what ever happened to manuals that came with the game?

[sbond]

Well Matrix is not the only one going with PDF manuals. It is pretty much becoming standard operation procedure. If you go to the local game store all the boxes are now those little 5 by 7 or whatever sized ones. Most have electronic manuals these days with a small quick start guide inside.

The game is fantastic, it is a rare day when a game goes above what I expect, and this one did just that. And that is what I wanted, not a pretty manual.

[AlvinS]

The PDF manual is just fine with me. Once I learn the interface of the game, I return to the manual occasionally to get answers to questions. Eventually a printed manual would be collecting dust with all of the others.

Between the PDF manual and this forum I can think of no better way to learn the game.

The quality of the games that Matrix develops far exceeds anything else out there on the shelves.

The only problem that I have discovered with Uncommon Valor is that time disappears. Sleep is but a memory.

Rumor has it that the Q in the upper right hand corner of the screen is used to exit the game. I'll investigate that feature someday and let you know if its true.

[Johnus]

Can someone explain how to "tab out" to read manual without exiting Uncommon Valor. Thanks.

[Paul Vebber]

HIt "alt tab" to shift form one open application window to another. You can also use that funky "flying windows" key next to "alt" all by itself

[Horus]

Alt - tab is ok but i like offline reading too. Np i had printed it out and its a real nice manual . Real good games for not the mass market can´t be cheap. So Matrix you did the right thing thx for the game ( and more in the future ).

[gnuseditor]

First of all, you're kidding yourself if you think printing those manuals is not an expensive proposition. I publish a monthly business newspaper in the Puget Sound area, and I know what paper costs, what ink costs, what prepress costs, and what the press itself costs to run ... you obviously have no idea, so please don't pretend that you do. You don't just trot down to Kinkos with a floppy disk!

Secondly (and finally, because negative posters and gripers like you just make me madder and madder -- I may end up typing all day...) if you really think Matrix is so incompetent and so awful, why don't you just GO AWAY? You are not contributing to inciteful dialog or constructive criticism -- you're just foisting your bile on the rest of us.

I, for one, applaud Matrix and 2 by3 for going the "independent" route ... and from everything I've read, Karensky's diatribe aside, they have produced what many admittedly jaded gamers are calling a fabulous product. Three cheers for you, guys and gals -- and don't let clowns like Karensky get you down!

[Adam Parker]

How - I've - changed my tune! Only about a month ago I was ranting about the lunacy of companies refusing to print their rulebooks. A public apology to Matrix and all others right here.

Whilst I'll always prefer a printed manual I genuinely now understand why I'll not always get them. Key to this epiphany - speak to those in the business. Hey, they're humans too?!

The only thing I could hope for is that as the Pocket PC phenomenon continues to take hold, that a format which works like a PDF with links can be found. EBooks exist now but converting a PDF or Word Doc to EBook format is a major challenge!

That said, if with the next game, the PDF file could also be provided as a Word Doc (even without links) that would be great. Simply transferring a Word Doc to Pocket PC is a snap. Presto! Portable manual!

Well, my game's just reached me... I'll soon be firing it up... I've printed my manual... no worries yet Thanks for what promises to be a great experience.

Adam.