You can take my box, but you can't take my manual

from Demigod Forums

So a huge movement lately is digital download, a great thing to make the items more accessible but at some cost. Well, at least I think it is a big cost. I'm talking about manuals, who here doesn't remember getting a game a little too late as a kid and falling asleep reading the manual. Colorful, informative, full of stories, and sometimes things you didn't realize you could do in the game. I've noticed a lot of games slacking on manuals lately which does make me mad. I love to read up on character BIOS AFTER I'm tired of being on the computer. I love the artwork and stories some companies put so much time and effort into. I love unit write ups that have to real point but still fun to read. So all in all I really wish there would be an option of digital copy with a mailed manual. Even an epic Blizzard manual would only cost a dollar or so to send. Hell I'd pay it and the companies are already saving a decent amount of money not having to have as many hard copies made. I'd pay extra for the manual, would help out, instead of paying so much extra for the hard copy. Shipping and Handling add a ton to the price and in the case of Demigod, if I wanted to play the beta and get my manual ( I hope to god it's good! ) I had to pay the extra shipping and handling.

 

 

64,462 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

There will be a PDF i'm sure.  Sins had this.

Reply #2 from Demigod Forums Top

Well I can't sit on my couch or in my bed reading a pdf. Even if it's printed out it loses the magic of a real manual. Let's put it this way a good manual is important enough I spent $15.00 on it because I thought this would be a good game.

Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #3 from Demigod Forums Top

I paid $20 extra to get box + shipping. Whats the big deal?

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

yeah dude.. you have to just pay for the box.

It's $5 more and 10-20 for shipping.

 

Or $100 for a printer and stappler.

Reply #5 from Demigod Forums Top

but u cant put the prints togeather as neatly plus the printer ink will cost u

Reply #6 from Demigod Forums Top

Raise your stappler mastery skill.

Reply #8 from Demigod Forums Top

I think the point is the printer won't give you what you get in some boxes. Admittedly a lot of companies don't put as much time in the manuals anymore, but they are all still better than a crap print out. And yeah 5 and 10-20 for shipping on this game. I was asking just for the option to play like $50.00 and get the manual on all digital downloads. Its not a big deal, but a flaw I feel in the digital downloads.

Reply #9 from Demigod Forums Top

um dude..

you can pay $50 and get the whole damn box with the digital download.

Reply #10 from Demigod Forums Top

Yeah, you know nevermind, obviously a nitche request. But I have noticed the pre-orders getting you in earlier, betas and items and if that goes over to all digital download you'll be stuck paying a lot for s&h. But, in the end nevermind.

Reply #11 from Demigod Forums Top

dude..

When you buy the box you get both the box AND digital download.

 

That's why it says Digital Download + Retail box. not just "Retail Box".  Pretty sure it's in the FAQ too.  I dont' think they can make it clearer. :\

 

You want to pay $1 more instead of $5 more or something?..

Reply #12 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting innociv, reply 1
There will be a PDF i'm sure.  Sins had this.

 

I was just about to ask the same question as the OP. I hope that what you say is true.

Reply #13 from Demigod Forums Top

I say all manuals should become digital - so like Supreme Commander did, on a CD.

 

Why? 

 

Because it's a waste of trees. Saving the planet > manual IMO.

Reply #14 from Demigod Forums Top

As long as the company put a PDF with digtal download what is the big deal?? Most people dont read the manual anyway they got stright to single player and do the walk through. And if you want all the stats and artwork by the game guide. OMG

Reply #15 from Demigod Forums Top

AFAIK the manual is a major expense in the production of the boxes, so it wouldn't make much sense to have them separate; it wouldn't save you or us much at all. So if you want a printed manual, you'll want to get a box.

Reply #17 from Demigod Forums Top

yea it was lol but whatever id rather have the box I can make a shelf of the pc games i have

Reply #18 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Eoynn, reply 13
I say all manuals should become digital - so like Supreme Commander did, on a CD.

 

Why? 

 

Because it's a waste of trees. Saving the planet > manual IMO.

 

I am not sure where you get your paper from in your country. But in most countries with timber as an export they plant more trees than they cut down so using paper is not destroying the planet. In fact using paper is probably helping the planet because if they didnt use paper the timber industry would stop planting trees.

Reply #19 from Demigod Forums Top

Manual is often the heaviest thing in the box too.

Boxes are light, disks are light.

So most of your shipping weight is the manual, unless it's a really teeny tiny one.

Reply #20 from Demigod Forums Top

So most of your shipping weight is the manual, unless it's a really teeny tiny one.

And those aren't fun at all. The cost of producing a number of manuals they really don't know will sell would likely outweigh the expense of including the rest of the box.

Reply #21 from Demigod Forums Top

"Because it's a waste of trees. Saving the planet > manual IMO."

Planting a tree and letting it die naturally means that it takes in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then releases it as it rots.  Chopping it down in its prime and making paper from it locks up that carbon.

Save the planet: print more manuals.

Reply #22 from Demigod Forums Top

I did, but the s&h was killer.

 

Right there with you.  I love the printed manual....but I can't swallow $10-20 bucks on freakin' shipping.  Hell, *I* can ship stuff cheaper than that, and I'm Joe-Nobody-Citizen.  I admit, Amazon has spoiled us all with their free shipping - and if I wanted to wait until release (as well as not support Stardock directly) I'd order from them, but I don't.  I'd rather go direct, get in on the Betas and make sure every cent deserved goes to the dev company...I just really, really don't get why it costs Stardock so freakin much to ship.