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Oh how it is so easy now....
You buy a new system and what is that you do?
Do you read as recommended by the Instruction manual to read the Game manual first or are you the type to just delve into the game and play regardless of the instructions?
With the Colecovision, as far as I can remember I just turned the system on, put in the cart and played(The first plug and play system I can remember bar the Atari).
With the ZX spectrum 48+128k I put in the tape into the deck and was left with getting my parents to resort to the instruction manual to teach me how to load the game, which required me to key in on the keyboard: LOAD""- then You press ENTER. You where then subjected to coloured bars and lines and a sound that resembles something from outer space, waiting in the region of 5-10 mins for the game to appear on-screen.
Then I played the Sega Master System a few years later and really it was a god send. The graphics where then fabulous as I played on Wonder Boy and even though I never made it past the 5th Level. I was the child then that never got bored by that game, despite never ever completing it, but it was fond memories. I completed Sabre Wulf on spectrum when I was 9 and from that, Wonder Boy was pretty hard.
Next It was the Nintendo Entertainment system I owned and when I switched that system on I played Duck Hunt via the Zapper, the Instruction manual subsequently lay in the corner un-read. After shooting Duck after duck I pressed reset to play Super Mario Bros and really that was the start of an era for me, for Super Mario Bros the instruction book was unread too.
After that it was the Super Nes, bundled with Super Mario World for £170, again the Instruction manual was glanced at and threw to the side, I was eager to get at the game with great graphics and after playing- it was one of the greatest games ever played, after months the manual still lay unread.
The same with important releases for the N64, PS and PS2- I get into the game and forget about anything else. I don't read Instruction manuals, If I look at them its merely a glance. Because usually they contain pointless information and things that are obvious and trivial.
So Really, what is the point of Instruction manuals for games, do you use them? and if yes for what reason? Are they really important for todays games that explain actions and instuctions as we play them? MGS2 explains everything within the game, an in that situation instruction manuals is pointless. Like it should be.
You buy a new system and what is that you do?
Do you read as recommended by the Instruction manual to read the Game manual first or are you the type to just delve into the game and play regardless of the instructions?
With the Colecovision, as far as I can remember I just turned the system on, put in the cart and played(The first plug and play system I can remember bar the Atari).
With the ZX spectrum 48+128k I put in the tape into the deck and was left with getting my parents to resort to the instruction manual to teach me how to load the game, which required me to key in on the keyboard: LOAD""- then You press ENTER. You where then subjected to coloured bars and lines and a sound that resembles something from outer space, waiting in the region of 5-10 mins for the game to appear on-screen.
Then I played the Sega Master System a few years later and really it was a god send. The graphics where then fabulous as I played on Wonder Boy and even though I never made it past the 5th Level. I was the child then that never got bored by that game, despite never ever completing it, but it was fond memories. I completed Sabre Wulf on spectrum when I was 9 and from that, Wonder Boy was pretty hard.
Next It was the Nintendo Entertainment system I owned and when I switched that system on I played Duck Hunt via the Zapper, the Instruction manual subsequently lay in the corner un-read. After shooting Duck after duck I pressed reset to play Super Mario Bros and really that was the start of an era for me, for Super Mario Bros the instruction book was unread too.
After that it was the Super Nes, bundled with Super Mario World for £170, again the Instruction manual was glanced at and threw to the side, I was eager to get at the game with great graphics and after playing- it was one of the greatest games ever played, after months the manual still lay unread.
The same with important releases for the N64, PS and PS2- I get into the game and forget about anything else. I don't read Instruction manuals, If I look at them its merely a glance. Because usually they contain pointless information and things that are obvious and trivial.
So Really, what is the point of Instruction manuals for games, do you use them? and if yes for what reason? Are they really important for todays games that explain actions and instuctions as we play them? MGS2 explains everything within the game, an in that situation instruction manuals is pointless. Like it should be.
I never really read manuals, I prefer to experiment myself as it adds to the sense of achievement
To be honest I haven't touched any of the manuals I have got with games I did however read the PS 2 manual I got hence to excited to play the games.
However I think they are a necessary because I know I will refer to them if any problems occur.
Have you noticed how thin the MGS 2 manual is?
However I think they are a necessary because I know I will refer to them if any problems occur.
Have you noticed how thin the MGS 2 manual is?
I've never read instruction manuals that come with the hardware, and until recently used to dive straight into games without bothering with the manuals.
I was always too excited to play the new game to bother with the manaual, and as you stated, more often than not it's easy enough to pick up basic controls (or your told how to by the game) to get you by for a while (at least until you DO read the manual)
HOWEVER, since getting my PS2, I tend now to read the manual almost fully before starting with my games. It's good to know about the game before you start, and I think it can enhance the gaming enjoyment. That's not to say that I necessarily read the WHOLE manual page to page (I didn't with PES), but where possible, i'll read a large part of it.
Usually after buying a game, i'll get in, turn on the TV, and sit down to read the book for around 20 minutes before even thinking about commencing play.
