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So let me bounce a feature idea off of you guys ...
Nick Chester \| 5:22 PM on 04.28.2008	64 comments

I was thinking about doing a feature where we'd more or less "review" videogame instruction manuals based on their content, design, art, etc. I came up with this idea when I opened up my copy of Battle of the Bands last week and it was four sheets of black and white paper with little to no instructions on how to actually play the game.

As far as I'm concerned, that's complete bullshit, and companies need to get called out for putting zero effort into their manuals. Nintendo almost consistently has some killer booklets that are both thick and colorful; this has been the case since the NES (picture the brick I shit when I opened up my copy of Legend of Zelda for the first time as a kid). The latest Grand Theft Auto IV is a good example of how to do it right -- it comes with a map, a nice manual, and other stuff that is essentially useless, but at least makes you feel like you're purchased a substantial product that a company cares about.

Does this idea appeal to anyone else?

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61 comments | showing # 1 to 50

next 50 comments

MrSadistic

Sounds awesome. I've always loved the GTA manuals and how they're actually written "in-universe" style.

Kryptinite

Since I almost never look at manuals....I want this feature :). Test run soon?

topgeargorilla

sure, but I always get disappointed at the Nintendo manuals that are in multiple languages. And PC game manuals are scary.

Arugala9

Sounds pretty good.

Def JM

Yeah I think it would be cool to attach it to the game review, shitty manuels that give you know advice really does piss me off. This idea does not.

ArrestedDeveloper

I appreciate a good manual. It bugs me when you buy a game, get it home and open it up only to be greeted by a limp 5 page manual, half of which is legal jargon. So pretty much any EA game.

Butmac

I fully stand behind this idea as a well done manual, while perhaps never used, is awesome and shows that developers care.

Go Nick

blehman

Sounds good. I love the "new manual" smell, and hate having a 5 page "put the game in, here's a pic of the controller and a two-line blurb about the game" manuals.

Takeshi

Great idea.
I was looking at a Lynx manual a couple of days ago. It said 'see picture 1', 'see picture 2' etc. after every chapter but there weren't any pictures to find. Only black and white pages without any info. Pretty fail but so was the game.
Dirty Larry Renegade Cop...
Nuff said.

JTHomeslice

Yes. Talk about how all new Nintendo manuals have 60 fucking pages in them.

Wexx

Maybe include it with the normal review of the game, like as a score separate from the actual score of the review.

Also, I completely agree with you that you should get a decent manual with the game, and not just some POS black and white little piece of paper. It really impresses me when I open up a game and there's a cool little booklet in there with little tidbits about the game, maybe the lore or something with the story too. Even though it isn't really a manual, the pocket guide to the empire that came with the Oblivion collector's edition comes to mind, and I thought that it was the coolest thing ever.

Buster

you should check out the manual for culdcept saga on the xbox 360, its huge compared to every other manual i have. also its full color, and full of info, its sexy awesomer

atheistium

Yes please :D

vexed alex

GTA manuals are top notch.

I like this idea, though.

Genfuyung

Great idea. The only instruction booklet ive even taken out of the game box since halo 2 was in smash bros brawl. That had a good instruction manual.

Darren Nakamura

I'd read it. But then I read most everything that goes up on the front page.

Scape

I agree 100%. There is a reason classic games are worth so much more if they have their manuals with them.

tsunamikitsune

Sounds good, I always feel cheated when I get a game with a slim manual. It's not so much of a big deal any more, but I used to read those things on the way home from Blockbuster when I was little! If this keeps up, manuals will keep getting smaller and smaller! What will my children read on the way home to play their mind rotting video games?!

THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

Pixel Blue

A lot of collector types insist on having the game's manual, and I tend to think that a complimentary manual is a really nice piece of the game. Well, when it's done nicely. Oldschool manuals were really necessary, now I don't think people need/use them, so they're kinda worthless and have ads in them and such. But it'd be cool to see them -- retro games have some hilariously translated ones, too.

MaxVest

I could understand highlighting a manual that is particularly well-done, or mocking one that is incomprehensible, but it's hard to see how you'd get a feature-length amount of content out of the mediocre ones. Are you thinking about reviewing several at a time?

wardrox

As long as you pick ones worthy (or definitely not worthy) of discussing, sounds awesome :)

Bob Muir

I don't think every game needs it, but it would be a great way to call attention to manuals that either rock or totally suck. I'd certainly read it.

A New Challenger

Yes, yes, triple yes.

On a related note, I finally got around to purchasing both of the PS2 Katamari games, and was pleasantly surprised to see both of them had full color manuals. It was glorious.

Brian Szabelski

Sounds like a good idea. I approve.

Sharpless

Sounds like the sort of feature which would attract a lot of people saying what a stupid feature it is. But I like it. :) Kotaku's doing stupid "mini-series" type things all the time, why not us?

BahamutZero

I loved the GTA:SA PC DVD manual/disc holder.

I like the idea. maybe it will kick the ass of some publishers who cant be bothered to give a shit

Chad Concelmo

I like it! :)

DarkTravesty

yes it appeals to me greatly can't wait till you review ea game manuals those are some of the worst.

Wedge

Unless you're going retro, this is pretty dumb. Mainly because 95% of all game manuals are total crap these days, so it's pretty pointless. You couldn't even figure out how to play a game from a manual now, coz' that's all expected to be in-game.

Clint

YES! I adore creatively designed manuals like the Wario Ware manuals!

Das Inchworm

yes please.

Tubatic

Hit it Nick Chester!

Kyousuke Nanbu

I like it, go for it.

And I agree, its amazing how some big companies make shit manuals(EA) but tiny ones make awesome ones.

niacin

Sure i'd read it. You could maybe do a kinda history of manuals first though picking some highlights and failures.

Y0j1mb0

YES PLEASE.

Coonskin05

I think ron workman is bad news nick chester

kawitchate

LOVE IT
EA manuals depress me
Atlus manuals are where it's at (by "it," i mean color)

JohnTheCrow

Good idea. I always get psyched when I open a new Wii game and feel the giant instruction book. I always forget for a few seconds that they're so thick because they're in 17 different languages. Always get bummed at books like CoD4's too.

Psyfer

I wish Cranky Kong was in EVERY instruction booklet.

Tamz

It's a pretty crazy idea, I say you go all the way with it - video reviews of game manuals.

LostCrichton

I think that would make a great new feature Nick! Go for it!

njsykora

Let me put it this way. If you don't do it then I will, I love manuals.

Matthew Blake

Sounds like it could be fun. One I'd recommend is the Japanese manual for No More Heroes. Full-color, comic-book goodness galore!

wario67

Matthew Blake, to bad we didn't get that manual here in the U.S :/

I think this is a good idea

Spartacus

Oh my yes.

I just picked up the Essential MGS, and while they are in black and white, they are full of comic book style goodness.

Do it.

bam2003

I think thats not such a good idea, no one would read reviews of instruction manuals, nor would it deter someone from purchasing a game if their instruction manual was crap. I do see what your trying to do though, you want to see better manuals being made, more color, its quite boring going through a black and white instruction manual, what i do think is a good idea is to incorporate the manual into your game reviews. you have sub-categories for your reviews like gameplay, graphics...etc, why not include the manual?

DrNutt

I really enjoy this idea. Often, the first thing I do when I purchase the game is read the manual. Not to learn how to play a game, but to see if the developer did something cool or interesting with it.

F Whipple

I'd like this. As far as nintendo is concerned using multiple languages in the manuals totally ruins the aesthetic for me

Guagloves

I would be up for this.

Corak

Sounds interesting.

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