He there guys and girls, I was just wondering if I was the only one that received Halo 4 without a manual XD? Not that I mind, but it caught me by surprise lol (I purchased this factory sealed too). Just wanted to know if its the same with everyone else =], thanks.
My copy didn’t contain a manual either. I figured I knew everything I needed to about the game already, but I will admit it is pretty odd getting a game without a manual.
There isn’t one, there is or will be an “online, in-depth .pdf virtual manual” (quote by bs angel, she’ll probably be here to verify that soon enough.
The Gabriel Thorne diary clips into the LE game case, though.
Glad I’m not the only one
its because they’re cheap that little booklet only comes with the limited edition, so next time if you really want the booklet spend a lot more money,
it doesnt even tell you what the gametypes are in multiplayer.
Got the LE no manual. No need for it really though. Unless your new to gaming I see no point in it. People that have played other shooters can figure out the controls
if by ‘booklet’ you mean the instructions, there aren’t any with the LE either. Either way, by the fourth game of the series and one which has enough instructions in the game, a manual is not really necessarily.
It doesn’t come with one, which is disappointing but not at all surprising unfortunately. Not because it’s needed for learning to play, but it was always nice to have those story tidbits in the manual.
Ah ok 
glad to know I’m not the only one the lol. I’m guessing 343 did that for a reason, and it kind of figures that new gamers to the Halo franchise picking up Halo 4 would be scarce, so totally understandable, thanks anyway
P.s. I’ll be joining the Halo 4 storm today! XD can’t wait >:3
Halo game manuals are the only ones i use to ever read!
I remeber when i got My xbox and CE and was away for the weekend so at night would just read the manual and about the characters and the enemies!
Times moved on i guess!
They literally printed all the safety information on the inside of the game cover so that they wouldn’t even have to make a crappy 2 page booklet like every other game has.
I really liked having the manual to read about different enemies, weapons, game variants, etc. But i have to admit the first thought that went through my head when i opened the case and did not see a manual was, “Wow Microsoft and 343 are cheap and really don’t care about the consumer after they get our money.”
Now obviously, that’s a lot to read into, but I haven’t played the game yet and that was my first impression. Maybe it’s the old school gamer in me that likes the attention to details. But honestly, opening a brand new game case to find only the discs and a trial xbox live insert???!! I feel like this is an indication of how we can expect to be treated.
I AM SOOOOO SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE SAYING, “DERRRRR I DON’T SEE WHY A MANUAL IS NECESSARY DERRRRR - THE CONTROLS ARE SO OBVIOUS WHY WOULD YOU NEED INSTRUCTIONS??”
Since when did anyone ever use a manual as anything other than entertainment and as a source of UNNECESSARY - but fun - information? The manual is, of COURSE, unnecessary BUT is also, highly enjoyable! It complements the disk as part of the package that makes up “the game”. Holding it in your hand, flipping through the pages, enjoying the artwork, all of it!
For H4’s manual, move your mouse to the bar with the headers “News”, “Halo 4 Intel”, “Universe”, etc, located at the very top of nearly every Waypoint page.
Now when you move the mouse over the “Halo 4 Intel” header, you will notice H4’s online manual links.
343i’s way of saving trees
Screw the tree’s not everyone knows about this website . A game should have a manual and dear god i say it not everyone has internet access
It’s like this with nearly everything new and accessible (obviously, things like printers, computers, routers will come with manuals).
They only include a quick guide and redirect you to a website or disc.
It’s annoying but not too much of a big deal I guess.
The instruction/guide part of manuals are essentially a thing of the past. Most games have tutorials put in, optional or mandatory. Even Halo has the first mission carefully planned to introduce you to everything as you progress.
Looking, moving, performing actions such as pushing buttons or reloading, using grenades, radar, etc.
Manuals used to provide backstory as well; games now also have a prologue video included too now.
Menus also offer most needed details and occasionally give a support site URL or phone number. Generally advertisements are put in the case instead or special codes to unlock things ingame.
Art booklets and such are commonly left for more expensive bundles.
over a decade when the first game came out and people still need to resort to a manual? tsk tsk tsk
> For H4’s manual, move your mouse to the bar with the headers “News”, “Halo 4 Intel”, “Universe”, etc, located at the very top of nearly every Waypoint page.
> Now when you move the mouse over the “Halo 4 Intel” header, you will notice H4’s online manual links.
> 343i’s way of saving trees
They could have saved a lot of oil (plastics) if they’d released the On Demand version of Halo 4 sooner than 3 months after the fact…
(i.e. that’s a cop-out, and in actuality they’re cheap)
The LE is the only version with a manual. It is specialized for Gabriel Thorne and covers all of the basics in an interesting way.