Ubisoft has announced an 'environmental initiative' to eliminate paper game manuals included with its games.
Starting with the worldwide launch of Shaun White Skateboarding this autumn, the publisher will replace all physical game manuals with in-game digital equivalents on PS3 and 360.
Ubisoft says including game manuals directly in games will offer players "easier and more intuitive access to game information," as well as allowing itself to provide gamers with "a more robust manual".
Ubisoft reckons that producing one ton of paper used in its game manuals consumes an average of two tons of wood from 13 trees, with a net energy of 28 million BTU's, greenhouse gases equivalent of over 6,000 lbs of CO2, and wastewater of almost 15,000 gallons.
In addition, Ubisoft has partnered with Technimark, Inc. to release "the industry's most environmentally-responsible DVD case" for all of its future PC titles in North America, it says, starting with Splinter Cell Conviction on PC on April 30.
"Ubisoft is often recognized for making great games, but it's a special privilege to be the industry leader at saving trees," said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America.
"Eco-friendly initiatives are important to the global community and introducing in-game digital manuals on Xbox 360 and PS3 is just the latest example of Ubisoft's ongoing commitment to being a more environmentally conscious company."
Nice idea, but now I have to use all that extra electricity switching the whole lot on, whenever I want to glance at the booklet for something in my spare time.
am so sick of all this fake co2 crap if ubisoft do this how about a smaller box and the game should cost less without the manual. ps the planet is fine global warming is a con to tax us all
I love how these companies always say stuff like 'this is about saving the environment' when the actual truth of it is that it's a massive expense saving for them. I wouldn't actually mind them doing this if any of those savings were passed onto the consumer, but since it's doubtful that will be the case, kindly give me what I bloody well paid for you cheap bottoms!
I can see this pathetic 'environmental' mindset continuing until game boxes resemble CD cases, or are banished altogether in favour of digital downloads. Sadly most manuals these days are a double-page of HUD info and 10 pages of warranty, health/safety info and the notoriously pointless Notes section (seriously, who uses it). Of course some devs who put some effort in create amazing manuals, Fallout 3 and GTA IV springing to mind
"I'm not being funny, but I generally like to read my game manuals while taking a dump on the toilet."
I know exactly what you mean, you can easily skim through them in a dump, then never need to read them again. Plus what if you are playing a game, you now gotta stop it to go to the manual online/in game. That's pretty lame...
ubisoft proving once again they really don't care about their consumers, all this "it's best for the consumer" bulls**t. we didn't buy it over that useless drm and we're not buying it now.
I love how these companies always say stuff like 'this is about saving the environment' when the actual truth of it is that it's a massive expense saving for them. I wouldn't actually mind them doing this if any of those savings were passed onto the consumer, but since it's doubtful that will be the case, kindly give me what I bloody well paid for you cheap bottoms!
This.
Also, if Ubisoft is genuinely that concerned about its environmental impact, why does it insist on all its recent PC titles requiring constant internet connectivity? That requires additional energy usage, large scale infrastructure, raw materials and leads to more pollution than if it simply allowed its single player campaigns to play without requiring a superfluous internet connection. This is such utter twaddle and both you, Ubisoft, and I all realize it. Ubisoft is just hoping no one is looking at the large, pink elephant in the corner of the room.
f**k Ubisoft. They are dead to me and I flat out refuse to buy any of their products unless it's second hand. The days of them getting my money are well and truly over.
You want to be environmentally friendly Ubisoft? How about disbanding your p.o.s. PC offices and save resources, time and aggravation both on your part and on the part of your former PC fan-base. Turd peddling charlatans the lot of you!
Nice idea, but now I have to use all that extra electricity switching the whole lot on, whenever I want to glance at the booklet for something in my spare time.
^What he said^
Also, for me part of the experience of actually owning the physical media is having the manual and anything else you get in the case. I never buy secondhand retro games without manuals for that very reason. I wouldn't want to own a game I havn't got the paper booklet(or case)for, which is one of the main reasons I have zero interest in digital media(unless its being used as a backup for the physical copy I already own).
Right so now if I forget how to do something in the game I can no longer look at the manuel?
I would like to think the manuel is attached to the pause menu also? If not then I would have to quit the game just to read it?
This is the only part that worries me. The rest of the idea seems good. I digital manuel would be great and if you buy games pre owned there is no chance of a crappy manuel in the box.
I am not writing this off just yet even though it is clearly a way to save money.
Nice one, Ubisoft. Although I hope they do pass on the savings (unlikely, I guess) manuals are a waste of paper and ink as far as I'm concerned. I don't remember the last time I needed to read one, and if I ever did, it's a hassle having to dig the manual out - may as well pause the game and have a quick look.
i've not read a game manual in years, well not properly anyway. doesn't bother me in the slightest.
you know for a fact the bean counters have made this up to save money then tacked on the environmental benefits afterwards. do they think we're completely stupid?
what am i going to read on the bog now, i always take a no.2 after buying a new game to read the manual and get to know my game controls.
a better way to care for the planet is not to make s**tty games that make use electricity to play these s**tty games. care for the planet and care for the gamers
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