Instruction Manuals

Antisocial · 11-10-2009, 05:52 PM

I was lying in bed last night wide awake, reflecting on my life and wondering how I turned out to be such an idiot.

Then I thought about this.

What's your relationship with your video game manuals? Do you go over them meticulously (like me), or just dive into the gameplay?

**Valigarmander** · 11-10-2009, 05:55 PM

I don't usually read them right away, but I always get to the eventually.

I used to love poring through them as a youngster, though.

Metal Mario · 11-10-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valigarmander

I used to love poring through them as a youngster, though.

Me too. I read them from cover-to-cover repeatedly, as if they were storybooks.

I remember the SMB 3 manual was a particular favorite.

**Valigarmander** · 11-10-2009, 06:02 PM

I still have a manual for Super Mario World, in the notes section of which I wrote in pencil "I AM A NINTENDO FRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" With "frick" meaning "freak". I was five or something.

Beat that, MM.

Antisocial · 11-10-2009, 06:07 PM

People actually use the notes section?

News to me.

**Valigarmander** · 11-10-2009, 06:08 PM

Yeah, to write down all your 30-digit passcodes so you can play the game where you left off last time.

**X-3** · 11-10-2009, 06:18 PM

I haven't looked in a manual for a long time.

Microphone_Kirby · 11-10-2009, 06:32 PM

I read the Manual whenever possible. It's best to know what the hell you're getting yourself in to.

Robotazy · 11-10-2009, 07:39 PM

Not really.

If I get bored, I take a peak, but I usually don't have time for that.

Metal Mario · 11-10-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valigarmander

Yeah, to write down all your 30-digit passcodes so you can play the game where you left off last time.

Hello, Bomberman!

Luigiman7 · 11-10-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valigarmander

Yeah, to write down all your 30-digit passcodes so you can play the game where you left off last time.

The only time I used it was to copy down those symbols that you had to use to get the Super Boots in PM:TTYD when I saw them in Frankly's (or whatever his name is) house.

Redshirt · 11-10-2009, 10:01 PM

Play first ask questions later, especially since most games have a tutorial now.

Glux · 11-10-2009, 10:07 PM

I read them when I get bored.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 11-10-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valigarmander

I still have a manual for Super Mario World, in the notes section of which I wrote in pencil "I AM A NINTENDO FRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" With "frick" meaning "freak". I was five or something.

Beat that, MM.

Gotta love that the spelling of "Nintendo" was correct, but not that of "freak."

***Cosmonautical*** · 11-10-2009, 10:58 PM

^ Nintendo is pretty easy to reference spelling on in a Nintendo manual, dood.

I've always been a sap for a well made instruction manual. Man, back in my day we got some content in those things. None of this word-for-word identical-to-game story text, either. Someone sat down and wrote that rubbish, just for the manual. Those were the days.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 11-10-2009, 11:04 PM

^ Yeah, but when you're five, I don't think you search too much for proper spelling.

...I know I didn't. >_>

**Valigarmander** · 11-11-2009, 12:01 AM

Anyone remember those old Final Fantasy instruction booklets that basically had a walkthrough built in for the first half or so of the game?

Those were tight.

CuccoLady · 11-11-2009, 12:43 AM

The only manual I have that I actually used the notes section for is ToS because I mark down random quotes about character backstories that interest me. I can pretty much tell the story of Raine and Genis from when they were kids to present.

I'm a freak. :{D

Anyway, I usually play the game first and don't read any material based on it because I want EVERYTHING to be new. I usually mentally devour the manuals AFTER I've played a game to get over my hype, but during my first playthrough I don't let ANYTHING spoil any part of the game for me.

Dizzy · 11-11-2009, 12:51 AM

I don't usually read manuals before playing a game, but they do make for good things to read during your downtime.

