Topic: Did you ever look at the manuals?

For some reason, I simply dropped all the manuals into a box and ignored them entirely. I figured it was just customer support, sweepstakes, merchandise offers, etc. I didn't know the manuals identified all the enemies, so I went for years not even knowing what the walking mushrooms were called.

Haha, I read 'em ocassionally, if I'm bored...It's sometimes entertaining to read the descriptions of stuff... But sometimes I learn things that I didn't know I could do in the game, thus making it more fun!
But yeah, I don't really read "Starting the Game" stuff, which tells you how to select things on the menu screen... >.>

Always, so that I'm prepared. I need all the help I can get with my sucky 'skills'. :3

Yeah, I only read 'em for fun. I'm a fast learner, so they're rather useless to me. As stated above, they can teach you things you may not have known, so sometimes it is good to read them.

That's what I hate about DLC, no joy of looking at the manuals.

I've looked at the game manual for every game I've ever bought.

I always used to crack open the gamebox and dig out the manual while mum or dad was driving me home from the shop... For a while though, with all the wii releases, I didn't even bother opening them, because in game tutorials typically explain everything you need to know.
The only games I use them for now is the VC releases, purely because the storylines and in game tutorials are bogus lol...

I usually make myself read them before starting any game, if only for fear of there being some great fact I wouldn't find out otherwise...lol

I like how the VC downloads come with manuals. It really helps sometimes.

This. I like to read them, even though, most--if not all of the time the game is pretty self-explanatory, I just like to read the manual before I play a game I bought. I don't like buying used games if they don't come with the manual. Sometimes it gives backstory and information that's not in the game, too. If I really like the game, I might read it again after I finish the game.

I don't really, but I like to read them if I'm bored.

i always used to. because i would often times get a game with my parents, but wasn't allowed to play it that day. i would be so eager to just get some tidbit of the game i would always read the manuals cover to cover several times just waiting to play it.

I used to like manuals, but most are pretty dull now.

Funny, all this manual stuff makes me think of a famous quote.
"If you need instructions on how to get through the hotels, check out the enclosed instruction book!"

Sometimes.

I always read them before playing. I need to know the backstory and the controls before I play plus any other important information needed to play the game that isn't revealed in the game itself. Yes, a lot of games now have in-game tutorials, but not all games do, plus the tutorials don't always include everything, and it's nice to have a handy reference when you're playing the game and can't use the tutorial. If the manual includes it, it's also nice to read profiles of the characters and enemies and summaries of the levels. Some fighting games also include commands for using special moves in the manual.

ditto.....

Well, I rented Tatsunoko vs. Capcom recently and wished I had a manual. I had to search the web just to find out how to switch with my partner during a match. Even the in-game command list confused me. I also never learned what Advance Guard, Mega Crash, or Baroque were supposed to be, and that bothered me.

It really depends on how much is explained in the game itself, I think. I had to consult the manual for A Boy and His Blob until I had the controls down (I was surprised at the game's lack of text or dialog and equally so at how I never really missed it).

Well, I generally do for DLC. For instance, on Super mario world, on a gamecube controller, Y is run, A is spin, and B is jump, and Z is like your select button. I never would have figured that out.
On Pop Island, I thought the little question mark boxes gave you points, but it turns out that they act as power ups if you press L. I never would have guessed.
So, they can be helpful, but I too like to skip the obvious stuff.

I always look at my manuals, since they usually contain pretty artwork.

I used to read them, but now I don't since it's mostly obvious stuff. Of course if there's background character and enemy information, I'll read it.