Electronic Arts Forum

The game manual has been shrinking over the last couple of years. Now,  Electronic Arts is going one step further by doing away with the bothersome paper contraptions entirely for all of its upcoming retail-based games.  

The reason has nothing to do with money, according to EA. No, the manual is getting canned for the fate of the world, as EA “goes green.” This is a similar excuse used by Ubisoft earlier in April 2010 when it announced that it was doing away with its own paper manuals.
 


The catch here is that you’ll still be able to get access to an EA manual if you really need it. All manuals from this point forward will be included on EA games' discs. Additionally, you’ll also be able to download the manual on the official EA Web site and then print it out if you so desire (you tree-killer, you).

According to a press release, EA will also start using those reduced-material DVD style cases that we all love. The publisher estimates that it's reducing the amount of material in its packaging by around 40 percent overall. That's a savings everyone can feel good about!

Man, the case is going to feel empty if it's just a disc in there... Oh wait there will be a scrap of paper with that dreaded EA online pass on it.

WOO

I love manuals. I read them cover to cover. Oh well...

I'm sure their savings will be passed on to the consumers!
 
...Right?

I'm cool with this, though it is infuriating when you actually need a manual. On-disc ones aren't really as useful, because you can't refer to them while playing.
 
That could actually be a really useful system level feature. a manual-while-playing thing. Of course, that would probably turn into monetized walkthrough-while-playing thing.

they should just use a smartphone barcode so people can download a pdf directly to their mobiles.  Of course, I could see them monitizing it, and it would only be available to EA accounts that have activated their online pass. 
 
Maybe we shouldn't be giving them ideas.... 
 
"What does this green bar on the screen represent?  Better check the EA pass enabled manual..." 
 
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I never read the manuals, so whatever...

I'm gonna love the stories of the old hard-headed folk who want their damn manuals and will go so far as to print out these online versions.

Whatever.