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PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 6:12:03 PM

UglyElmo

Posts: 4
Joined: 1/24/2005
Status: offline

The manual is well done, but to print it out using the dark background would be cost prohibitive. Is there somewhere where I could print out a text-only format, or a different format which does not use the dark background. If not, then will there be plans or a means given so we can convert it ourselves?

I enjoy reading during my down-times, when I am not near a computer, so a physical version of the manual is best for my purposes. If the boxed edition contains such a printed manual, can I upgrade my digital-only to the boxed edition? It would be worth the extra cost.

Thanks for your help, and the game looks great thus far. I am familiarizing myself with the interface, and will soon be playing through my first campaign. :)

Post #: 1

RE: PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 7:58:31 PM

SephiRok

Posts: 61
Joined: 5/3/2012
Status: offline

Hey,

The boxed copy does contain a printed manual! I'm not sure how you would go about upgrading from your digital version, you should contact Matrix Games support and they'll sort you out.

There's a printer friendly version of the manual in the Documents folder. You can also grab it from here: http://pandora.proxy-studios.com/media/PandoraEnglishManualPrinterFriendly.pdf

Cheers!

_____________________________

Rok Breulj
Designer and Programmer on Pandora: First Contact
Proxy Studios

[Twitter]

(in reply to UglyElmo)

Post #: 2

RE: PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 8:07:11 PM

Hertston

Posts: 3564
Joined: 8/17/2002
From: Cornwall, UK
Status: offline

Erm.. the manual seems to have some pages missing? Like the stuff about how you actually play the game???

We have

Pages 1-10, Epilepsy warning, installation, modding, support

Pages 11-18 Timeline (blurb)

Pages 19-63 (!!) Factions/backstory (more, and more, and more.. blurb)

Page 64-65 Credits

Really good game. Bloody awful attempt at a manual. What were you guys thinking?

(in reply to SephiRok)

Post #: 3

RE: PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 8:11:01 PM

PDiFolco

Posts: 1200
Joined: 10/11/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Hertston

Erm.. the manual seems to have some pages missing? Like the stuff about how you actually play the game???

We have

Pages 1-10, Epilepsy warning, installation, modding, support

Pages 11-18 Timeline (blurb)

Pages 19-63 (!!) Factions/backstory (more, and more, and more.. blurb)

Page 64-65 Credits

Really good game. Bloody awful attempt at a manual. What were you guys thinking?

Good humor, indeed it looks like a ... nonmanual? antimanual ?

(in reply to Hertston)

Post #: 4

RE: PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 8:53:44 PM

tgb

Posts: 766
Joined: 7/8/2005
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As one of the beta testers I posted that the manual seemed like a joke when I first saw it. I was hoping they would have completed it for release. Hardly seems worth printing and including with the boxed version.

(in reply to PDiFolco)

Post #: 5

RE: PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 9:01:30 PM

Erik Rutins

Posts: 37503
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
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FYI, the in-game encyclopedia is intended as the main source of more detailed gameplay info.

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For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

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(in reply to tgb)

Post #: 6

RE: PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 11:18:06 PM

robc04_1

Posts: 146
Joined: 1/15/2012
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

FYI, the in-game encyclopedia is intended as the main source of more detailed gameplay info.

That is pretty light on explaining the details of the game too. The basics are easy enough to pick up because the UI is pretty good and the hint messages cover a lot, but they sure didn't explain anything in detail. When I saw the manual I thought they left it that way by mistake. This is a strategy game, not Assassin's Creed 3.

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Post #: 7

RE: PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 11:43:38 PM

lparkh

Posts: 426
Joined: 7/25/2004
Status: offline

I agree the encyclopedia is inadequate. For example, pollution. Key game concept yet where is even an explanation of how it is caused? Or how it can be tracked?

(in reply to robc04_1)

Post #: 8

RE: PDF Manual - 11/15/2013 11:49:50 PM

ASHBERY76

Posts: 2136
Joined: 10/10/2001
From: England
Status: offline

Tool tips tell you what is the cause.Too many people.

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Post #: 9

RE: PDF Manual - 11/16/2013 12:39:31 AM

mikeCK

Posts: 565
Joined: 5/20/2008
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What does unhappiness do? What are the effects of pollution?

Stuff like that is what as ual is for and in game encyclopedias are insufficient. With the ability to create PDF manuals instead of printing them, there really is no excuse

(in reply to ASHBERY76)

Post #: 10

RE: PDF Manual - 11/16/2013 12:42:15 AM

willgamer

Posts: 902
Joined: 6/2/2002
From: Huntsville, Alabama
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: ASHBERY76

Tool tips tell you what is the cause.Too many people.

