New manual possible ? (due to updates ) How to play ?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hi to all,
I haven't played this game for ages (due to lack of time, not interest !!!!!) and with the latest updates there are literally thousends of fixes, GUI updates etc., so the original manual is sadly out of date and to sift through the readmes/histories is time consuming.
I would really really would appreciate it, if there could be made a newer version of the manual, pdf or otherwise. Maybe I am oldfashioned, but I do love a good game manual to read over before I beginn to play a game.
And I think due to the great work with the updates/enhancements a newer manual/addendum, at least concerning interface and significantly changed game parts in condensed form, should be made.
Otherwise, has someone maybe made some condensed version of the update histories for his own use, e.g. all interface changes up to the current version, all openly changed gameparts, all 'under the hood/invisible' (these seem to be the most numerous ones but for actual how to play the least significant ones) which can be made availiable to interested people ?

BTW, is anyone else interested in an updated/expanded manual ?
If a lot of people are interested maybe a petition can be forwarded to stardock.

Thanks
7,830 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd personally be interested, but not if it take devs time away from DA. Maybe they could have another staff member work on it or something.
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
IIRC the software the devs used to build the manual is rather painful to use, so updating it is not something anyone looks forward to. I'd make one up myself but as I haven't the source files or a means to directly edit the pdf, I can't do so without completely redoing everything that's already there (formatting and all).
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The idea of a new manual is unrealistic to the extreme.

It would not take 'another staff member', it would take much of the team at least several weeks to compile a new and accurate manual.

And once they did there would probably have already been more changes that made certain things out of date.

The original manual was compiled and printed before 1.0 was even shipped. It was obsolete before the first copy was sold. I doubt there will be any new manual at this point.

The most that could be hoped for would be a decent manual for Dark Avatar.

Have you looked through Galactopedia for the info you want?
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
IIRC the software the devs used to build the manual is rather painful to use, so updating it is not something anyone looks forward to


My 2bc

I have a feeling Stardock is losing a lot of sales because they do not keep an up to date manual available for download. I can just see a player downloading the demo and then looking thru the online maual and getting all frustrated and just giving up.

As is it takes a bit of determination to actually pick GC2 up -- alot of us have that -- and we have been well rewarded for our persistence with a truely fantastic game.

I really believe that up to date manuals for beginners, intermediate, and adanced players would really increase GC2 sales. A potential GC2 buyer seeing the availability of those manuals and doing a cursury browsing of them would be much more likely to buy GC2.

The Galactopedia is nice but more is really needed. A few nicely organized and easily downloaded and printed out data lists would be really attractive.

Lettimg players post there own manuals for the game would also be great -- pretty sure that there are at least 4 or 5 players out there that could do a good job that would be appreciated -- I've picked up a lot from other player's posts but it comes in fragments.

As I said just my 2bc

Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
A manual by the players is very possible, and I doubt Stardock would object to it being posted in the Library, or even the Downloads section if it was done well.

But it would probably be better if the players formed a group to coordinate a single unified effort, much like the Star Trek or Bab5 mod teams.