Adventure Gamers - Forums

Is it a trend or just a coincidence that some recent games (e.g. Deponia, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, or The Dark Eye - Chains of Satinav) start with instructions how to use the interface? I know it has been done before (with innovative interfaces), but I wonder why developers implement this feature as players can read (simple) interface instructions in a manual.

Like an intrusive options window, it spoils the game and the illusion a bit, I think. Another recent game (Yesterday) made it optional at least (“Do you need help to start playing?”). If at all considered to be necessary, a better option would be adding such an option to the main menu, so the player can choose him/herself. I think this one should be added to the “not to-do lists” that we have seen in forums over the years, but perhaps I am alone in this (or completely miss the point).

PS I really had to laugh about another silly and similar addition (“Do you really want to load this game?” – In The Testament of Sherlock Holmes).

Although I agree that tutorials should be optional, for me they don’t spoil the illusion. At least not in comedies, like the Deponia games. Both Deponia tutorials were very funny and quite in character. Rufus: “Escape is for losers”. 

these trends are actually like saying “come on play this Adventure it doesn’t bite”

Strange, I remember nothing of the tutorial of Harvey’s New Eyes. Correct me if I’m wrong, aren’t all the Daedalic tutorials skippable? Deponia has an NPC explain gameplay, while the main character Rufus makes obnoxious but funny comments.

EDIT: Oh, wait! I remember now. Harvey’s New Eyes starts with the narrator doing some kind of tutorial. Not very good, no. I thought that one was skippable too, but I’m too lazy to check. 

Fien - 03 November 2012 11:09 AM

EDIT: Oh, wait! I remember now. Harvey’s New Eyes starts with the narrator doing some kind of tutorial. Not very good, no. I thought that one was skippable too, but I’m too lazy to check. 

I just finiahed playing Harvey New Eyes a copy from AdventureShop and i have come across an optional tutorial at the very beginning Question do you want to play the tutorial? ! ...which is fine.

but back to the subject i wonder how would they made those tutorial with Sierra’s Text Adventures, i remember the 1st Game i Play LSL1 .. i stayed more than 30 mins (really) in front of the Lefty’s Bar trying to open that door (i didn’t have the manual) with trials and errors such like , push door, knock on door, turn door’s handle ... and stupidly never came to my mind but later on the word open

I’m with Kuru. Why are these archaic manuals held in high regard? There existence today are just for nostalgia or hands on control map. I don’t want one to read the backstory, thats what the game is for. I don’t want one to see a list of monsters/characters/environments in the game. Thats what a strategy guide is for. Just do what Sierra did and make some fun paperback magazines, or themed manuals if it needs to be done. Else its pointless. Tutorials are effective in gaming. Most are integrated into the gameplay/story so it doesn’t get in the way. ‘OMG, the game is telling me to crouch! This sucks!’.

It just sounds like a child not getting his iPhone 5 on his birthday. A bunch of whining. I’ve never seen one argument that made sense, except for games that don’t allow you to skip a very intrusive tutorial or a complex game doesn’t come with a hands on control map.

Then again, manuals are needed by those that still prefer physical boxes over digital downloads.

@DustyShinigami Indeed. In-game instructions vs a manual is a false dilemma, as there’s another option, and manuals seem to get thinner, certainly compared to many manuals and other goodies from the “good old days” (like for instance the big “Encyclopedia Frobozzica,” or the excerpt from the “Frobozz National Archives,” the beautiful booklet that game with Zork Nemesis).
One reason (besides costs) is of course that almost every hard copy is now packaged in a “dvd box,” which leaves little room for larger/thicker manuals and other extras/goodies. I just received (a bit late) a copy of the Black Mirror CE, and I was disappointed by the artbook, as the sketches (etc.) were printed quite small, because the booklet had to fit the format of the boxes. (I wasn’t the only one, see some of the comments – in German - on the DTP forum when the CE was released).

In a way the plastic cases are a blessing (when one wants to keep/collect hard copies), but this is certainly a negative consequence. Though in the past there were also many manuals that were just “technical manuals,” some added (much) more info, which was of interest to some of us at least (e.g. background story, info about the making of the game, the history of the company and the team, artwork examples). The lack (PDF) or reduction of printed material is compensated in a way fortunately, with specific sites for new releases or illustrated developer blogs (e.g. the KING Art Games blog mentioned in another thread, or Tony’s Revolution Dev Blog, another recent one).

@ Monolith For some (obligatory) in-game instructions do get in the way, and arguments were mentioned, I believe. And as suggested a few times here, there’s an easy solution for it, so why not make everyone happy?  Your last remark: Though the original posting wasn’t about the need for manuals, some like – printed – manuals and other stuff, for quite various reasons. Even if they have the latest iPhone or iPad.

Monolith - 03 November 2012 03:43 PM

It just sounds like a child not getting his iPhone 5 on his birthday. A bunch of whining. I’ve never seen one argument that made sense, except for games that don’t allow you to skip a very intrusive tutorial or a complex game doesn’t come with a hands on control map.

Monolith, my sweet, you’re flaming again.

Whining comes in bunches?

But it isn’t either-or, is it? The few recent adventures with in-game instructions I have played, came with a manual. Great.