We need the manual!!!

[Borgkube]

There are now all these new features with 3.9. Tomorrow, we get the Gamma, which is more or less the release version, and will have a bunch more new features. When are we going to get the manual that explains all this stuff. I am tired of guessing and playing trial by death!

WE NEED THE MANUAL!

 

[sngerous]

I would buy printed ship manuals ^^

 

[RaynMaykr]

manuals became irrelevant for games over ten years ago.

 

[sngerous]

manuals became irrelevant for games over ten years ago.

You have one in your car's glovebox right?

 

[withnail]

Have never needed a manual for this game.

Suppose I've been in it from the start though.

 

[Morlock5K]

I've learned all I know from guides on the forum and trial and error so haven't needed a manual however I believe that frontier should release one especially on release and I would also be very surprised if they don't

 

[JosiahD]

manuals became irrelevant for games over ten years ago.

No they didn't. Manuals are just as relevant as they've ever been. The trend over the last decade or so has been an over-reliance (imo) on the internet to provide players with the guidance (eg via forums like this) or simply providing basic instructions in electronic form. Doesn't at all mean they're irrelevant, it just means with electronic distribution being more prevalent, developers often can't be bothered anymore (or it's too hard when a game is expected to go through many updates over several years). A manual at the start is still relevant to many users.

Mind you, if you were to say that electronic forms for manuals was now the norm over printed manuals (instead of simply saying manuals were irrelevant) I would agree......

 

[Pulse]

i'd say with the many changes that have happened over the course of the past 6 months, plus all the changes to come - a physical manual would be impossible/pointless to print.

A dynamic, regularly updated pdf or website/wiki on frontier's site seems like the logical option.

 

[Stoo]

Have never needed a manual for this game.

Suppose I've been in it from the start though.

^^ This

I have a manual for my car, but it doesn't tell me how to drive it

 

[OillyRag]

I would enjoy reading a manual, even if for nothing else than to confirm my theories and have my questions answered, for instance we still dont know for sure if 1 is the highest or lowest priority in the power distribution panel.
There must be loads of stuff like that.

 

[Commander Jameson's Ghost]

Some sort of manual is required-or at least an in game keyboard guide. The tutorials -particularly the first docking one- as they currently stand are absolutely abysmal so far as instruction/learning goes. I raised this matter with David Braben on the recent on-line Q & A. He replied the tutorials were improving all the time.
Sorry David- I have been struggling for weeks and have noticed no changes at all, and am now on the verge of giving up and asking for a refund on the game.

 

[DraigUK]

The manual will be one of the last things done. I agree one would be good, but they have more important things to focus on.
16th December is a while away yet, I expect one in time for then, not before.

 

[Webferret]

This pretty much works as a good manual, that is mostly updated as best as possible as updates come along.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34437

 

[Pulse]

Some sort of manual is required-or at least an in game keyboard guide. The tutorials -particularly the first docking one- as they currently stand are absolutely abysmal so far as instruction/learning goes. I raised this matter with David Braben on the recent on-line Q & A. He replied the tutorials were improving all the time.
Sorry David- I have been struggling for weeks and have noticed no changes at all, and am now on the verge of giving up and asking for a refund on the game.

I'd find it pretty hard to believe someone playing the game for a few weeks still has trouble with the basic controls, enough to warrant a refund anyway. I'm not an avid flightsim/spacesim enthusiast by any means but I managed to get through the tutorials in an hour and work out the controls in a few nights using k&m, HOTAS and an xbox pad.

Is there anything in particular you're having issues with? Maybe we can help!

 

[Steve50]

i'd say with the many changes that have happened over the course of the past 6 months, plus all the changes to come - a physical manual would be impossible/pointless to print.

A dynamic, regularly updated pdf or website/wiki on frontier's site seems like the logical option.

But we are getting a paper manual.. I can't wait

 

[Sav112]

I miss the fun of reading a good manual before installing.

 

[scrufferpops]

I would enjoy reading a manual, even if for nothing else than to confirm my theories and have my questions answered, for instance we still dont know for sure if 1 is the highest or lowest priority in the power distribution panel.
There must be loads of stuff like that.

I thought 3 was top priority, higher than 2 which is higher than 1. This info comes from michael brookes himself. (though I CBA to find the exact quote lost in the billions of threads)

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

There was a good reason to make 3 top priority, instead of 1, but I can't for the life of me think of it.
Perhaps some enlightened individual could elucidate?

 

[sbdags]

Have never needed a manual for this game.

Suppose I've been in it from the start though.

Ah but the original Elite manual was revolutionary!! I will be printing, binding and laminating my digital manual when it arrives!

I still have my originals somewhere.

 

[Polared]

I thought 3 was top priority, higher than 2 which is higher than 1.

and I thought they changed the way priorities work and now 1 was top priority!

yep, i'll defo be reading the manual I guess.

 

[forger]

there are enough information about the game floating around, there never are official manuals before the game is released and ED will be released officially only after 3 weeks.
also printed manual will always be outdated, especially with game like ED - next expansion will be like completely new game, and then another one and another, i don't even talk about small tweaks, fixes and additions that are changing many small things, it's exactly like games available for downloading and games that have hard copies, so i won't expect any serious manual from ED.
will there be any? yes, there should be, but only covering basics and maybe something like collectors edition rather than serious source of information.

that's why i made pilot's guide - to have one stop ebook for ED universe, it will be updated and should cover most aspects of the game in time
and there is always youtube