Do you read a manual before you play a game?

Rikimaru_X · February 2006

Usually when I have the time I read a manual before I play, but I hate to read it when I actually have an opportunity to play it there and now. So I read as I play along.

Sackynut · February 2006

You took the words right out of my mouth ^_^. Yeah, I think to myself "I should read the manual" but then Im missing out on game time. So I either read while I play, when I need to read, or I dont read it ever at all. I am really really good at getting into games and catching on. I think I have only USED the manual like twice, and once was because I tried to play without it, and couldnt.

Thrift · February 2006

Nah I just usually skim through it to see any cool picture I never read it

sidebuster · February 2006

If there is nothing I need to know from the manuel (like in NFS Most Wanted) then I won't read it. Usually, games like Morrowind, or say Everquest2 get their manuals read by me. Some times I scan them for information or some times I read thurouly.

ViolentY · February 2006

Originally posted by Thrift
Nah I just usually skim through it to see any cool picture I never read it

As much as I hate to admit it, this is exactly what I do.

I typically read the manual anywhere from halfway to almost done with the game, just to see if I missed anything... or, if it's a multiplayer game, I'll read it when I can't stand getting owned anymore.

scaramoosh · February 2006

Never read the manual unless the controls are different to other games off it's type (which they never are)

Rufius · February 2006

I used to but, after awhile they all just said the same thing. I was so versed in most of my, playing it came second nature just to pop it out of the case and into the console.

Zhanghia · February 2006

When I'm in bio, coming home from buying a game and someone else is driving. Most likely not but I like to touch through the manuals to see if I'm missing anything when I get the gist of playing.

Slntasn · February 2006

i usually try to read it on the way home from buying it, and when the game is installing.

If its a really complex game (like when i bought my first MMO) i try to read all the important stuff.

moonfog · February 2006

Depends on the game really. on RPG (not mmorpgs) i usally have a look in the book.

Also depends on the situaltion. Since I am a working fellow and if I have bougth a game before work I sit and read the manual on my lunch break since I cant wait to play it and the manual is the closest I can get...lol

Scorpes · February 2006

What's a manual?

Dulain · February 2006

There is one type of game where it is necessary to read the manual unless you have professional training. That is the simulators. The good simulation games have two inch thick manuals teaching exactly how to use the machine that you are trying to control.

For most games that I play on PC and console I don't read the manual however. I check it in case I get stuck, or to find out about exact descriptions of characters or modes of play.

Orcc · February 2006

I read every manual for almost every game I buy. Its not to get information on the game, its just because I like to read. Game manuals have really gone down hill recently I think, they used to be great big thick things with a wealth of lore and interesting stories, now theyre a quick summary of the controls of a brief description of how to get started. Diablo (1 and 2) had great manuals, and even though the game itself was very simple and the main story of the game really wasnt all that deep, the amount of lore and additional information in the manual really it a lot more involving and interesting than it would have been otherwise. Guildwars comes to mind interms of a recent quality manual.

C.L.O.U.D · February 2006

I never read the manual b4 i play i just pop that game in and start playing, i usally read after i play the game for a couple hours.

slapme7times · February 2006

on my first mmo swg i did.

the manual i suppose pretty much sucked, it took me fucking forever to understand that when i used my pistol i got pistol xp, and that ihad to go to a trainer and get the next rank...

i guess i was too used to the level system where you only gain one type of xp.

or maybe i'm retarded

mister_GuS · February 2006

no, unless its a very complex game

or i have no idea how to play

or i simply dont kno teh buttons

or if there is art in it

other than that reading booklets is for women

OmegaLet · February 2006

I usually will eventually read the manual. If a game has a good story behind it I use that as reading material before I go to sleep at night. Some games really have good stories, at least they are written as good stories.

Unknown · February 2006

I usually read it as I'm installing the game, since most manuals these days are dissapointingly thin. If it's an RPG I will probably make sure to read the whole thing before I start playing just to get all the backstory. If there's an 'enemies' or 'monsters' section I usually skip foward to that immediately. The same is true of a strategy game if there is a unit listing. I don't know why, I seem to enjoy reading about monsters or units.

The Blizzard manuals were always the most fun to read. I sometimes read the Diablo and Diablo II manuals just for the hell of it. I like the artwork and monster descriptions.

evilclown9 · February 2006

i skim the pages and then ask a friend to explain me the details.

kidding...ofcourse i read the manual first.

Bababooey · February 2006

I usually just get my friend who plays the game to explain the basic controls, prices and things to me. Then I just get playing. If the playing gets too hard, then I read the Manual.

BTW, Riki, is it just me or did you take off your signature?

Wind_angel · February 2006

I just browse on the manual, then play the game. If I have questions I read the manual again.. then play again. like what I did on Half-life. Command and Conquer you know the maps in there.

Rikimaru_X · February 2006

The one game that I had looked through the manual several times and the condition of the manual even went bad and pages were falling of is Morrowind.

Originally posted by Bababooey
BTW, Riki, is it just me or did you take off your signature?

Yeah, I'm going to put it back up in a bit.

Vampir · February 2006

Originally posted by Rikimaru_X

Usually when I have the time I read a manual before I play, but I hate to read it when I actually have an opportunity to play it there and now. So I read as I play along.

Tutorial Levels open up such a considerable amount of games that manuals are rarely necessary

Malachi1975 · February 2006

I think I am with Vergeltung on this one. I don't really read the manuals to games ( unless I am er...dropping the kids off at the pool and have nothing else to read ). I will admit I play tutorials though pretty much everytime I start a new games. I have found manuals to usually be pretty outdated by the time a game is released. Whether it be an MMO or not. The tutorials are at least a little more up to date. Anything deeper than the basics is RARELY covered in a manual or tutorial ( eg- the crafting systems in something like SWG or EQ2 ). So some things you either have to ask around, read a forum, or wing it.

Phoenixs · February 2006

I read the manual while I install the game. Super advanced ultra realistic scietific simulation games don't appeal to me so I don't really have to read the manuals. I mostly do it for the "lore" or stuff like that if it's included in the manual.

evilclown9 · February 2006

yeah just to be sure.a manual can be a lot of help specially for newbies.

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