As mentioned in our Fight Night Champion review, it has been confirmed that EA, or at the very least EA Sports, have done away with printed manuals in an effort to produce games in a more environmentally friendly manner.
Instead of a printed manual we will get an in-game manual to browse, as well as any tutorial the game includes. EA join Ubisoft in abandoning the printed manual, and interestingly enough the retail copy of Top Spin 4 I received from 2K had a reduced sized manual with a link to a much more in-depth booklet online.
Source: Kotaku
moshi
The idea saddens me for some nostalgic reason but thinking about it the last 6 games I have played I never looked at the manual.You don’t get them when you rent them and its no real big loss.
tonycawley
Bit like pissing in the ocean though ain’t it? Every little helps I suppose.
Sailor_Sakura
The quality of manuals has been detoriating for a long time now, so getting rid of them doesn’t feel bad at all.
Zephyre
So…I’m now expected to have a computer on the go if I need to refer to a manual while I’m playing a game? Or are we expected to print the manual off ourselves (and completely negate any environmental benefit)? Wish they’d just be honest and say it’s a cost cutting exercise rather than muddy the waters with this environmental twaddle. If they were really concerned they’d be pushing digital downloads more agressively.
Zephyre
Oops, just read this back, not implying environmental issues are twaddle, just certain companies half-assed attempts to contribute
DrNate86
Most games will provide a manual in game, you shouldn’t need to go online or print anything off.
BG Tips
‘done away with printed manuals in an effort to produce games in a more environmentally friendly manner’
Oh yeah, I’m sure this is the reason. Absolutely nothing to do with them saving themselves money by not using paper ;)
justboy
I can’t say I will miss manuals. Can’t EA print basic button settings on the inside of the sleeve?
hazelam
not for their sports games they can’t, they stopped having simple controls years ago, fifa 09 had 9 pages dedicated to the controls.
hazelam
yeah, saving the environment is why they are getting rid of the manuals. o_O
BG Tips
and just what the hell am I going to smell now when I get new games? :P
Bladesteel
Same thing as before, sweat, dirt and leftover pizza.
jayjay119
Good, I never read them anyway, I know some people do, but the amount of people who don’t must outweigh the former otherwise EA wouldn’t be doing this. Now all we need is for Sony, MS and Nintendo to rething their boxing designs too.
StevenHibs
I thought EA was having a laugh when the Mass Effect 2 manual was reduced to be more enviromentally friendly, and yet there was about tonnes of paper advertising other games!!!