Matrix Games Forums

I will state first that I do enjoy the game, but have been pissed off by the stinkin' "retail type" manual that just explains how the UI works ! [:@]

No race descriptions (you've got to find yourself what are their abilities and that they have specific victory conditions), nothing about the various system types and their effects, the techs and buildings (what does produce a Research, what does a given tech do and how much it costs) , nothing about the battle system, no strategy advice...
This game needs a MoO or SE-size manual, and usually Matrix gives excellent manuals, why do we have such inferior quality this time ?

I don't know where you are from but if from the European Union, then we most likely have them to "thank"...they limited the size of the boxes and, hence, the size of the manuals.

I have no idea if it's the same for other regions in the world, but the EU definitely screwed us over for manuals...that's not to say that's the only reason for a crappy manual lacking instruction...unfortunately I think it's still prevelaint in the industry that the manual is an "add on" and a expensive "add on" at that!

Long gone are the days of the informative manuals.

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I don't know where you are from but if from the European Union, then we most likely have them to "thank"...they limited the size of the boxes and, hence, the size of the manuals.

I have no idea if it's the same for other regions in the world, but the EU definitely screwed us over for manuals...that's not to say that's the only reason for a crappy manual lacking instruction...unfortunately I think it's still prevelaint in the industry that the manual is an "add on" and a expensive "add on" at that!

Long gone are the days of the informative manuals.

I thought it was the era of dvd-boxes that screwed us over? Eu has nothing to do with it.

I'm guessing that the fans will have to do this at some point and put together a Wiki site or somesuch thing. The manual is quite useless.

ORIGINAL: Zakhal

I thought it was the era of dvd-boxes that screwed us over? Eu has nothing to do with it.

Yes, and the first ones to require it was the EU if I recall correctly. Developers weren't going to continue making two different packages for the same game, obviously. Of course, it was an easy decision for them as it saves money on packaging & printing. Stores love it because it saves space.

Our big, thick manuals (that didn't sound quite right) got the guillotine in the process.

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

I'm guessing that the fans will have to do this at some point and put together a Wiki site or somesuch thing. The manual is quite useless.

That seems to be the norm for a lot of games either with pdf or printed manuals. Many times all you get is a how to setup the game on your computer and a few one liners about tabs in the interface. You hardly ever get descriptions of how the combat results work and why. No combat tables, no terrain tables no nothing anymore but a tutorial that sometimes is helpful and sometimes not and sometimes you don't even get that. One thing I'll give credit to Shrapnel for they give you a good qualified printed manual for Dominions III with pages and pages of information about spells and effects and combat tables and charts on just about everything.

ORIGINAL: Zakhal

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I don't know where you are from but if from the European Union, then we most likely have them to "thank"...they limited the size of the boxes and, hence, the size of the manuals.

I have no idea if it's the same for other regions in the world, but the EU definitely screwed us over for manuals...that's not to say that's the only reason for a crappy manual lacking instruction...unfortunately I think it's still prevelaint in the industry that the manual is an "add on" and a expensive "add on" at that!

Long gone are the days of the informative manuals.

I thought it was the era of dvd-boxes that screwed us over? Eu has nothing to do with it.

Yes it was, but as NefariousKoel says, I think it was the EU that instigated it. Then the big manuals went. Of course who knows, with PC games at the same price they were back in 1993, perhaps big printed manuals had to go anyway...but the EU sped the process up I think.

Yes I agree. This game is great but the manual is useless. No info about units etc. This manual only tells you how to use the UI and some startup information. If you are new to this genre of these games you have a hard time to clear out how to play. I,m also missing the games in boxes with great manuals and maps. Now these day,s such games are sold as special editions. Back in the 90ties it was normal to get great manuals. I also have the Panzer command  games and the close combat series by Matrix and these games have great manuals as it should be for such complex games like Armada 2526

Manual size shrinking is a "gift" from the gaming corporations, the EU didn't regulate box sizes ! I still have 90 era big US boxes that I got from imports ..
Anyway I'm not even talking here of a printed manual, which I do not have, but the pdf file ! This doesn't weight anything...

Sorry to be so vocal but I've been spoiled with the big Matrix manuals such as those for FoF and CoG, or TOAW.

You are indeed correct. The size and quality of the manual has nothing to do with game box sizes for most games. I do work in the industry (programming that is) and I will hold my hands up and say that afaik manuals generally do not have the input that the program does, and are probably out of date. I'm not Talking about all games either.

I'm not saying they are, but in my experience of manuals that come with games, that's my impression...I have nothing but "what I've seen" to back that up.

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

You are indeed correct. The size and quality of the manual has nothing to do with game box sizes for most games. I do work in the industry (programming that is) and I will hold my hands up and say that afaik manuals generally do not have the input that the program does, and are probably out of date. I'm not Talking about all games either.

I'm not saying they are, but in my experience of manuals that come with games, that's my impression...I have nothing but "what I've seen" to back that up.

If you let programmers write manuals you'll get no manual ! [:D] This is analyst or tester work...

ORIGINAL: PDiFolco
If you let programmers write manuals you'll get no manual ! [:D] This is analyst or tester work...

I always write a manual...if they pay me extra! [:-]