video
The End of Video Game Manuals
Gasp*. I know right? How could Game Manuals be coming to an end? Well if you’d like a few hints, look at games such as Modern Warfare 2, with 5 whole pages in it’s manual. I can’t tell you how excited I was to finally get Modern Warfare 2 and open the game and read the manual, to delve the depths of the story and the game itself. I was extremely disappointed. I found very little information. I found what the buttons do and a quickie on xbox live. That was about it.
Now games of the past have been quite different. One of my favorite games of all time, Warcract III, had the most amazing manual. It included pictures of important characters, their bios, maps, lists of units and their bios, etc. It was excellent, and I must have read it over 100 times completely.
Visiting IGN, I found an article about the Ending of Game Manuals. Apparently, Ubisoft is going to completely stop game manuals in their future games. IGN had 4 editors give their opinions on the situation. My opinion is that there should always be a decent manual in a game. A game manual increases the worth of the game. I just truly enjoy opening the game and reading the manual first before I ever play the game. That’s how I am, I like to read all about it and know what is going on before I step foot into the game itself. It’s the experience that’s being cut. I don’t like it.
After reading my short opinion and the editors at IGN, what are your opinions? What do you think about game manuals and their importance to the game? Do they enhance the experience, or do you cast them aside and never touch them? What do you think of the financial savings vs. end user desires?
I’m anticipating some great responses!
Halo: The Movie
Well everyone it looks like the Halo movie we’ve all been waiting for is in production! Yes I know! I’ve been waiting a long time too. To see this trailer makes my heart want to explode! This just released trailer depicts the most epic of epic games in a feature film. Our favorite Spartan is going to be a movie star. Yes, I have tears in my eyes too. My heart is almost complete, all I’m waiting for is the final movie.
Watch this grand slam!
Apple “Media Pad”
This Apple “Media Pad” will likely use the 9.5-10 inch display and be able to watch high definition videos and browse the internet using Skype over wifi. It is rumored to be cheaper than the iPhone. This “Media Pad” could potentially out do the Amazon Kindle.
The Amazon Kindle 2 is an e-book reader. Basically, it displays electronic books, magazines, and newspapers. That is mostly all it does. You can download (buy) books from Amazon.com and it will be immediately transferred to your Kindle. It has no backlit screen, yet you can see perfectly in any lighting. However, the Apple “Media Pad” is said to be the killer of the Kindle.
Kindle 2
The Kindle 2 has a confusing button layout. The scroller is said to be difficult to use. The Apple “Media Pad” will have a larger touch screen so it will be far easier to read and flip through pages. The prices for the media pad are rumored to be cheaper than that of the Kindle’s.
Many major newspaper companies such as the “New York Times” are struggling. Many are looking to these devices to save their companies. These Media Pads sound great, but they come with some negatives.
First is that these media pads and e-book readers are expensive. Some people just like the feel of paper. There are consumers that are afraid of technology. They know the newspaper, they know how it works. Why would they switch to something they have no idea how to work? Then there’s the cost. These e-book readers are fairly expensive. On top of the initial expense you have to pay for the books. It is, most of the time, cheaper to just go to the jiffy store and buy a newspaper. Or, after work, swing by your local Books-A-Million and get your book.
Also this “Media Pad” is able to play high definition movies. Well, doesn’t the iPhone and iPod Touch already play movies? How this product sells will be up to its “cool” factor.