Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (Full Version)

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sterckxe -> Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/27/2011 2:43:28 PM)

Hi,

In the boardgame world practically every new game has a downloadable manual so prospective customers can take a look at what the game covers, mechanics etc.

Anyone know a good reason why this is not the case in the pc wargame world ?

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx



Terminus -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/27/2011 2:51:57 PM)

Probably something to do with torrents...



Lieste -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/27/2011 3:30:00 PM)

How does that make sense? [&:]
If the distribution contains a pdf manual (most do with the demise of paper versions), then presumably a torrent of the distribution (cracked) would also contain the same manual...





Terminus -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/27/2011 3:38:53 PM)

Didn't say it made sense.



planner 3 -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/27/2011 4:19:41 PM)

I would suspect that cost of printing a manual would be the main reason. The additional cost would also be passed on to the buyer ....you...a pdf manual can be printed by Kinko or Office depot, again at your expense, either way, you pay....



dougb -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/27/2011 5:42:17 PM)

I think you may be misintepreting what Eddy was asking. Many board wargame publishers will post pdf's of the rules (GMT in particular) for games that are upcoming. This allows prospective buyers to check the game out and helps to build interest and anticipation in the game (and also provides an opportunity for a wider audience to identify any potential rules problems). I guess the question is why pc wargame publishers don't follow the same policy and post downloadable rules for upcoming games or event games that have already been published. In the absence of a demo that and screenshots would provide an opportunity to further assess a potential purchase.

I can't see cost as being an issue since the dowloader would determine if they wanted to print a hard copy.

Doug



IainMcNeil -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/27/2011 5:43:33 PM)

I don't see a big problem with it. We have done it in the past. E.g. For Panzer Corps the manual was released.

One other issue is the timeline. The manuals are often one of the last things to be ready so getting them out in advance is often a logistical impossibility.

With baord games the whole thing goes to manufacture which can take 3 months and the manual must be ready then so you have a pdf manual at least 3 months before release. Sometimes we have the pdf manual the day before release and often teh manual is the limiting factor in releasing!




Lieste -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/27/2011 5:51:19 PM)

Some games have demos - here the manuals are usually included.
Some have manual previews (WITE) released prior to launch, but the completed manual has never been separately released (instead being bundled with the installer.exe which requires a purchase & serial no. to unpack).

Others are black-holes with no manual (even limited preview) or demo available.



sterckxe -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/28/2011 10:20:54 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: dougb

I think you may be misintepreting what Eddy was asking. Many board wargame publishers will post pdf's of the rules (GMT in particular) for games that are upcoming. This allows prospective buyers to check the game out and helps to build interest and anticipation in the game (and also provides an opportunity for a wider audience to identify any potential rules problems). I guess the question is why pc wargame publishers don't follow the same policy and post downloadable rules for upcoming games or event games that have already been published. In the absence of a demo that and screenshots would provide an opportunity to further assess a potential purchase.

I can't see cost as being an issue since the dowloader would determine if they wanted to print a hard copy.

Doug


Yeah, what he said :)

In the boardgame world it's become pretty much routine for me : I hear about a new game, I surf over to BGG and download the manual. 5-10 minutes of browsing and I can tell whether or not it's a game for me. If producers of cardboard can manage releasing a pdf, surely this cannot be a problem for pc wargame publishers. The pdf manuals exist, just put them on the ftp server together with the patches and demos.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx



JudgeDredd -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (9/28/2011 1:59:46 PM)

Iain

Timescale isn't really an issue. I mean, it is in so far as it cannot be done before you release the game (concurring with your example of boardgames going to print) - however, the manuals could be made available just before, on or just after release...so the fact that it cannot be done in a similar fashion to the boardgame world doesn't mean it can't be done.

as you've pointed out, it was done for Panzer Corps - but there are so many more (even backlog) games it could be done for. It may spur me on to buy one or two here or there...



Hanal -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (10/5/2011 4:36:11 PM)

Deleted as spammer was removed.....



IainMcNeil -> RE: Game manuals – why can’t we have them ? (10/5/2011 6:15:42 PM)

As I asy I'm not against it - it is just another job to do :)

I'll add it to the discussion list and see what others think :)



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