So I may give in and buy this. Do I need the Boxed Edition?

[TigerTC]

I've vacillated the past almost year over getting this game. I just gave WITP:AE a shot and couldn't quite get into it, so I think I'll go ahead and buy this one.

Big question: Should I get the Boxed Edition? I usually don't like hardcopy manuals and am fine with a PDF open on my second monitor, but a game of this breadth and depth may be a different story. Is it worth the extra money?

[Sardaukar]

It's bit of personal preference. Lot of extra material and such are on net anyways. So it comes down to if one wants printed manual or not.

[Mgellis]

I suppose the advantage of the boxed edition is also in case you have an emergency "oh my god, my hard drive was wiped and I've lost all my passwords, etc." situation. I'm not sure what happens in a case like that as far as Matrix is concerned, but if you have an actual hard copy of the game it doesn't matter, and it's probably faster anyway. I think of it as insurance.

[AdmiralSteve]

I've always liked to have a backup disk/manual. Matrix seems to backup the disk for you so you don't have to pay the extra $$$ for a physical copy and I don't know if the boxed game will have the amended manual. The game has been drastically changed since v 1.01. Yeah, personal preference. Just my two cents.

[ed72n]

I normally like to buy games that have a nice physical manual but I made an exception with COMMAND. This has been a good decision as the game is evolving and expanding so fast that the manual is now not current anymore and will fall further and further behind as the game continues to grow.

In my case, I saved on the shipping when I purchased. I still have the manual which I printed myself. I have also printed out the manual addendum and the FAQ and clipped them all together so everything is much more than update than what you would get in the "box" version. It's also easy to burn the program files onto a disk for back-up purposes.

[Tomcat84]

To join in on what the others have said: it is not necessarily needed. I have it cause I like having a boxed version, it is pretty nicely packaged. But I don't ever read the manual, and so many things have already changed with the patches (which is a good thing!) that it is not really up to date anymore. I dont expect the printed version to have been updated with the addendum. Of course there is still useful info in the manual if you are brand new to the game, but it's a bit of a toss up. How much do you like to read a physical copy of a manual? And how much does the extra expense hurt you. Since you say you usually are fine without a hardcopy I would think in this case probably you would be too.

[Feltan]

Get the boxed addition.

It is an extra few bucks for the developers, and you actually get some value for your money.

There are few things in life you actually have control over. One of the things you do control is whether or not you are a cheap skate -- give the guys a few extra bucks and feel good about yourself.

Regards,
Feltan

[Plodder]

ORIGINAL: Feltan

Get the boxed addition.

It is an extra few bucks for the developers, and you actually get some value for your money.

There are few things in life you actually have control over. One of the things you do control is whether or not you are a cheap skate -- give the guys a few extra bucks and feel good about yourself.

Regards,
Feltan

Seriously? Most of extra bucks goes into the manufacturing and handling of the physical items, not the developer. If Matrix really wanted you to have a printed manual they wouldn't supply a printer-friendly PDF manual. Calling someone a cheap skate is pretty bloody rude...

[Feltan]

ORIGINAL: The Plodder

ORIGINAL: Feltan

Get the boxed addition.

It is an extra few bucks for the developers, and you actually get some value for your money.

There are few things in life you actually have control over. One of the things you do control is whether or not you are a cheap skate -- give the guys a few extra bucks and feel good about yourself.

Regards,
Feltan

Seriously? Most of extra bucks goes into the manufacturing and handling of the physical items, not the developer. If Matrix really wanted you to have a printed manual they wouldn't supply a printer-friendly PDF manual. Calling someone a cheap skate is pretty bloody rude...

Yeah, seriously. Most software publishers look at unit sales, and at $$$/unit/sale. Do you think that spending less money helps the developers?

I suspect the price point on this product keeps sales limited; it is a niche market. Every little bit helps.

And, I didn't call anyone a cheap skate -- I said it is one of the few things you can control.

Regards,
Feltan

[goodwoodrw]

To or not to is a personal choice. I just like seeing my name printed on the disc.[:D][:D]

[Marder]

I bought the boxed version just to support such a great team!
Put a USB Stick with all the addons in the Box just for the case.

[TigerTC]

ORIGINAL: The Plodder

ORIGINAL: Feltan

Get the boxed addition.

It is an extra few bucks for the developers, and you actually get some value for your money.

There are few things in life you actually have control over. One of the things you do control is whether or not you are a cheap skate -- give the guys a few extra bucks and feel good about yourself.

Regards,
Feltan

Seriously? Most of extra bucks goes into the manufacturing and handling of the physical items, not the developer. If Matrix really wanted you to have a printed manual they wouldn't supply a printer-friendly PDF manual. Calling someone a cheap skate is pretty bloody rude...

Thanks. Most of the replies here were quite helpful. But I don't see how not wanting to pay $15 extra on an already-high-priced game for shipping, extra packing and material that I will immediately throw away, and for another book to add to the countless books already in my house would constitute being a "cheap skate."

[kaburke61]

ORIGINAL: BROJD

ORIGINAL: The Plodder

ORIGINAL: Feltan

Get the boxed addition.

It is an extra few bucks for the developers, and you actually get some value for your money.

There are few things in life you actually have control over. One of the things you do control is whether or not you are a cheap skate -- give the guys a few extra bucks and feel good about yourself.

Regards,
Feltan

Seriously? Most of extra bucks goes into the manufacturing and handling of the physical items, not the developer. If Matrix really wanted you to have a printed manual they wouldn't supply a printer-friendly PDF manual. Calling someone a cheap skate is pretty bloody rude...

Thanks. Most of the replies here were quite helpful. But I don't see how not wanting to pay $15 extra on an already-high-priced game for shipping, extra packing and material that I will immediately throw away, and for another book to add to the countless books already in my house would constitute being a "cheap skate."

Agreed, considering I haven't seen any post from the developers stating they ACTUALLY get any more money from
the boxed set. Even if they did get a small amount more, I would rather give them my money by purchasing enhancements/campaigns/new titles, etc.
I read the manuals on my tablet, and I back up my computer, so I do not need a physical disc around I will not use.

Blanket assumptions, and insults are not helpful.

[JRyan]

I would get the box, DL the game and leave the box where people can see it:)

I have all my Harpoons right next to it, I have a shelf dedicated to them.

[dandin384]

If you do go with the download version don't worry about hard drive crashes and getting your game back. Matrix has amazing support when it comes to sending re-download keys. They respond quick and you will be back playing in no time. It all comes down to playing Command in the end anyways [:D]. The download will get you there faster, the boxed will give you a physical manual.

[Stevechase]

Only got the digital version. But I don't feel I missed anything really. Either way the game is well worth either price to me, and if I somehow had a crash and lost all my stuff, this would be probably the first of the few games I would repurchase even with its above average price.

[mrfeizhu]

save a tree take you kids out to lunch

[Grubwurm]

Once the shite starts flying you throw the fuggin manual out hehe