So, yes, manuals are neccessary because they're an integral part of learning about games. If developers have to worry about ways of teaching the gamesplayer all the different options, methods of play, button combinations, etcl., that'll only detract from the game.
Even if most people don't bother with the manuals, I think they're still a worthy inclusion in ALL software.
I was always too excited to play the new game to bother with the manaual, and as you stated, more often than not it's easy enough to pick up basic controls (or your told how to by the game) to get you by for a while (at least until you DO read the manual)
HOWEVER, since getting my PS2, I tend now to read the manual almost fully before starting with my games. It's good to know about the game before you start, and I think it can enhance the gaming enjoyment. That's not to say that I necessarily read the WHOLE manual page to page (I didn't with PES), but where possible, i'll read a large part of it.
Usually after buying a game, i'll get in, turn on the TV, and sit down to read the book for around 20 minutes before even thinking about commencing play.
So, yes, manuals are neccessary because they're an integral part of learning about games. If developers have to worry about ways of teaching the gamesplayer all the different options, methods of play, button combinations, etcl., that'll only detract from the game.
Even if most people don't bother with the manuals, I think they're still a worthy inclusion in ALL software.
Oh how it is so easy now....
You buy a new system and what is that you do?
Do you read as recommended by the Instruction manual to read the Game manual first or are you the type to just delve into the game and play regardless of the instructions?
With the Colecovision, as far as I can remember I just turned the system on, put in the cart and played(The first plug and play system I can remember bar the Atari).
With the ZX spectrum 48+128k I put in the tape into the deck and was left with getting my parents to resort to the instruction manual to teach me how to load the game, which required me to key in on the keyboard: LOAD""- then You press ENTER. You where then subjected to coloured bars and lines and a sound that resembles something from outer space, waiting in the region of 5-10 mins for the game to appear on-screen.
Then I played the Sega Master System a few years later and really it was a god send. The graphics where then fabulous as I played on Wonder Boy and even though I never made it past the 5th Level. I was the child then that never got bored by that game, despite never ever completing it, but it was fond memories. I completed Sabre Wulf on spectrum when I was 9 and from that, Wonder Boy was pretty hard.
Next It was the Nintendo Entertainment system I owned and when I switched that system on I played Duck Hunt via the Zapper, the Instruction manual subsequently lay in the corner un-read. After shooting Duck after duck I pressed reset to play Super Mario Bros and really that was the start of an era for me, for Super Mario Bros the instruction book was unread too.
After that it was the Super Nes, bundled with Super Mario World for £170, again the Instruction manual was glanced at and threw to the side, I was eager to get at the game with great graphics and after playing- it was one of the greatest games ever played, after months the manual still lay unread.
The same with important releases for the N64, PS and PS2- I get into the game and forget about anything else. I don't read Instruction manuals, If I look at them its merely a glance. Because usually they contain pointless information and things that are obvious and trivial.
So Really, what is the point of Instruction manuals for games, do you use them? and if yes for what reason? Are they really important for todays games that explain actions and instuctions as we play them? MGS2 explains everything within the game, an in that situation instruction manuals is pointless. Like it should be.
You buy a new system and what is that you do?
Do you read as recommended by the Instruction manual to read the Game manual first or are you the type to just delve into the game and play regardless of the instructions?
With the Colecovision, as far as I can remember I just turned the system on, put in the cart and played(The first plug and play system I can remember bar the Atari).
With the ZX spectrum 48+128k I put in the tape into the deck and was left with getting my parents to resort to the instruction manual to teach me how to load the game, which required me to key in on the keyboard: LOAD""- then You press ENTER. You where then subjected to coloured bars and lines and a sound that resembles something from outer space, waiting in the region of 5-10 mins for the game to appear on-screen.
Then I played the Sega Master System a few years later and really it was a god send. The graphics where then fabulous as I played on Wonder Boy and even though I never made it past the 5th Level. I was the child then that never got bored by that game, despite never ever completing it, but it was fond memories. I completed Sabre Wulf on spectrum when I was 9 and from that, Wonder Boy was pretty hard.
Next It was the Nintendo Entertainment system I owned and when I switched that system on I played Duck Hunt via the Zapper, the Instruction manual subsequently lay in the corner un-read. After shooting Duck after duck I pressed reset to play Super Mario Bros and really that was the start of an era for me, for Super Mario Bros the instruction book was unread too.
After that it was the Super Nes, bundled with Super Mario World for £170, again the Instruction manual was glanced at and threw to the side, I was eager to get at the game with great graphics and after playing- it was one of the greatest games ever played, after months the manual still lay unread.
The same with important releases for the N64, PS and PS2- I get into the game and forget about anything else. I don't read Instruction manuals, If I look at them its merely a glance. Because usually they contain pointless information and things that are obvious and trivial.
So Really, what is the point of Instruction manuals for games, do you use them? and if yes for what reason? Are they really important for todays games that explain actions and instuctions as we play them? MGS2 explains everything within the game, an in that situation instruction manuals is pointless. Like it should be.