 18, 2007, 06:44:38 PM »

I almost always read the game manuals, but the system manuals, well...Two words: Never. Read.

PaperLuigi · « **Reply #59 on:** August 18, 2007, 07:04:29 PM »

Yeah, I hate the system manuals too. I mainly read the game manuals for fun.

Toad · « **Reply #60 on:** August 18, 2007, 08:09:41 PM »

I only read any of them if I need help hooking up a system or figuring out how to unlock something or do a move in a game.

Rao · « **Reply #61 on:** August 19, 2007, 01:26:19 PM »

I don't really read game manuals much at all, I just ask Chupperson. :P

Kimimaru · « **Reply #62 on:** August 20, 2007, 05:27:59 PM »

Quote from: WarpRattler on August 13, 2007, 01:20:18 PM

I know I didn't read the PMD manual immediately, because of how often I play Rogue and NetHack.

Great manuals (you know, like the one for Earthbound) aren't made as often nowadays...

Where do you play NetHack? Is that an online Pokemon battle?

What? Manuals aren't great nowadays? I see lots of great ones.

Kojinka · « **Reply #63 on:** August 20, 2007, 06:07:59 PM »

The manuals for Pokemon RBY were great! It listed the gym leaders and badges (though they kept Gio's identity secret)

Toad · « **Reply #64 on:** August 20, 2007, 07:17:05 PM »

Likewise, the one for the first Wario Ware game was pretty fun too. It even came with a sticker book inside.

Poll

Do you ever read the manual that comes with your games?

Author Topic: Do you read the manual? (Read 16926 times)