surf dtoid with 
Rising (10+)
People you follow
I know it's probably not a big deal, and I'm probably in the minority on this, but as a video game collector, this stuff really breaks my heart. There will soon be a day when "Complete In Box" means just getting the game disc. No colorful manual with cool little pictures and details (did anyone actually read the instruction manuals to Wario World or the Donkey Kong Country games? Brilliant!).
Ah, well. The times they are a changin,' I guess.
Ah, well. The times they are a changin,' I guess.
We'll die before we ever see any of these savings passed on to us. The need that $49.99 season pass to recoup all these losses dawg.
@fetusmilk - Aww man, I forgot all about our local indie video store having clear plastic boxes...and inside, an NES cartridge and a badly abused B&W photocopy of the original manual included. Good times. :/
Eco-friendly, economics-friendly, still a win-win. I'd rather them do that then do that pseudo-manual shit where you open it and the "manual" is just two pages of text. If they're going to cut corners and claim to be Eco-friendly, might as well just ditch the paper altogether.
You don't get much more Eco-friendly than digital, though.
You don't get much more Eco-friendly than digital, though.
@FireFox516
I hear ya. As a fellow collector, I really appreciate nice manuals, packaging and casing. Its irritating in the penny-pinching mentality beyound it all, too; like Usedtabe says, I'll be damned if we ever see any of this cheesy, cornering-cutting saving passed along to us, the consumers. And why is it that MS or EA have to cut costs like this, when all the smaller releases and companies seem to consistently feature full manuals, quality packaging and even COLOR in the manuals? More big-business BS, of course, which is really at the core of why this whole issue is so annoying.
I hear ya. As a fellow collector, I really appreciate nice manuals, packaging and casing. Its irritating in the penny-pinching mentality beyound it all, too; like Usedtabe says, I'll be damned if we ever see any of this cheesy, cornering-cutting saving passed along to us, the consumers. And why is it that MS or EA have to cut costs like this, when all the smaller releases and companies seem to consistently feature full manuals, quality packaging and even COLOR in the manuals? More big-business BS, of course, which is really at the core of why this whole issue is so annoying.
If they're saving money, why am I still paying the same price for them??
WHY AM I STILL PAYING THE SAME PRICE FOR THEEEM ;-;
(...same with digital only, actually. If the physical pressing of discs and packaging is so damn expensive you can at least pass along some of those savings to your customers. Oh, wait, no. That's not actually the point. They aren't in it to "save" money, they're in it to increase profit. Goddurnit.)
WHY AM I STILL PAYING THE SAME PRICE FOR THEEEM ;-;
(...same with digital only, actually. If the physical pressing of discs and packaging is so damn expensive you can at least pass along some of those savings to your customers. Oh, wait, no. That's not actually the point. They aren't in it to "save" money, they're in it to increase profit. Goddurnit.)
I like how Japan, what with a nuclear crisis and an economy that is supposedly no better than ours, can still manage to print full color manuals in a large number of games. Even Project Diva f on the Vita, where manuals are pretty much non existent, had a few color inserts packed in. Every Taiko game on the Wii has 20+ pages of full color with artwork and everything, every shmup I've imported on the 360 has at least a full manual included, often in color.
I don't think their intentions are noble here. They're not trying to save the planet or even save money that they could use to offset the cost of other items, they're just trying to cut out every negligible expense so they can squeeze a few more cents of profit out of a game.
And, ironically, this move will actually stop me from buying certain games new. One of the biggest reasons I would seek out a new copy of any game was to ensure I had a manual in good condition. Now as long as the cover art is there, which it almost always is, I'm not missing anything by buying used.
I don't think their intentions are noble here. They're not trying to save the planet or even save money that they could use to offset the cost of other items, they're just trying to cut out every negligible expense so they can squeeze a few more cents of profit out of a game.
And, ironically, this move will actually stop me from buying certain games new. One of the biggest reasons I would seek out a new copy of any game was to ensure I had a manual in good condition. Now as long as the cover art is there, which it almost always is, I'm not missing anything by buying used.
I FUCKING HATE how companies are totally destroying their products and claiming they're doing it for the environment. No no it has nothing to do with saving you money, right? Take my Poland Spring deliveries I get. They huge bottles used to be very sturdy, and the handles rounded so they are easy to lift and carry. Well, not anymore! Now the huge bottles use half the plastic, which means trying to carry the thing is like trying to carry a huge water balloon. Oh, and forget about the friendly rounded handle, now they have removable handles, which are squared and sharp. It's like picking up a watermelon with the sharp end of a knife.
A lot of plastic stuff has been taking a serious hit and the consumers expense, all while these companies claim it is for the environment. Even my Poland Spring bottles have a huge "ECO FRIENDLY" logo slapped on it. What is should read is "COSTS US HALF THE MONEY TO MAKE!". DVD cases, water bottles, packaging for electronics, heck, even my damn coffee filters are all super thin, super weak.