Kargath · 11-11-2009, 04:01 AM

I still have my Warcraft II manual. Yay pencil art

View Poll Results: So, instruction manuals for video games...
I always go over the manual first.	7	53.85%
Play first, read later.	6	46.15%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll \| Withdraw Vote

11-10-2009, 05:52 PM	#1
Antisocial Janitor Join Date: May 2000 Gender: Posts: 11,471 Thanks: 14 Thanked 1,296 Times in 536 Posts	Instruction Manuals I was lying in bed last night wide awake, reflecting on my life and wondering how I turned out to be such an idiot. Then I thought about this. What's your relationship with your video game manuals? Do you go over them meticulously (like me), or just dive into the gameplay?

11-10-2009, 06:07 PM	#5
Antisocial Janitor Join Date: May 2000 Gender: Posts: 11,471 Thanks: 14 Thanked 1,296 Times in 536 Posts	Granted, it may not have actual notes in it... People actually use the notes section? News to me.

11-11-2009, 12:43 AM	#18
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	I have to make each new playthrough interesting SOME way or another. The only manual I have that I actually used the notes section for is ToS because I mark down random quotes about character backstories that interest me. I can pretty much tell the story of Raine and Genis from when they were kids to present. I'm a freak. :{D Anyway, I usually play the game first and don't read any material based on it because I want EVERYTHING to be new. I usually mentally devour the manuals AFTER I've played a game to get over my hype, but during my first playthrough I don't let ANYTHING spoil any part of the game for me.

11-10-2009, 05:55 PM	#2
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I don't usually read them right away, but I always get to the eventually. I used to love poring through them as a youngster, though.

11-10-2009, 06:02 PM	#4
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I still have a manual for Super Mario World, in the notes section of which I wrote in pencil "I AM A NINTENDO FRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" With "frick" meaning "freak". I was five or something. Beat that, MM.

11-10-2009, 06:08 PM	#6
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Yeah, to write down all your 30-digit passcodes so you can play the game where you left off last time.

11-10-2009, 06:18 PM	#7
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,943 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	I haven't looked in a manual for a long time.

11-10-2009, 06:32 PM	#8
Microphone_Kirby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: None of your business. Gender: Posts: 7,155 Thanks: 559 Thanked 225 Times in 181 Posts Blog Entries: 6	I read the Manual whenever possible. It's best to know what the hell you're getting yourself in to.

11-10-2009, 07:39 PM	#9
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	Not really. If I get bored, I take a peak, but I usually don't have time for that.

11-10-2009, 10:01 PM	#12
Redshirt Wiggidy Wack Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: A place with things Gender: Posts: 16,698 Thanks: 703 Thanked 1,006 Times in 695 Posts Blog Entries: 50	Play first ask questions later, especially since most games have a tutorial now.

11-10-2009, 10:07 PM	#13
Glux Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Home Gender: Posts: 7,121 Thanks: 647 Thanked 360 Times in 236 Posts Blog Entries: 3	I read them when I get bored.

11-10-2009, 10:58 PM	#15
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	^ Nintendo is pretty easy to reference spelling on in a Nintendo manual, dood. I've always been a sap for a well made instruction manual. Man, back in my day we got some content in those things. None of this word-for-word identical-to-game story text, either. Someone sat down and wrote that rubbish, just for the manual. Those were the days.

11-10-2009, 11:04 PM	#16
I REALLY HATE POKEMON! Goku lives on the Sun Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: California, U.S.A Gender: Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 275 Times in 234 Posts Blog Entries: 1	^ Yeah, but when you're five, I don't think you search too much for proper spelling. ...I know I didn't. >_>

11-11-2009, 12:01 AM	#17
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Anyone remember those old Final Fantasy instruction booklets that basically had a walkthrough built in for the first half or so of the game? Those were tight.

11-11-2009, 12:51 AM	#19
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,161 Times in 804 Posts Blog Entries: 116	I don't usually read manuals before playing a game, but they do make for good things to read during your downtime.

11-11-2009, 04:01 AM	#20
Kargath et in Arcadia ego Join Date: Jul 2001 Gender: Posts: 8,334 Thanks: 1,226 Thanked 780 Times in 488 Posts	I still have my Warcraft II manual. Yay pencil art