Do you read the manual

[Barker]

Doh! Just noticed the 38% thread.. guess that must be what you mean lol

 

[homeyg]

I must have read the manual cover to cover at least 3 times because CivIII was the first turn-based and civ game I'd ever played. I remember thinking the beginner's walk through section was actually meant to be played on the computer...

 

[Gumby78]

I have read all of the Civ3 games manuals cover to cover.

 

[zurichuk]

always go straight into a game, the manuals become bathroom (restroom) reading material during those private times

 

[KaNick]

Civ 3 was my first Civ game so I read it cover to cover before I ever put the cd in my computer. I do this with all game unless it is a sequel, then I only skim it.

 

[alamo]

I would love to read a thorough manual, but most of the manual nowdays are written by some tech writer who knows little about the game and only sees some alpha version.

You would think the pedia would be better than it is, too.

 

[RegentMan]

The manual has provided me with hours of reading entertainment. My favorite part of it is the example on nationality. "But the people know darn well that they're French, not Greek." in my opinion.

 

[Tomoyo]

I only read it because the night I bought civ, I had a Basketball game. I was really really early, with the civ package...

 

[Chieftess]

The manual is usually outdated by the time the game goes gold. I think it's written up about a month before that period. I remember seeing an outdated manual in the C3C testing... Even my strategy guide on the pre-sale CD had some "errors" due to last minute changes.

 

[SesnOfWthr]

My method was similar to Col's as well. However, my experience was similar to that of Theoden - my copy of civ2 (on PS) had no manual, all I had was the tech tree insert. Besides that was years ago, and on a different platform.

 

[#1 Person]

I learned at my uncles house from my brother. I looked at the Conquest manual while installing to see what was new in the game from plain Civ3

 

[MikeH]

I always read the manual for a game, normally after I've lost a few games.

The manual for the original Civ was one of the best game manuals I've ever seen. The problem is, these days, that game developers excuse poor manuals by saying that no-ne reads them.

 

[anarres]

Even out of date it's still worth a read. Obviously you need to come somewhere like CFC to get real info though...

 

[Alexnm]

Even knowing that most game manuals are outdated when the game is released, I like to read them, and I always do it before starting a game.

Unfortunately, as others have pointed out, most manuals nowadays are poorly written and boring... Ahh, how I miss the old Civ 2 and SMAC manuals...

 

[WackenOpenAir]

With any new game I like to play for a couple of hours to get a feel for basic concepts. Then I read the manual cover to cover. Then I play for a couple of weeks. Then I read the manual cover to cover again picking up on the subtle things that didnt make an impact straight away.

Same for me, but with games that have a huge manual like civ, i often skip parts. I do most of the reading on the toilet. In the past when i did not always have a car available, i also did so in trains. I don't use railroads anymore now though, only superhighways.....

Also, i dont only read manuals for their information. i just read them because they make me want to play.
For example, i played starcraft daily for years on reasonably competetive level. I know every detail about that game, 100% sure the manual doesn't contain any information i don't know. I still read in it sometimes though just for the fun and to get the feeling for what the game is really about again. (the game has a pretty decent story line, which gets pretty much on the far background when you play competetive multiplayer)

 

[Smellincoffee]

I've read the Civ3 manual numerous times, same for C3C. (I read the C3C manual so many times due to the fact that my computer wasn't working when I bought C3C...)

 

[jalapeno_dude]

I wasn't able to get on the computer for a while after I bought civ, so I read the manual cover to cover.

 

[downtown]

I must be missing something here.... I don't know what you mean. Does it have to do with Prairie Dogging?

haha, no. the game sometimes lags in its loading at 38%

 

[synseer.]

nope never, i hardly ever read instructions of any game first thing i do is pop it in the CD drive and play....play lose and learn

 

[smackster]

I always buy the game at the Mall (its quite a tradition for me now), and when I'm at the Mall I have to eat (another of my traditions), so while eating I take a quick look at the manual. I don't expect to learn anything, but enjoy it, apart from the mess.

Smackster