It's a little more complicated than that...

the job the person does that determines the amount of pollution that person generates;

a scientist generates the least pollution per person; a factory worker the most.

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(in reply to ASHBERY76)

Post #: 11

RE: PDF Manual - 11/16/2013 12:44:11 AM

willgamer

Posts: 902
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From: Huntsville, Alabama
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mikeCK

What does unhappiness do? What are the effects of pollution?

Stuff like that is what as ual is for and in game encyclopedias are insufficient. With the ability to create PDF manuals instead of printing them, there really is no excuse

All this is mapped out in some detail when you mouse over the people/job icons in the upper left hand corner of the city details screen.

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Post #: 12

RE: PDF Manual - 11/16/2013 8:29:25 PM

PDiFolco

Posts: 1200
Joined: 10/11/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

FYI, the in-game encyclopedia is intended as the main source of more detailed gameplay info.

Even if it's good, it's not an excuse to not have a manual. I haven't bought the game yet and wanted to have a look at its mechanisms, and as tehre is no demo I need a manual

(in reply to Erik Rutins)

Post #: 13

RE: PDF Manual - 11/17/2013 1:49:25 AM

FroBodine

Posts: 872
Joined: 5/5/2007
From: Brentwood, California (not the OJ one)
Status: offline

Developers, please write a manual, for heck's sake! There is no excuse for not giving us a real manual that explains everything. You have seen all the confusion, so proper documentation would be greatly appreciated.

This is keeping me from buying the game.

I know it's just my $30, and a drop in the bucket for you guys, but I am done purchasing games without proper documention. Done that too many times.

< Message edited by jglazier -- 11/17/2013 2:51:26 AM >

(in reply to PDiFolco)

Post #: 14

RE: PDF Manual - 11/17/2013 1:58:42 AM

dougo33

Posts: 86
Joined: 11/23/2011
From: Eugene, Oregon
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: jglazier

Developers, please write a manual, for heck's sake! There is no excuse for not giving us a real manual that explains everything. You have seen all the confusion, so proper documentation would be greatly appreciated.

This is keeping me from buying the game.

I know it's just my $30, and a drop in the bucket for you guys, but I am done purchasing games without proper documention. Done that too many times.

I agree - I jumped the gun and bought it one day one not knowing there was not going to be a manual or tutorials. The idea of pointing people to YouTube as a substitute for a manual is somewhat uninspiring for a game buyer. If I had known there was no manual and that the civpedia was rather sparse I would have held off on buying the game. It should not be that hard for them to create a PDF version and upload it. Paradox does it all the time with their games.

< Message edited by dougo33 -- 11/17/2013 8:45:17 AM >

(in reply to FroBodine)

Post #: 15

RE: PDF Manual - 11/17/2013 5:18:59 PM

stormbringer3

Posts: 875
Joined: 7/26/2007
From: Staunton, Va.
Status: offline

I was going to buy until I learned that there was no manual. I bought Advanced Tactics Gold Edition instead.
I'm going to keep following this game. If I see where they add a PDF manual I'll probably buy.

< Message edited by stormbringer3 -- 11/17/2013 7:43:13 PM >

(in reply to dougo33)

Post #: 16

RE: PDF Manual - 11/17/2013 5:47:28 PM

mikeCK

Posts: 565
Joined: 5/20/2008
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quote:

ORIGINAL: PDiFolco

quote:

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

FYI, the in-game encyclopedia is intended as the main source of more detailed gameplay info.

Even if it's good, it's not an excuse to not have a manual. I haven't bought the game yet and wanted to have a look at its mechanisms, and as tehre is no demo I need a manual

Well, I see that they are unhappy, but don't see what that means. The point isn't whether I can eventuate figure the game out, I would like to know how and why things work without fishing around for tool tips and trial and error. It's a dead horse at this point but the lack of a manual is an omission

(in reply to PDiFolco)

Post #: 17

RE: PDF Manual - 11/17/2013 8:00:45 PM

willgamer

Posts: 902
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From: Huntsville, Alabama
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mikeCK

... It's a dead horse at this point but the lack of a manual is an omission

I actually like the in game tool tip system and enjoy just poking around to discover the rules.

Having said that, I don't agree with essentially no manual. I seems to me that taking the text from the online help, adding an index, and slapping it into the current (empty) manual would have been a good start.

Yes, I know it's not "just that simple", but it's probably better than turning off some potential customers that have certain (reasonable) expectations.

I'd really like to see this game sell and grow because, as Flaviusx wrote elsewhere, it's a gem in the rough that could be a major hit with a little more fleshing out.

