No manual in Super Mario 3D Land. Another blow to retail games.

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1 min read

One of the really nice things about Nintendo games through the years has been the manuals. Typically they’re of a very high quality, and even now, as EA and Activision give us terrible black and white, 4 page slips of paper, Nintendo games have come with glorious, full-colour manuals that are as much fun to read as get information out of.

Not any more. The Japanese version of Super Mario 3D Land comes with a bit of paper directing people to a digital manual built into the cartridge itself that can be accessed on the 3DS.

Well, crap. This is the exact opposite of what publishers should be doing to convince people that retail still has a place. The game manuals could so easily be a collectable bonus for people.

Source: Nintendo World Report

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  • You didn't see the "manual" included in the case of Batman: Arkham City. It was a single piece of paper folded over itself twice. It had no information on controls, a single panel about the game, and the rest was legal information.

    What's the point? All you're doing is killing trees. Either give us a decent manual or just stop trying. And, really, the only option should be the former.

  • You didn't see the "manual" included in the case of Batman: Arkham City. It was a single piece of paper folded over itself twice. It had no information on controls, a single panel about the game, and the rest was legal information.

    What's the point? All you're doing is killing trees. Either give us a decent manual or just stop trying. And, really, the only option should be the former.

  • Agreed with you 100% Nick. Digital manuals for digial downloads. If you're going to release a retail package, release a retail package, with the manual, not just a digital download on a disc or cartridge.

    Hell, when I bought Dark Souls, it cost the same price as any other game on the retail shelf, but it came with the soundtrack and art book. When I bought Bleach, it came with a feature length movie.

    People don't want to just buy a game when they go to retailers now.

  • Agreed with you 100% Nick. Digital manuals for digial downloads. If you're going to release a retail package, release a retail package, with the manual, not just a digital download on a disc or cartridge.

    Hell, when I bought Dark Souls, it cost the same price as any other game on the retail shelf, but it came with the soundtrack and art book. When I bought Bleach, it came with a feature length movie.

    People don't want to just buy a game when they go to retailers now.

  • I'm mixed on this. I like the extra 'touch' of manuals. I was one of those packrat kids who had their NES games all in alphabetical order, with perfect cases, sleeves and manuals that I had read through.

    Fast-forward now though, and I don't even read them anymore. I probably wouldn't have noticed the lack of a manual. It's a way for the devs to cut costs when producing the final retail package, but as the consumer it's not something that immediately impacts me – is the game $2 less? Is there something else included to make up for it? I personally don't care, but I can see where others might

  • I'm mixed on this. I like the extra 'touch' of manuals. I was one of those packrat kids who had their NES games all in alphabetical order, with perfect cases, sleeves and manuals that I had read through.

    Fast-forward now though, and I don't even read them anymore. I probably wouldn't have noticed the lack of a manual. It's a way for the devs to cut costs when producing the final retail package, but as the consumer it's not something that immediately impacts me – is the game $2 less? Is there something else included to make up for it? I personally don't care, but I can see where others might

  • i agree, i just picked up the game…. no manual… instead a bunch of flyers for other games…… i dont want the other games… i want THIS game with a MANUAL with some nice artwork 🙁

  • i agree, i just picked up the game…. no manual… instead a bunch of flyers for other games…… i dont want the other games… i want THIS game with a MANUAL with some nice artwork 🙁

  • I was upset when I didn't get a manual.. Just a folded piece of paper. I felt ripped off. I also hate that the 3ds game box has holes all over it because of "recycling" purposes. 

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