The Glade 4.0 :: View topic - Awww, /sadface...Game Manuals Go Bye-Bye

Ubisoft Removing Paper Game Manuals
In-game digital manuals to be included in future titles.

April 19, 2010 - In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, Ubisoft announced it is eliminating all paper game manuals from its Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC products, and replacing them with in-game digital versions. The first title to incorporate an all-digital manual is Shaun White Skateboarding, which releases this holiday.

"Eco-friendly initiatives are important to the global community and introducing in-game digital manuals on Xbox 360 and PS3 is just the latest example of Ubisoft's ongoing commitment to being a more environmentally conscious company," said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America.

Ubisoft says these in-game digital manuals will provide "multiple benefits" for the player, including "easier and more intuitive access" to game information as well as providing a "more robust manual."

Ubisoft has also partnered with Technimark, a case manufacturer, to produce Eco-friendly packaging for its PC games.

Ubisoft did not clarify if its older titles will be "upgraded" to include digital manuals. We've asked Ubisoft for comment and will update when we hear back.

Update: Ubisoft admited that while the company will save money from this initiative, it's too soon to estimate how much. Ubisoft also said it will not be offering downloadable versions of the manuals for players to print out.

"The digital game manuals will be for Ubisoft games going forward," a spokesperson told IGN. "While the company will save money on paper, it's unclear if these costs will be offset by the labor of the development team to create a more robust game manual within the game."

Author:	FarSky [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Awww, /sadface...Game Manuals Go Bye-Bye
Yeah, I'm sure there are a bunch here who'll weigh in with "oh, who cares, I never read them anyway," but...well, to hell with you. I care about presentation. End of an era, this. First, bloody new case designs that don't protect discs worth a damn, now... sigh Quote: Ubisoft Removing Paper Game Manuals In-game digital manuals to be included in future titles. April 19, 2010 - In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, Ubisoft announced it is eliminating all paper game manuals from its Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC products, and replacing them with in-game digital versions. The first title to incorporate an all-digital manual is Shaun White Skateboarding, which releases this holiday. "Eco-friendly initiatives are important to the global community and introducing in-game digital manuals on Xbox 360 and PS3 is just the latest example of Ubisoft's ongoing commitment to being a more environmentally conscious company," said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America. Ubisoft says these in-game digital manuals will provide "multiple benefits" for the player, including "easier and more intuitive access" to game information as well as providing a "more robust manual." Ubisoft has also partnered with Technimark, a case manufacturer, to produce Eco-friendly packaging for its PC games. Ubisoft did not clarify if its older titles will be "upgraded" to include digital manuals. We've asked Ubisoft for comment and will update when we hear back. Update: Ubisoft admited that while the company will save money from this initiative, it's too soon to estimate how much. Ubisoft also said it will not be offering downloadable versions of the manuals for players to print out. "The digital game manuals will be for Ubisoft games going forward," a spokesperson told IGN. "While the company will save money on paper, it's unclear if these costs will be offset by the labor of the development team to create a more robust game manual within the game."

Author:	Rodahn [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:50 pm ]
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It also saves them tons on printing (i.e. inking, laminating, etc) costs, which I wager is the real impetus behind this.

Author:	FarSky [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:01 pm ]
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Most likely. I don't believe any company that attempts to paint an eco-friendly program as altruistic. Still stupid, and disappointing.

Author:	Darkroland [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Awww, /sadface...Game Manuals Go Bye-Bye
Unfortunately, the days of REAL game manuals have been on the way out for years. Back in the day you got a 200 page manual in full color detailing every aspect of the game. In the last few years, it's been 4 pages saying "here's the controller layout, good luck".

Author:	Raltar [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Awww, /sadface...Game Manuals Go Bye-Bye
Darkroland wrote: Unfortunately, the days of REAL game manuals have been on the way out for years. Back in the day you got a 200 page manual in full color detailing every aspect of the game. In the last few years, it's been 4 pages saying "here's the controller layout, good luck". Yeah, this. I remember getting my copy of the original Baldur's Gate or Warcraft 2. So much non-gameplay related information in there...it was awesome.

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Author:	Screeling [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 6:13 pm ]
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I always loved reading the manual whilst taking a dump and waiting for the game to install. I guess those days will be gone soon...

Author:	Darkroland [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Awww, /sadface...Game Manuals Go Bye-Bye
Nah, now you'll just be reading it on your kindlberrypod.

Author:	Numbuk [ Mon Apr 19, 2010 10:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Awww, /sadface...Game Manuals Go Bye-Bye
Yeah the artwork for Warcraft/Diablo manuals were great. And I still remember my Chronicles of Steele story from TIE Fighter, which was included in the game manual. Doubly awesome.

Author:	Nevandal [ Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:11 am ]
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First game manual I ever read and thought was cool was the original Dragon Warrior for NES. Cool story...I was like 6, though.

Author:	Hopwin [ Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:47 am ]
Post subject:	Re:
Screeling wrote: I always loved reading the manual whilst taking a dump and waiting for the game to install. I guess those days will be gone soon... I am there. I loved the old manuals that provided background on the story, the characters, the world, etc. It was painful when they switched to just install sheets and specs. I remember reading the Star Tropics manual cover to cover several times, hell I even used to read the entire SSI manuals, journals (most under-rated manual ever) and code books for the old D&D games.

Author:	Numbuk [ Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:15 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Awww, /sadface...Game Manuals Go Bye-Bye
Remember when if you DIDN'T have the manual, you were screwed? Original form of copy protection. Sierra games were notorious for it. "Second word of the fourth paragraph on page fourteen?"

Author:	Hopwin [ Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:22 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Awww, /sadface...Game Manuals Go Bye-Bye
Numbuk wrote: Remember when if you DIDN'T have the manual, you were screwed? Original form of copy protection. Sierra games were notorious for it. "Second word of the fourth paragraph on page fourteen?" Lol those and the rune wheels were fantastic. I remember trying to use a pirated copy of an old SSI game with a photo copied wheel.

Author:	Lenas [ Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:42 pm ]
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Only time I ran into an issue like that was the PS1 metal gear solid, had to look at the back of the case to get a codec number.

Author:	Rorinthas [ Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:05 pm ]
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Let's not forget dr Js letter in Star Tropics!

Author:	Odom Leah [ Sun Apr 25, 2010 2:25 am ]
Post subject:	grrrrrrr
A big pet peeve of mine is how piss-poor game manuals are nowadays. One of my favorite memories was reading the game manual for the very first NHL game on the Sega Genesis (I think it was NHL 93). I read it from cover to cover and it was huge (60+ pages? I forget). Now, it's send the people off to the internet and let them ask other just as confused people on forums that in the least wastes time and at the worst frustrates the hell out of you where the overall game experience is tarnished.

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Author:	Wwen [ Wed Apr 21, 2010 4:18 am ]
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I have fond memories of PC game manuals. All the Blizzard games game with manuals that were like tomes that contained lots of fluff universe back story and etc. A lot of games nowadays don't require them, because they have extensive tutorials, but some games don't and still have a three page manual! I guess they figure game-faqs will write one for their games.