Game didn't include manual

[dandechino]

I got the digital download and the physical product shipped to my house. I assumed that not only would installation discs be there but also a printed manual? Did anyone else have this problem? I don't care for reading a 90 page book by scrolling thru a pdf.

[Tejszd]

Unfortunately I do not believe it is supposed come with a printed manual.... 

[Andrew Williams]

This release of CC:LSA is a DX (Digital Express) version and does not include a printed manual.

[CSO_Talorgan]

Presumably future versions will?

[Fred98]

Close Combat is so easy it doesn't need a manual!
 
There are very few commands and each command is covered in the video tutorial!
-
 

[7A_Woulf]

ORIGINAL: Joe 98

Close Combat is so easy it doesn't need a manual!

There are very few commands and each command is covered in the video tutorial!
-

Sort of yes, for us 'Old-foxes', but
A) Not everyone have been around since CC2, there's always new players drawn to the CC-swamp... [;)]
And they might want to read the manual for tips on units, tactics and so on.
B) There's always small improvements that might be hard to catch if you don't spend an hour with the trusty old paper-manual. ("wtf, where did those tanks come from!?!", or "damn! Right-click to give orders, right-click! [8|])

[xe5]

Then again, even with the manual, youre SOL if you want to know what "current status" (p.38) the color-coding of the background panels and text on the Team Monitor refers to.

[Andrew Williams]

Basically colour coding for nearly all aspects of the game is not detailed.  (soldier outlines, Health heads etc)

[Bamilus]

Just so people aren't confused....there is a manual for this game just not a printed manual. The manual is quite good IMO, just like most Matrix Games manuals.

[chiroho]

ORIGINAL: Bamilus

Just so people aren't confused....there is a manual for this game just not a printed manual. The manual is quite good IMO, just like most Matrix Games manuals.

I agree. The eBook manual has just as much in it, if not more, than the last printed one I received when I purchased Close Combat: Invasion Normandy. And if you want to print it out, it also comes in two printer friendly PDF versions. All you have to do is look in the "Documentation" folder in the "Close Combat Last Stand Arnhem" folder on the Start menu.

[Bordic]

And what about the A Bridge Too Far history and Weapon Sound included in the original cc2? As they weren't included upgraded in this LSA, is there any way to get them to work with newer systems?

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[STIENER]

tha game manual should be rewritten.....there are parts that are confusing, contradictory and poorly written to the point of cant figure out what it means, and there should be a printed manual. or at least a choice. i would have paid 5.00 more for one.

[RD Oddball]

Thanks for the suggestions Stiener. So that we may improve them to your standards, what specific parts of the manual do you find confusing?

[STIENER]

tm.asp?m=2577653

lets start here with that post i made a while ago.....a bunch of questions and some feed back from steve [ RD Knights X ], yourself and the other steve and of course Mick, who says he has a laundry list if you want it.
its a good place to start. and of course Micks post above and many others that he has posted with inaccuracies in the manual. im sure you can find them.

i love the sarcasm too......my standards wont be meet until something is done with the a/t gun survivability and the power of the mortor. [:(]

[RD Oddball]

No sarcasm intended. There are a variety of ways a manual can be approached and have seen such in other titles. All of them effective for how they were intended. Some include the most basic set of information to get users started while others attempt to explain every last detail and nuance. The CC manuals have always been somewhere in between. While going further than most manuals there have always been details left out. Not saying there shouldn't be more detail just saying it set a precedent and was followed. It's neither here nor there from my standpoint the manuals have always worked fine for me. I need practical examples and reading about them, at some point. does me little good. I need to see them in practice. So if adding detail is important to someone else (i.e. their standards) then it's important to me and we will take every opportunity to make those improvements.

Knights had been in contact with Mick and we have a copy of Micks suggestions and Knights has reviewed them. I'm sure he'll incorporate them as is practicable and what he has time for. Thanks for checking.

And for some reason I'd thought your question in that thread had been answered and your final response sounded somewhat unsure. I put it in the tracking system.

Thanks again for your dedication and help Stiener.

[STIENER]

my pleasure Oddball.
my questions were answered in the post by a couple of people. but you asked for specifics and there they are. i shouldnt have had to ask the questions if the manual explained it right.
this new CC with its new options needs to be explained better thats all im saying. the manual isnt that bad, just could be better.
nothing worse than making a huge tactical blunder in a good game cause you didnt no how it was supposed to work. IMHO.

besides Mick is turning over in his sleep just hearing you say that you dont read the manual!!!! [:D]

[RD Oddball]

[:D] I'm sure he is. The stuff of nightmares for him. I didn't say I don't read game manuals I just said I don't need much to get me into the game and going and I figure out the rest by experience. Perhaps not the best approach but it's my way. To your point it'd be a good idea to have any details explained for those folks who want them explained.

[mazorj]

ORIGINAL: RD_Oddball

No sarcasm intended. There are a variety of ways a manual can be approached and have seen such in other titles. All of them effective for how they were intended. Some include the most basic set of information to get users started while others attempt to explain every last detail and nuance. The CC manuals have always been somewhere in between. While going further than most manuals there have always been details left out. Not saying there shouldn't be more detail just saying it set a precedent and was followed. It's neither here nor there from my standpoint the manuals have always worked fine for me. I need practical examples and reading about them, at some point. does me little good. I need to see them in practice. So if adding detail is important to someone else (i.e. their standards) then it's important to me and we will take every opportunity to make those improvements.

Only providing a .pdf of the manual is a two-edged sword.

Reading from a hardcopy printed manual is much easier. However, most printed manuals at best are a decent first draft of what users need. The advantage of .pdf manuals is that they can be continually updated as downloads. In fact they should be continually updated to reflect user comments and requests. As a WAG, I'd say that each release could use at least 3-4 interim updates of its manual in the first year after a game release. I am not aware of this being done with any of my Matrix WW2 games. We get one or two game updates plus modded scenarios but nothing in the line of between-release updates of the manual.

Since there are no associated printing costs with .pdf manuals, I see the Matrix policy of providing "in between" manuals instead of highly detailed versions (plus no interim updates) as a bit of cheapskating. Typo errors - as I found in LSA - also tell me that manuals are not a very high priority feature for game releases. It appears that a "good enough for commercial release" attitude prevails.

I'm not saying that every last niggling thought in the developer's head should be included in a manual; but as the comments here have shown, players of highly specialized niche game systems such as CC will welcome and readily devour a highly detailed manual. This includes both developer commentary and guidance as well as the basic information that often goes MIA because the developers assume that players are as familiar with the game as they are or will figure it out on their own (or just plain old corner-cutting when it comes to quality control for the completeness of manuals).

Flaws in the AI, scenario editing tools, the quality of graphics, how to tie strategic-level outcomes to a few small-unit battles, etc. are deeply rooted systemic issues and not easily fixed. OTOH, problems with manuals are "surface issues" that can be readily fixed by a decent wordsmith creating new downloadable versions.

Bottom Line: Please don't skimp on details - pour it on! - and make it a standard practice to provide downloadable interim updates to the .pdf manuals.

[Tejszd]

Good point mazorj!!!

If a printed manual is not going to be included at least then take advantage of it being electronic and update it as people post feedback and or patches change how things work....