A lot of plastic stuff has been taking a serious hit and the consumers expense, all while these companies claim it is for the environment. Even my Poland Spring bottles have a huge "ECO FRIENDLY" logo slapped on it. What is should read is "COSTS US HALF THE MONEY TO MAKE!". DVD cases, water bottles, packaging for electronics, heck, even my damn coffee filters are all super thin, super weak.
@FireFox516 - You're not alone, I also really miss the manuals. Games don't feel complete without them. As a kid, when my parents bought me a new game the first thing I used to do was open the box and read the manual in the car. Even now when I buy a game, if there's a manual in the box I flip through it before anything else.
@FireFox516
agree with you.
i'll love collecting this things, it just seems more value and worth it especially holding it :P
@Andy of Comix Inc
agree, if your removing this things, i expect the prices to go down as well!!!!
agree with you.
i'll love collecting this things, it just seems more value and worth it especially holding it :P
@Andy of Comix Inc
agree, if your removing this things, i expect the prices to go down as well!!!!
Another collector chiming in about how much I hate this. I thought that I'd rather have them ditch manuals entirely than give me a one-page insert in it, but I'm not down with putting the safety information on the back of the cover; it looks messy. And honestly, it's still handy to have a quick summary of the controls to glance at whenever you want.
I really miss the days of comprehensive, full-color manuals. I still pull out copies of games like We <3 Katamari just to show people the entirely hand-drawn manual. Now, even if I'm dropping a ton of money on a fancy collector's edition, I'm not getting a decent manual.
At least they're not cutting chunks of plastic out of the game cases anymore.
I really miss the days of comprehensive, full-color manuals. I still pull out copies of games like We <3 Katamari just to show people the entirely hand-drawn manual. Now, even if I'm dropping a ton of money on a fancy collector's edition, I'm not getting a decent manual.
At least they're not cutting chunks of plastic out of the game cases anymore.
It's a big "fuck you" to gamers. It's going to be the same price to buy the game but we're going to get even less in the box? Thanks for that devs.
Gotta stem the bleeding somehow. Why reign in development costs and AAA bloat when you can save a few pennies on paper?
@randomredux
I do the exact same thing lol
favorite manuals (that i remember): SSB manuals and MGS manuals
I do the exact same thing lol
favorite manuals (that i remember): SSB manuals and MGS manuals
I'm split I like less paper and plastic cause it's better for the environment, but I don't like that this is often to the expense of being visually pleasing. I think we need to find a better middle ground. I think digipaks are a good alternative, often times they look better than a plastic case with a sleeve, less plastic and you can use recylable material without anyone noticing.
@RenegadePanda
The swag that came with Project Diva f was cool wasn't it. I got a screen protector with mine.
The swag that came with Project Diva f was cool wasn't it. I got a screen protector with mine.
That space on the flipside of game covers should be reserved for alternate covers featuring either female versions of the default male customizable protagonists or M-rated covers that would never see the light of day in the more squeamish cultures out there otherwise. That's just a travesty and a shame(or just somewhat unfortunate. Which ever.).
Instruction manuals ideally should provide some measure of entertainment while one waits for the game to boot up or to be installed since most games have tutorials plus most folks don't actually read the manuals when they are even there.
Some game companies still get it or rather still use it for some of their games these days.
Solatorobo's instruction manual is one of the best things about the game(other than the artwork). Ultimate Marvel Versus Capcom's manual is practically a mini-comicbook. Hmm,thinking about how nice and colorful Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3's IM is,I might actually understand why Capcom is trying to pull a fast one with their disc-locked content. They have to pay for their fancy manuals somehow.
Most important in all of this, how can you tell someone to RTFM if there is no more F-ing M to R?!
Then again,the most important thing to note is that a few million pennies saved is thousands of dollars earned.
Instruction manuals ideally should provide some measure of entertainment while one waits for the game to boot up or to be installed since most games have tutorials plus most folks don't actually read the manuals when they are even there.
Some game companies still get it or rather still use it for some of their games these days.
Solatorobo's instruction manual is one of the best things about the game(other than the artwork). Ultimate Marvel Versus Capcom's manual is practically a mini-comicbook. Hmm,thinking about how nice and colorful Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3's IM is,I might actually understand why Capcom is trying to pull a fast one with their disc-locked content. They have to pay for their fancy manuals somehow.
Most important in all of this, how can you tell someone to RTFM if there is no more F-ing M to R?!
Then again,the most important thing to note is that a few million pennies saved is thousands of dollars earned.
I mourn the loss of the full-colour videogame manual, and I love companies like Nintendo, Rockstar, and XSEED (XSEED!) that keep printing them.
Can't say I give a shit about the loss of the health & safety insert though...
Can't say I give a shit about the loss of the health & safety insert though...
