Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Do manuals still have memo sections?

  1. #1
    Red (Level 21) Jorpho's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    We're all mad here
    Posts
    13,554
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post

    Default Do manuals still have memo sections?

    I'll admit I used the memo sections in some of my old manuals once or twice. (In fact, I even had a manual or two which, lacking a memo section, forced me to write on the back page.) But most of the time they struck me as something of an abberation; could you really communicate anything of utility in such a small space?

    Do manuals ever still have memo sections? Did you ever use them in the old days?
    "There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." --Bertrand Russel (attributed)

  2. #2
    Great Puma (Level 12) Custom rank graphic
    Gapporin's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Springfield, MO
    Posts
    4,444
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    Gapporin

    Default

    Manuals indeed do have memo sections to this day; although they're usually called "Notes". I never used them, but sometimes when I buy certain games (especially RPGs or password-extensive games), the Notes section will be filled with strategies, high scores and/or passwords.
    "I am a cipher, wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce."

  3. #3
    Yo Joe! Custom rank graphic
    Lady Jaye's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Montreal
    Posts
    10,684
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    ladyjaye75
    PSN
    ladyjaye75

    Default

    Neverwinter Nights does have a memo section in its manual.

  4. #4
    Pretzel (Level 4) Austin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    937
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I'm pretty sure quite a few do. I don't read the manuals for most games I pick up, but the ones I do I remember seeing them in. (Dai Senryaku VII the most recent.)

  5. #5
    Apple (Level 5) nik's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Victoria BC Canada
    Posts
    1,127
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post

    Default

    Fable does.

  6. #6
    Pretzel (Level 4)
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Stoughton, WI
    Posts
    823
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I always wondered about that...
    anyways, I got a few games with "memo"- sections in them. Can somebody please tell me what the f*ck their purpose is?!?!

  7. #7
    Strawberry (Level 2) Custom rank graphic
    shoes23's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Watertown SD
    Posts
    577
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by christhegamer
    I always wondered about that...
    anyways, I got a few games with "memo"- sections in them. Can somebody please tell me what the f*ck their purpose is?!?!
    Like others have said, I used my memo space for games requiring passwords. It was the easiest way to keep track, otherwise you are shuffling through loose paper and trying to remember what game each password was for. I've also used the memo/notes section in current-gen games to write down a cheat code or two.

  8. #8
    Lightgunner Custom rank graphic
    Cryomancer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Southern Central WI
    Posts
    3,748
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    Cryomancer

    Default

    Memo sections were great when you'd rent games. Notes from the countless players before you, it was awesome.

  9. #9
    Banned

    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    721
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I hate memo sections when I'm buying used games. There's always some damn scribbling in it.

    That said, when you actually get a manual when you rent a game, I like the notes section

  10. #10
    Pretzel (Level 4)
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Stoughton, WI
    Posts
    823
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Xizer
    I hate memo sections when I'm buying used games. There's always some damn scribbling in it.
    Yeah, that really sucks; I HATE it when people scribble on my stuff!!!

  11. #11
    Cherry (Level 1) Red Hedgehog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    213
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I'm pretty sure that the memo sections were just used to pad space. Pages in instruction booklets (and most books) have to come in multiples of four. This means there is often one or two pages with nothing to put on them, so why not "memo" or "note" pages for gamers to write down stuff?
    "Dost thou love me?" "No" "But thou must!"

    My Video Game Journal

  12. #12
    Strawberry (Level 2)
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    in yo shizznit
    Posts
    597
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I remember using the notes section for high scores back in the day and later on for clues in RPGs that made you remember crazy, cryptic codes or sequences of actions.
    Not filler at all, though I rarely find games that require you to remember anything anymore. And high scores are a thing of the past.

    From memory, I would say the last game where I actually used the notes section was Escape from Monkey Island.
    It doesn't get any more serious than a Rhinocerus about to charge your ass.

  13. #13
    Red (Level 21) Jorpho's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    We're all mad here
    Posts
    13,554
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Red Hedgehog
    I'm pretty sure that the memo sections were just used to pad space. Pages in instruction booklets (and most books) have to come in multiples of four. This means there is often one or two pages with nothing to put on them, so why not "memo" or "note" pages for gamers to write down stuff?
    Hmm. Hadn't thought about it that way.
    "There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." --Bertrand Russel (attributed)

  14. #14
    Strawberry (Level 2)
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Western NY
    Posts
    594
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Red Hedgehog
    I'm pretty sure that the memo sections were just used to pad space. Pages in instruction booklets (and most books) have to come in multiples of four. This means there is often one or two pages with nothing to put on them, so why not "memo" or "note" pages for gamers to write down stuff?
    Yep, that's exactly it. I recently did the layout for Total Carnage on the Jaguar and threw a Memo page in there at the end to fill a blank page
    \\ : NUON-Dome : / "The place to go for all things NUON." - Edge Magazine

  15. #15
    Pac-Man (Level 10) FantasiaWHT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    2,669
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cryomancer
    Memo sections were great when you'd rent games. Notes from the countless players before you, it was awesome.
    Wow! Tell me more about this magical time when you could rent a game and the instruction manual came with it!

  16. #16
    ServBot (Level 11) hydr0x's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    3,663
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    bleh, memo/notes sections, i hate them, i can't stand to buy a perfect shape used game and then seeing someone wrote codes or anything into the manual. Dang, ruins the manual for me, gotta rebuy the game :/
    -Jan

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •