So I've never posted on a message board before. Usually everyone hates what I have to say, but that's fair, 'cause I usually hate what everyone else has to say, too. Equal shmequal.
I think it would be great if a campaign began to demand that Nintendo make game manuals again that come along with new games. The price hasn't gone down for video games (in general). In fact, major titles have actually gone up. It wasn't uncommon to find a new NES game at $40 on release. But major publishers are trying to push their customers more and more toward digital purchases, yet they don't charge less for them. This is an effort to cut down on the secondhand market and productivity costs, among other business decisions. We buyers are the ones getting ripped off. No physical copy means no productivity cost for creating the cartridges, yet a digital version and physical version cost exactly the same amount. You are being taken if you buy digital. Don't fall for their deceits.
More and more games are coming out with less and less. Games come out half-finished and just expect you to buy additional content as the months carry on. Taking the instruction manuals away is just another way companies have given you less and yet asked for more money.
When I was a kid, I spent hours reading the stories in the manuals and drawing the characters in the enemy lists. I still remember so clearly the art from a great many NES and SNES manuals. Plus they often came with maps and item lists and other helpful hints and information for the game. The only reason they aren't included with the games anymore is because some executive came along and decided that they could save money by getting rid of them. And yet people just dealt with that and kept buying their games. Now virtually 0 games come with manuals. The last game I bought that had a manual was Shovel Knight for Wii U, and that was an independent title! That manual is awesome though.
In closing, I would love to hear what other users' favorite manuals were from their childhood. Maybe if enough people start to demand the manuals again we might see them return, at least for some games. Probably not though. Nintendo stopped caring about the buyers a long time ago.
@screechums
PS4 games also started lack of manual books, not just only Nintendo.
I would like to have manual book inside the game box but if bookless became a norm, i can let it go the manual book as long i can get the games in cartridge or disc. I have experienced getting games without manual books despite actually they have since i got used games from Tokopedia and there was a possibility i could get games without manual book. You should be granted if you can get the games in box with cover even without manual book.
I think paper manuals are a waste of paper (as pretty as they are), but I don't understand why DIGITAL manuals have been abandoned. Most 3DS games had them, but Nintendo had since completely abandoned the concept. Sure, they aren't the most useful resources, but they can help in a pinch if you just need a refresher on the controls or mechanics after a lengthy hiatus.
"Gee, that's really persuasive. Do you have any actual points to make other than to essentially say 'me Tarzan, physical bad, digital good'?"
The main reason companies don't do manuals anymore is the cost. Why spend the money to print something when they can include it in that game with a tutorial mode? Not only that but there is also the internet so if you need to find something about the game chances are the answer is out there.
RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.
@Silly_G oh man i totally disagree. all those great pictures and drawings and maps. you could say every book is a waste of paper with that frame of mind.
@SeaFishelle
It's almost a guarantee that you don't read then and are not familiar with history. Thus your opinion on books is about as valuable as someone who has never been to the coast's opinion on the ocean. That is to say, not valuable at all. Besides you're probably like 15 at most so who asked you anything about something you've never experienced.
@BabyYoda71
and it's not about them being necessary, it's about them being valuable and meaningful. Just look at any of the Zelda manuals for the NES or SNES, or really any RPG or adventure game from the SNES (FFII, FFIII, Illusion of Gaia, Secret of Mana, etc.). Or have you not seen them?
@SeaFishelle
I like to get some manual books from video games.
It's like i got a treasure things from purchasing video games.
But sometimes i was fine to get some hard to get games without manual book (despite it has manual book actually) as long i got the games in box with original cover.
Btw, i have some books in the shelf and they are not a waste of paper.
@SeaFishelle
Since you didn't dispute what I said, I'll assume I was right on all accounts. Your sensitivity is embarrassing. And you are a totalitarian government's wet dream. Book burnings and censorship, meet the delete and backspace keys: you have been welcomingly replaced. I love how someone who spends their time playing video games and probably buys new electronics by the dozen has a stern opinion about the value of physical books.
Honestly, why should any thinking adult care the slightest about what some non-reading child has to say on the value of print?
@CactusMan
It seems many responders have not read what my original post said. I don't care about the manuals for the instructions on how to play the game, I miss the artwork and stories that they contained.
@SeaFishelle OHHHH WOW I'm so sad, But really, what I was saying was not meant to be rude and any way shape or form, but you didn't seem like you knew what you were talking about whatsoever, you just came on to a thread that was asking for manuals to come back and you shove in modern day crap, so uh all I have to say to you is takes one to know one buddy (: (Oh and by the way, if this forum is not for new user's its for people who actually had a manual again not trying to be overly rude here)
@screechums Don't worry I know what you mean, I would love to do nothing more but read the manuals of galaxy 2 and smash brawl, the artwork was fun, and a lot of the time you got to know facts of a character, that the game would never tell you. I to want them back, or at least in some digital form kinda like A hat in time did, I can link it to you if you want, it feels like old day manuals. (Oh and sorry about the whole manual idea thing, when I told you, "you were not the first to come up with it" idk what I was thinking, it was pretty stupid LOL Now I see what you meant when you said they took your idea, so sorry we got off on the wrong foot)
@Snatcher
It's fine dude, you don't need to be all self-conscious because that kid called you a name. I'm glad you sympathize with what I'm saying about the manuals. That kid's just too young to understand (anything really). I especially miss being able to use them to practice drawing the characters, and the special edition art books (when they even get released) are just way too expensive. They don't even print strategy guides anymore, and some of the best of those used to have dozens of pages with character art to draw.
@screechums I never had a NES/SNES, so I don’t truly understand what it means to have one. I do think it would be nice for Nintendo to bring them back, I just don’t think they will. Especially now, people buy most of their games digitally. I support your opinion to want them, but there’s not really any reason Nintendo should actually do it.
@Snatcher On the topic of digital manuals, did Nintendo ever do those, or was it only indie companies, like A Hat In Time?
Heigh Ho Heigh Ho. It’s off to work (from home) I go.
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Topic: Bring Back Instruction Manuals
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