Random: Fans Have Made Their Very Own Splatoon 2 Instruction Manual

Without Nintendo's quality control etc. I wouldn't pay for one of these - not without at least seeing it first to assess it myself. But if the geeza wants to share the pdf then I'm happy to give it a goosey.

Fans do what nintendont.

@gcunit Is that a joke? Nintendo Quality control?

I never cared much for instruction manuals as they rarely came in handy and seemed like such a waste of paper, but I'm surprised that nobody's bothering to include digital manuals with their games as it was standard with the 3DS after printed manuals had been discontinued at some point during its lifespan.

There are some Switch games that include manuals, but quite often, they require an internet connection, which is pretty stupid as the manual should be stored within the software itself.

Also, remember when games were complete on cartridge/disc? Quite often patches, DLC, and/or sheer miserliness from greedy publishers will mean that the cartridge is little more than a glorified boot disc. I still prefer it to the alternative, and so long as I have a spare Switch with all of the update data intact, I can use that as a back-up in the years to come should anything happen (as you can wirelessly transfer update data between consoles), but it isn't terribly reassuring, particularly if I am left with no option but to eventually hack the console in order to preserve my collection, and I would hate for it to come to that.

It seems that corners are constantly being cut by publishers to the indifference of the masses, and it never ceases to amaze me to see shills who defend corporate practices that work AGAINST them as well as every other consumer. As a preservationist at heart, it's quite maddening, especially when games of generations past will still be playable (and complete). If people don't care about something (particularly that which does not affect them in any way whatsoever), then why begrudge those that do?

Yeah I’m currently selling my DS games on eBay and while taking photos it came back to me how nice it was to get booklets, maps and other stuff with games...

I like we'll illustrated, colour, glossy manuals, with a bit of lore, some tips and explanation of icons. I love the games that require the manual in a 4th wall breaking way.

I still remember reading game manuals for N64 games in the back of the car on the way back from the shop. After waiting and saving for ages for that one game and finally getting it (those things were REALLY expensive for someone relying on paper-round money), reading the manual was a great part of the overall new-game experience.

Make it available as a printable PDF. I'd pay to get it printed at the copy shop just to have a nice little manual in my game case.

Mmmmm... The unmistakable scent of a new manual should be bottled and sold alongside the top brand EDT's.

Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ comes with an awesome little manual on Switch. Brings me back.

Reading the 3DS/Wii U digital game manual by simply pausing the game with the HOME button was great. Please bring back this logical approach.

I love retro manuals, they were so interesting, as a kid with no internet seeing character art + profiles was the best.

I still remember seeing the Amy Rose art in Sonic Advance 2's manual and having no idea why I couldn't find her in the game.

Most of the manuals I have, especially the GBA ones are pretty busted up sadly. Some of the ones I have are not even online.

Yeah games collecting has lost most of its charm without manuals. Cardboard boxes and manuals were the best, now it's plastic boxes, and we're lucky if the inside of the inlay is more than just boring white with all kinds of boring text on it.
Well, I've stopped really collecting games like I used to anyways, and that's actually quite a relief. But whenever some limited quantities of a game I like are being made and they include a colour manual, reversible inlay, a special cardboard sleeve,... It still gets me to want it, but most of the time (unless I really really want it, the price is fair, and I don't already have it digital from a sale or whatever) I can easily just want it for a while and let it fade away.

Nice. I foolishly bought the prima guide at launch thinking it would have high quality renders of key art, but that was definitely not the case.

Anyone know where I can get these?

It always makes me sad when I open up a Switch game to see that lonely instruction manual clip with no instruction manual.

In contrast, every time I open up a 3DS game with a printed instruction manual (or play any 3DS game for that matter, since they all have digital instruction manuals built into the cartridge) I bask in the glow of instruction manual happiness!

The sad thing is that Mario Kart 8 and other games had terrific printed instruction manuals on the Wii U. I would probably pay for a Switch version of that instruction manual to insert into that lonely game case.

@HydroTendonMan Yeah, I love how Nicalis games for the Switch actually come with printed instruction manuals. Are there any other developers that include printed manuals with Switch games?

Better to have than those huge ones

@Crockin I wish that Prima and BradyGames still existed as publishers of print strategy guides.

edit: I just discovered that Future press apparently makes an Animal Crossing New Horizons guide that looks pretty good. I can't imagine this won't sell thousands of copies. They also appear to have a deluxe guide for Bayonetta.

Back in the day i used to read the manuals on the bus coming home

Ah I remember the ol days of getting a new game and showing my friends the manual on the bus the next day.

@Sun-WuGoku @Fuwa Yep, and trading games sometimes. I loved manuals, but I did quickly realize they often spoiled the game with details you would naturally discover in some of the longer games. It was fascinating seeing Nintendo with the early arcade ports adapt to longer play at home. The marketing for Zelda was brilliant with the starter map that spoiled the first dungeon and had hints, but left most of the game unexplored. (The manual told most things, but you could avoid it.)

Hmm too bad it doesn't show the actual manual, only some pictures.

You're better of just downloading games nowadays. Somehow physical copies are an event and download codes can cost up to $50 for a game that still has DLC and microtransactions. Such bu115h!t and everyone just accepts it. Now we got fans making their own manuals because game companies are too cheap to print anything.

So glad romsites and emulators exist. If a game is just information floating on the internet then I'll just bypass the middleman and go straight to the source.