No Manual With Boxed Hl2

[A Boojum Snark]

VE - Silly question, but there are some rumors floating around German HL 2 forums that Half-Life 2 won't ship with a manual of any sort.

Doug Lombardi - That's correct. There is a quick reference card included to guide folks through installation and set up. And Prima will be releasing the official strategy guide.

Well, seeing as the manual was one reason I wanted to get the collector's edition I guess I'll be getting the silver package with the help of my parent's credit card :|

Not that I need a manual, I just like them, I've read every one for every game I've ever played (and even some I haven't played) :p.

[BOZO]

Yay...another way for Valve to line their pockets by letting prima make the stratagy guide. Truely they are the master of milking every last penny.

[Diablus]

Why don't they freakin just release HL2 box like every other damn video game box. Freakin douchefaeces  always have to make it so hard for everyone <_<

[Uranium - 235]

I'm waiting for steam to be pay-to-play.

[Grimm]

Woo! Let's bitch about our entertainment constantly! In an obscure little gaming community where nobody in the company in question will ever hear us! Rather than posting our opinions in the community of said company!

 <_<

[X-S-Z]

No manual? Good. I find it more fun to actually learn, adapt, strategize, and generally enjoy the experience rather than reading a strategy guide that might tell me that the secret "method" to destroying a strider in one hit is to lob hidden 40lb radiators at them instead of the standard 60lb radiators found in most buildings, using your gravity gun, of course.


 v_v


*Edit*

ABS owned me  

But really, the HL1 manual wasn't much if you remember. The basics were taught in the training course, and that was really all you needed.





I'm going to kill you, ABS.

[A Boojum Snark]

Manuals don't give that kind of info silly xsz :p That is what strategy guides do.

[Black Mage]

forget a manual, i need a computer (thats not a p4 1.

[Malibu Stacey]

FPS games totally need manuals.
Select weapon, see enemy, take aim, shoot.
Like XSZ says the training course taught you how to play the game. A manual wouldn't have come close to that.
The last FPS I played was Far Cry & its opening level showed you the basics of the game (not installed Doom 3 yet). I would be surprised to see an action game that didn't have some sort of tutorial to get players accustomed to the game & into the fray a lot quicker.

/me goes looking for HL1 box to see if it had a manual worthy of any mention.

[A Boojum Snark]

I have one right here :p
Two things are quite nice. The letter sent to gordon confirming his job offer at BMRF and giving some background. Along with my favorite, the concept art used as a background on each and every page (except the letter).

[EmperorPenguin]

In regards to making Steam pay-to-play, doesn't the Steam subscription sound like a first step?  Sure you get lots of product in the beginning, but in the long term does it really retain its value?

http://www.planethalflife.com/half-life2/merchandise/

[Avs]

Its like their manual actually turns out to be a novel on HL2 with read-along mode selected. And then we're all like, wtf now we have to buy the game because read-along mode is soooo coool, and our parents (or yourself if you live elsewhere) reads it to you so you go to sleep. "And then Freeman asked Alya out on a date and lived happily ever after!"

[Sancho]

I like the manuals.  They sometimes provide interesting backstories to characters/weapons/ect, and usually have some cool concept art.  The fact that there's no manual won't bug me in the least, but you gotta laugh at how valve tries to save every penny they can.

[Dubbilex]

I'm still getting my four CD's, damn it.  Those ugly jerks can't take that away from me.

actually wait yeah they can.  bastards.

[EmperorPenguin]

Roger that, I love inventive manuals too.  They really run the gamut, from the skimpy and brief (like the ones you find IN the CD case insert.  Stupid) to giant manuals for flight sims, or the lovely textbook that was MOO2.

I've saved every manual since the original X-Wing (where my gaming legacy begins).  For the most part they're stacked alongside my desk, and are basically desk height now.  I've saved all the boxes too, because usually they're pretty cool too.  So I want my HL2 box as well!

As far as Strategy guides go, that is a mixed bag.  I usually stay away, but does anyone remember the guides for X-Wing and (I think) TIE Fighter?  They were hundreds of pages, and had a freakin' story to go with the in-depth descriptions of every mission.  Now THAT was a strategy guide.  Downhill since then.

[Malibu Stacey]

I still have the Dark Wheel novella that came with Elite & its box & manuals (yes plural) so I win so there  :p
Some games need manuals, some don't. That is all, move along now.

[That Annoying Kid]

the first thing I did after finding out about NS was reading the whole intere manual

it was hawt  <3