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Post #: 18

RE: PDF Manual - 11/17/2013 11:54:00 PM

mikeCK

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Joined: 5/20/2008
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Don't get me wrong, I love the game, I just like to read a manual before I start a game. At this point, it doesn't matter too much to me as I have pretty much figured stuff out

(in reply to willgamer)

Post #: 19

RE: PDF Manual - 11/18/2013 8:03:42 PM

Dragoon.

Posts: 175
Joined: 3/2/2003
From: Rio Grande do Sul
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I find the tooltips explain most things, although it's missing detailed background information about mechanics, which leads to confusion how things actual work.
Like pollution. Maybe in an extended tooltip it should not only show the source but also explain the process how it's created. Instead of me shifting workers around to get actual numbers how much pollution each different production unit creates.

< Message edited by Dragoon -- 11/18/2013 9:08:33 PM >

(in reply to mikeCK)

Post #: 20

RE: PDF Manual - 11/18/2013 9:57:27 PM

willgamer

Posts: 902
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From: Huntsville, Alabama
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dragoon

I find the tooltips explain most things, although it's missing detailed background information about mechanics, which leads to confusion how things actual work.
Like pollution. Maybe in an extended tooltip it should not only show the source but also explain the process how it's created. Instead of me shifting workers around to get actual numbers how much pollution each different production unit creates.

Mouse over the pollution icon in the upper left hand side of the city screen (in the Statistics box) and you will see the breakdown by worker type.

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Post #: 21

RE: PDF Manual - 11/19/2013 7:11:44 AM

schascha

Posts: 295
Joined: 1/3/2012
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I'm interested by this game.
But I won't buy it without a real manual.

(in reply to willgamer)

Post #: 22

RE: PDF Manual - 11/19/2013 10:23:03 AM

sanderz

Posts: 862
Joined: 1/8/2009
From: Devon, England
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If the devs can't produce a manual maybe they could just post some info on various topics in the war room

[also not bought this yet but keeping a close eye on it].

(in reply to schascha)

Post #: 23

RE: PDF Manual - 11/19/2013 10:38:23 AM

tombo

Posts: 356
Joined: 8/4/2007
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I'm also keeping close watch on this...so far seems good.

Is it that difficult to put a overview PDF together from the those who built the game? This could be a living document updated bi-weekly or so.

(in reply to sanderz)

Post #: 24

RE: PDF Manual - 11/19/2013 2:40:42 PM

Moltke71

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Many years ago, production cycles started to force manuals to be written before the game was even beta. Bad system but there it is.

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(in reply to tombo)

Post #: 25

RE: PDF Manual - 11/19/2013 3:39:34 PM

willgamer

Posts: 902
Joined: 6/2/2002
From: Huntsville, Alabama
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: schascha

I'm interested by this game.
But I won't buy it without a real manual.

I'm really quite sympathetic to this, but what if games are simply moving away from this paradigm of an external manual to an organic kind of in game documentation?

While short of full info, the mouse over that is displayed is quite detailed and can reveal most of what the developer wants the player to know.

(I support developers not right to not reveal every algorithm.)

I happily still read my Emrich and Hughes Master of Orion- Build an empire to Span the Galaxy... all 403 pages of it, but if games developers are trying a different approach, I wouldn't want to miss a really good game (as it seems Pandora is shaping up to be).

< Message edited by willgamer -- 11/19/2013 4:40:58 PM >

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Post #: 26

RE: PDF Manual - 11/19/2013 3:47:56 PM

Moltke71

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Yeah, the manual reads like a press release but the in-game stuff is sufficient for play. Amazon and Apple got away with almost no manuals for the Kindle and iPAD.

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Post #: 27

RE: PDF Manual - 11/19/2013 4:06:59 PM

Velihopea

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Joined: 5/26/2012
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The game hardly needs any manual, UI, tooltips and mechanics are quite clear.

Few things confused me:
- Game progress. That is, victory conditions and progress towards them were/are hidden.
- Some details, which a under 250 page manual would not cover anyways.

But I seldomly read any game manuals so this depends on the player.

(in reply to Moltke71)

Post #: 28

RE: PDF Manual - 11/19/2013 4:57:50 PM

robc04_1

Posts: 146
Joined: 1/15/2012
Status: offline

While I do find the lack of a real manual poor, I was able to learn and play effectively without one. I would have preferred to read the manual first. Between the hint messages and the tooltips I'd say 85-90% of the game is covered.

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(in reply to Velihopea)

Post #: 29

RE: PDF Manual - 11/21/2013 11:13:24 PM

shauny1987

Posts: 64
Joined: 8/28/2010
Status: offline

I have probrem. As Socialist faction I wish to stomp Greens. Cannot find war button.
Comrade Mao of the Solar Dynasty thinks a decent manual may have covered how to make war on green scum.

Halp.