Champions delivers manual labor
by Tateru Nino 
Sep 13th 2009 at 8:00PM
Filed under: Guides, News items, Champions Online
When it comes to the manual that we've seen so far for Champions Online, probably the last word that comes to mind is 'super' – neither super-long, nor super-informative, especially since launch day has come and gone. Clearly not a heroic effort.
However, Cryptic's furnished us with an actual manual at long-last! While not what you would call cosmically complete, it does have the honor of being the largest collection of Champions Online information published in a single document, and sheds a bit more light on some of the more obscure mechanics that are frequently debated on zone-chat.
There's a whole lot more it could cover – it is perhaps only half as long as we think it should be, but if you're curious and sifting through forums doesn't appeal, the new PDF manual may just have the answers that you're looking for.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
hoss said on 10:06PM 9-13-2009
No art; No formatting... who dropped the ball and forgot to write the manual?
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Jersey said on 10:22PM 9-13-2009
wow... just two words that sums up Champions Online... Rushed Out.. sadly nothings new
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Wheaties said on 11:02PM 9-13-2009
At least their website has half of the powersets on it. And to think I nearly pre-ordered it. At least with the wisdom imparted from seeing so many MMO's rushed out the door first hand I've finally come to the realization that I should join only after a few months...
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GaaaaaH said on 11:32PM 9-13-2009
Isn't getting the manual one of the main reasons for getting a hardcopy (which are already on shelves)?
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Tateru Nino said on 11:41PM 9-13-2009
Well, you'd think. In many parts of the world you only get a PDF manual anyway in box copies (and disks in paper sleeves).
Gemski said on 12:04AM 9-14-2009
Yea, Valve's games come to mind. You get a slip with the controls on it, hehe.
peon47 said on 11:46PM 9-13-2009
The file is called COtextmanual.pdf
co...TEXT...manual
What were you expecting? Hand painted illustrations by monks? Pop-ups???
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Gemski said on 12:03AM 9-14-2009
They added a much nicer looking in game manual as well. Also the website version of the manual is pretty solid.
Although no manual at launch was a poor move.
That being said. I'm having a blast with this game.
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Psychotic Storm said on 3:28AM 9-14-2009
Ok it isn't pretty but it delivers the documentation the community demanded, so we are good.
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Kitzy said on 3:50AM 9-14-2009
Nice! But you know I still can't get over the TOS in the one that came with the game! LOL I don't suppose anyone else noticed that it actually asks you on the last page:
I ACCEPT I DO NOT ACCEPT
I presume i'm supposed to pick on and circle it in my book to remind myself? O_o
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Tateru Nino said on 4:03AM 9-14-2009
Oops :) Guess they copied one line too many.
Still, it's the publisher's responsibility to proofread that stuff. That'd be Atari, I suppose.
Of course, I'm not sure that games publishers even bother proofreading things anymore. Sure, it's generally in the publishing contract, but sadly I think the fact of it must be in the past nowadays.
Wjowski said on 3:59AM 9-14-2009
Honestly...who cares? I'd be hard pressed to imagine anything more worthless than an instruction manual to an MMO.
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Psychotic Storm said on 5:03AM 9-14-2009
You might be surprised how necessary they are especially in CO.
And they still forgot to add the superstats Oo.
Firebreak said on 10:44AM 9-14-2009
Agreed they are worthless once the first big patch comes out. Which makes them pretty much useless from the moment you first get it. I really can't imagine why anyone would need one in CO or any MMO for that matter.
Remianen said on 10:48AM 9-14-2009
You've never actually played this game.....have you? The game was changed so drastically at release that many people who played the headstart know nothing about the game as it exists now. A manual would be useful if only to tell people 'You can't play fast & loose and be successful anymore'.
MrGutts said on 6:10AM 9-14-2009
That is still a sad looking manual. I have seen player posts in the forums 10 times better than that. They should have just copied those.
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Angel said on 1:53PM 9-14-2009
I'll forgive them for this. the reason being Atari outsourced the manual. The Bradygames strategy guide is not actually a strategy guide in the expected sense. It is more of the "missing game manual" though a larger format it is very much like the original CoH manual with a few extras.
As an occasional Technical writer I'll say this; one of the most expensive things a company can produce for a software package is a manual. This is why very few software packages actually come with a manual anymore or have any form of instructions associated with a website beyond software directions for installation of the software.
With that said, I would have paid extra for a collectors edition with such a manual in it. fortunately my wife works part time at Best Buy. I only had to shell out $10 for the Bradygames guide, not $20. It is the "missing" manual.
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Angel said on 2:02PM 9-14-2009
WOW! I'll have to remember to not write anything within 15 min of getting up! I just approved that post but it was written several hours ago.
/embarrassed
But, y'all get my point.
@Purkit: The 50% wrong is true only if stats and probabilities are included in a manual. If the manual is written to provide framework information rather than particulars of the function of feature, unless there are major revisions of such things a general descriptive format will be valid for the lifespan of a game. It is rare for a company to completely rewrite the core function of an ability. That would represent a fundamental alteration in overall mechanics and systemic function.
And, before anyone starts screaming that the Bradygames guide was made to "milk more profit" from the consumer, I can almost guarantee the money Cryptic is making on these guides is marginal. It probably is less than the profit potentially made if the game guide was included in a special edition package.
PeterD said on 12:49PM 9-14-2009
As a full-time Technical Writer I'm going to have to disagree that manuals are expensive. The cost of developing a manual is a tiny portion of the overall development and manufacturing cost of a product. The real issue is that manuals are not valued by most companies producing products, and managers frequently see it as an easy place to cut corners. No one's going to read the manual anyway, so let's just skip it, or slap something together in a day. Right?
Angel said on 2:05PM 9-14-2009
this is supposed to be a response to the response to my post below :(