DISCUSSIONS
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Ok Muzzy, we have been live for how long now? And still no comprehensive game guide/manual? Throughout these forums there have been a pelothora of technical data and concepts posted by Muzzy Lane staff elaborating on Diplomacy, Econimics, Espionage, Supply, City, Regional and Research projects, Production, etc. etc. etc.
Come on people, pull it all together and let's publish the manual!!!
Parra said
Ok Muzzy, we have been live for how long now? And still no comprehensive game guide/manual? Throughout these forums there have been a pelothora of technical data and concepts posted by Muzzy Lane staff elaborating on Diplomacy, Econimics, Espionage, Supply, City, Regional and Research projects, Production, etc. etc. etc.
Come on people, pull it all together and let's publish the manual!!!
Agreed -- I think once we settle down the city growth system we'll go back to the manual for a comprehensive update, and also look at a tutorial.
Producer, Making History II
How would the developers feel if gamers started a site or a Wiki page to construct an evolving manual? I can think of reasons why you might both like and dislike this idea.
- Selfpropelled
- MHII
- location: Unknown
- joined: Aug 03, 2010
- posts: 32
Not sure why a fan-operated manual would be something we would dislike. Sounds like a good way to organize the scattered information around the forums.
We'll be doing a revamped PDF manual that will be updated via patch regardless.
J. Monken - Designer/Developer, Muzzy Lane Software
I thought that the developers might not want a site that (prior to your new manual) had too many indications that gamers could not figure out a lot of basics, either disagreements over how something works, or indications that the site had no answer at all to some questions (e.g. what are government programs and how do I find them), or too many "work arounds" (e.g. the debate over whether it's better to not build more advanced mines).
Personally, I like the idea of such a site, not just to organize forum observations but to increase the sense of community.
- Selfpropelled
- MHII
- location: Unknown
- joined: Aug 03, 2010
- posts: 32
Selfpropelled said
I thought that the developers might not want a site that (prior to your new manual) had too many indications that gamers could not figure out a lot of basics, either disagreements over how something works, or indications that the site had no answer at all to some questions (e.g. what are government programs and how do I find them), or too many "work arounds" (e.g. the debate over whether it's better to not build more advanced mines).
Personally, I like the idea of such a site, not just to organize forum observations but to increase the sense of community.
I'm not sure just how this would increase the sense of community. It could just lead to more arguement.
- Shiftember
- location: Unknown
- joined: Aug 17, 2010
- posts: 12
I assumed the wiki would be a collection of known values and systems.
Why would there be unanswered questions or strategy debate in an "evolving manual" ?
Don't we already have that here?
J. Monken - Designer/Developer, Muzzy Lane Software
Selfpropelled said
How would the developers feel if gamers started a site or a Wiki page to construct an evolving manual? I can think of reasons why you might both like and dislike this idea.
Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!
The only drawback to a wiki is that there is still a LOT of material that is subject to substantial alterations. (The main reason we haven't gotten a substantial game manual as yet.) Accordingly, unlike the usual format of instant additions/alterations, pretty much all submissions need to be run past a Muzzy Lane Wiki Editor before any of it goes "live". (As if everyone there doesn't already have more than enough to do.)
"Until you know what is worth dying for, Life isn't worth living."
"Choose wisely"
- CaptainPatch
- MHII, MH
- location: United States
- joined: May 23, 2010
- posts: 1758
A wiki would be a great idea, not only would it have player and dev. written guides to MHII, but it could also have other info, like strategies, active multiplayer groups, and eventually modding information ;)
It would be extremely useful for newbies.
dizzle229 said
Program Files < Muzzy Lane Software < MHII < en < Manual
Then open the file.
To this all I can say is smack.
Although I do like the Wiki site idea, it has a lot of value and merit, there is nothing like a stand alone manual. Personally I find it frustrating a little, to buy a product, then have to go find on the internet information about how to use my product.
However I do surrender to the Borg mentality (wiki sites) and resistance to it is futile.
(note 1 - in today's digital world, every patch should have updates to the manual. It is not like the old days where it was a paper manual)
(note 2 - I am not opposed to extending the encyclopedia in place of the manual, but we would need whole new section of game concepts, the the ones I started this post with)
The original draft of the manual was tied to the reality of the physical product we were shipping, because the boxed copy has a printed manual included. We couldn't include rules, etc. for things that weren't in the game yet.
We've got all the templates and all the information, so we should be able to export new PDF editions of the manual as the game is updated. When we plug in the new city features and get the multiplayer service squared away, we'll make sure we have an updated manual to go with it.
J. Monken - Designer/Developer, Muzzy Lane Software
Parra, two matters.
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Given games' complexities (I am thinking here especially of War in the Pacific - Admiral's Edition), I have come to believe that hunting down explanations on the web is probably inevitable. I am less bothered about this than I was before, in part because while discovering answers to questions that a manual should make clear, I usually enjoy reading about interesting tactics, historical debates, etc.
-
The avatar you use: is that you? Your child? Someone else's child? Every time I see it I want to squeeze both those cheeks affectionately, and then I draw back in horror thinking that the cute kid in the picture might by now be an old, ugly, politically benighted male with a coarse beard and tobacco breath.
- Selfpropelled
- MHII
- location: Unknown
- joined: Aug 03, 2010
- posts: 32
Selfpropelled said
- The avatar you use: is that you? Your child? Someone else's child? Every time I see it I want to squeeze both those cheeks affectionately, and then I draw back in horror thinking that the cute kid in the picture might by now be an old, ugly, politically benighted male with a coarse beard and tobacco breath.
So, I'm guessing that you are a "the glass is half-empty" kind of person. lol
"Until you know what is worth dying for, Life isn't worth living."
"Choose wisely"
- CaptainPatch
- MHII, MH
- location: United States
- joined: May 23, 2010
- posts: 1758
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