Back then games companies knew how to get people to buy the games rather than pirate them (Don't copy that floppy, anyone?): Providing value for money and desirable extras.

Yeah this is garbage - Just firing up the game now and havnt tested anything yet but what the hell is this? No Manual? Really? I mean ive noticed them getting lighter and lighter over the years but just cut them out entirely now?! No maps anymore either.... disappointing. Maybe they used the extra money they saved and put it into game development... hah...

As for the bonus DVD, its called "Lost and Found: The legacy of USS Lagarto". I was hoping for something about U-boats when I first saw bonus dvd and thought "hey cool!" but no... it isn't, it's an american sub lol whatever

Printed manuals being deleted were bound to happen, cos of cost, weight and the envrionment dude. There is actually still a manual, it's just not printed. From what I hear it's pretty bad, but much better than SH4's manual, which was like someone took the SH3 manual, put it in a blender and then sticky taped it back together.

Anyone remember the thick Aces of the Deep ring-bound manual? That was great. Included U-boat history, tactics, etc. Those were the days... :arrgh!:

Glad I still have my map from SH3:D

'Wheres the booklet?'

Under my chair... at least thats where previous ones ended up.

SH has really had a bad rep with the manuals. Its a cost cutting thing you know :03:

And the copy of the real KM map? Still have two of them.:sunny:

Did any of you notice when installing and getting to the pdf manual part they "Ubi" had the crass to provide a "Kinkos" direct link to the printers. :roll:

Now that took some balls. :down:

You said it. I remember the first time I opened Falcon 3.0 Gold. All that printed document goodness. I recently pulled it out of storage and was surprised how heavy the box was with all that stuff (manuals , maps, etc..).

Even though I lost my Janes 688 game a long time ago I still keep the manual on my shelf, along with the Janes f-15 manual, just to remind me of the pride game makers had then. My all time fave manual has to Aces of the Deep, though, with Aces over Europe coming up second, oh and Red Baron 3, oh and remember flying Corp?! They included a reproduction of a pre-WWI pilot's manual!

Now I'm depressed.

That was a classic. Up until I moved last weekend, I had the map tacked up on the wall by my desk, next to the SH3, SH4, and Task Force 1942 maps.

Probably learned more about the Battle of Britain from that manual than anywhere else.

I'll predict that SH6, whenever it comes out, will be either download only or completely online...there won't be even a dvd, much less a paper manual.:shifty:

I just opened mine up and was shocked at the lack of a manual. I figured I'd have something to read while it installs and I fight the urge to play when I should be sleeping. :D

I loved the manual from SH3 and read that thing front to back at least twice, and I can't remember the SH4 manual (I have the gold edition now so it's understandable) but this is just a joke. Hell, they could have at least put something like a voucher to mail in for the soundtrack&manual for $5.

I just hope this isn't the norm for UBI PC games or I will get annoyed.

Why? If they could do it a few years ago why not now? It was not bound to happen, companies decide to make it happen. IT just a way to extend profit at the expense of quality. It's like no one cares about quality in anything these days, not in cars, games etc, its all junk.

I too remember the time of ring bound or paperback manuals. From my own collection Alpha Centauri and Gangsters, amongst others, came with manuals resembling telephone books. I even remember some games came with cloth, yes cloth maps, as well as other trinkets e.g. decoder, brooch, aluminum coins etc etc

PDF manual only? And Publishers wonder why so much piracy... :doh:

The lack of a manual effects the quality of the product? I love those old school thick manuals with loads of info as much as the next guy, I still have that monstrosity from Jane's USAF sitting on my bookshelf. But to say it effects the quality of the product seems a bit brash. I'm not buying a game for the manual that gives basic history lessons or a map of an area, they're little gimmicks and addons to give you the impression that they're actually worth something. You buy the game for the game, what comes with it shouldn't have any bearing on your determining of the products quality. It's like saying a Porsche is inferior to a Hyundai because the owner manual isn't as thick.