The lack of printed manuals today

I have to complain a little about another thing that irritates me in todays gaming market. The lack of proper paper manuals.  It´s not as much about the quality as of the lack of a printed media I am talking about. There are several reasons for it.

• It is convenient to have a paper manual to be read anywhere, anytime without having to sit in front of the computer. I have read countless of manuals to/from work, in the bath, before going to bed etc. It won´t be bad for my eyes.

• Proper manuals should be exhaustive and well written. Examples of good manuals where the ones supplied by Microprose once in a time (Gunship,F-19 Stealth Fighter, Pirates, Civilization etc). They add great value to the game. I was quite frustrated that Civilization V was the first game in the series that was not supplied with a paper manual.

• To have the paper manual is also one reason to buy the game and not get a pirated version. That was always my standpoint in the 80s/90s. Advanced and good games are worth the money if not for the game itself but for the manual supplied. There was this added value in having a fine box with a thick manual. Today you get a sheet or four language leaflet for most games. 

• I could rationalise away thick manuals for lighthearted games and FPS/Cinematic adventures etc but not for strategy- and roleplaying games. 

• Even though digital manuals does not incur printing or distribution costs they could still be very short even though one thinks they would have all the space available to describe spells and skills or give complete descriptions of mechanics etc. I don´t want to have to look up dev journals to get that kind of info.

Now my antagonists will say...

• You have to think about the environment. Do you know how many trees is required to ship a manual with every game around the world ?

So what ? If the game is advanced and complex enough to deserve a proper manual it should be there. In paper. Should we close down all bookstores as well with the same reason ?

• The game would be more expensive with the manual. This is a way to keep down the costs.

I am ready to pay 5-10 dollars more for a printed manual. Games like Civilization V are proably played by older gamers with more money anyway.

• You get the PDF manual of the game included. Stop complaining!

See my reasons at the top.

• You just have to print the included digital version!

That is expensive and you get it in a bad A4 format. Why should I be content with that when games up to the first years in 2000 always included proper manuals ? I am used to them. 

I understand the companies wish to cut costs, to be able to fit the manual in simple DVD-cases which is the same for all platforms. That advanced games could never be released on the consoles and therefore obviate the need for a manual. But still I will support companies that offers two versions. Instead todays Collectors Edition includes every useless junk except a proper manual. They could include figurines and trinkets. Art book etc. Who cares about that except small children ? Game music on CD is appreciated and those that supplies proper manuals.

That was my thoughts about this issue. Proper manuals was always supplied to the belowed CRPGS.