Support Nintendo I guess, because Wii games, which are $10 cheaper to begin with came with full color manuals in 3 different languages on high quality, glossy paper.
Well, that's weird. I guess that "new game smell" is officially a thing of the past now. Sad face.
But what about the LCE of Forza with the steelbook? I wonder what they'll do with that. Also, a Bose advert? What the hell? I guess that lends credibility to the "economics friendly" theory. They're okay with filling game cases with unnecessary paper if they're making money from it.
But what about the LCE of Forza with the steelbook? I wonder what they'll do with that. Also, a Bose advert? What the hell? I guess that lends credibility to the "economics friendly" theory. They're okay with filling game cases with unnecessary paper if they're making money from it.
Jim! Your just overlooking the fact that these are exciting reversable game covers! I want my SAFETY WARNING PLEASE DON'T START SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY game cover.
While I can appreciate that it probably is better for the environment to reduce paper production, I'm not really sure that's the real problem. They should look at what the plastic cases are made out of really.
But like many of you, I really miss nice game manuals. The little inserts we get now can barely be called a manual. I just really like the extra background for the game world you often get, or little color pictures, or cheeky explanations of the game. It's probably one of the reasons I often will get strategy guides for games I really like, just to get the extra world lore and bestiaries. Ah well.
But like many of you, I really miss nice game manuals. The little inserts we get now can barely be called a manual. I just really like the extra background for the game world you often get, or little color pictures, or cheeky explanations of the game. It's probably one of the reasons I often will get strategy guides for games I really like, just to get the extra world lore and bestiaries. Ah well.
You'd expect the trend to be the opposite. With digital destribution gaining steam, so to speak, it would be logical to entice those customers who still buy games off the shelves with colorful manuals, guides and maps like Rockstar does, for example.
So that's where they got the funds for a 1% or 2% discount on XBL, also that quarter you save on your birthday.
I know console game manuals were never really elaborate, but I still miss my Fallout 2 Vault Guide. Spiral-bound, quality paper, and RECIPES IN THE BACK.
RIP, BlackIsle.
Seconded on using the manual to look up control schemes. I don't want to waste an hour on a tutorial for a game after not playing it for a few years.
RIP, BlackIsle.
Seconded on using the manual to look up control schemes. I don't want to waste an hour on a tutorial for a game after not playing it for a few years.
Resident Evil 6 side by side with Borderlands 2.
Some companies like to give you something nice. Others like Capcom give you nothing.
"We have heard your complaints and now offer a collectors edition complete with paper manual and exclusive dlc for $120."
Well, I guess now we know where the 25˘ "reward" they give you as a birthday present is coming from.
It looks like pennies and chump change when you look at it in the small scale, but once you extrapolate that out to a few million copies shipped the savings actually become rather substantial. Kind of like how FedEx/UPS always try to avoid left turns on delivery routes.
Plus we're in an age where everything you need to know about a game can be found after a few seconds on Google. Printing out paper manuals that barely anybody read anyway is pretty much wasted money.
Plus we're in an age where everything you need to know about a game can be found after a few seconds on Google. Printing out paper manuals that barely anybody read anyway is pretty much wasted money.
I still have my old Diablo 2 manual. Thick as a fucking book it is. Used to read that damn thing as a teen while sitting on shitter, goddamn i miss the days of reading game manuals on the shitter.
So. Say that saves them .05 cents on every game. So, per 1,000,000 copies of a game sold, they save a whopping $50,000. Theoretical math but eh. It's money and people are greedy.
Yup, and they still charge 60 dollars for the games, what else are they getting away with? Jim, it ain't only Microsoft, it's EA & Activision, also if you haven't noticed, even when they come with a manual they lack any sort of explanation for game content like items ect., example Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Dark Souls, Mass Effect 3 ECT.
the less attractive they make material copies of the games, the less likely I am to buy them and more likely I may just borrow my friends or get by 'other methods'.
I bought tales of graces f at full price, brand new from the shop, because it has a lovely box, art book and music cd's .
I am far less likely to buy an EA game full price brand new from the shop, because it has a poxy black and white leaflet. I'm more likely to rent it, borrow it from my friend, buy it second hand or otherwise 'acquire' it.
I bought tales of graces f at full price, brand new from the shop, because it has a lovely box, art book and music cd's .
I am far less likely to buy an EA game full price brand new from the shop, because it has a poxy black and white leaflet. I'm more likely to rent it, borrow it from my friend, buy it second hand or otherwise 'acquire' it.
@fetusmilk Steal? They're not worth anything. They did that so you wouldn't take out the manual and forget to return it.
"Hardly a big deal"?
It represents everything wrong about our modern gaming industry.
Nowadays, publishers are not lead by people who play games, but rather by some guys who don't even know what an NES is.
It represents everything wrong about our modern gaming industry.
Nowadays, publishers are not lead by people who play games, but rather by some guys who don't even know what an NES is.
follow
