Manual Writer Blues
Posted by Game Writer Guy
Game Manual Writing: More Forgotten
The game manual writer is up against even more of a PR problem than the game writer. A game writer has the difficult task of creating a compelling narrative for a product in an industry that sometimes considers such work to be an afterthought. A game manual writer has the more obscure job of writing the user documentation for the game.
The Game Manual Writer’s Assignment
A game manual isn’t Shakespeare, by any means, and in some ways the task of writing and editing a game manual is liberating because the parameters of the job are well-defined. The game itself is finished or nearly so. The publisher knows the amount of space and time available for the task. The game manual writer’s job is to provide the game buyer with the essential information to enjoy the game’s experience. This information includes installation steps, gameplay instructions, identification of important threats and aids, and tips on how to succeed at the game.
Still, a game manual writer shouldn’t be entirely without imagination. A well-constructed game manual is an integral part of the game product, enhancing the drama and tickling the imagination. Some memorable game manuals have been designed to look like instruction manuals for a giant fighting robot or tattered notes from a mystical mentor.
A badly-designed game manual, on the other hand, can be a serious detriment to a product’s success. Faulty instructions or the omission of critical gameplay descriptions can cripple the inexperienced gamer or even cause gross underestimations of the game’s features in the press. (Yes, we’ve observed this firsthand, unfortunately.) Uninspired game manuals are a missed opportunity to breathe life into the product. Sloppy writing and disorganization take a serious toll on gamer enjoyment when proper execution is inexpensive and quick.
Need a Game Manual? Need to Make Your Game Manual Better?
If your game needs a professional game manual writer or editor, consider working with our recommended game manual writer corps. They recently completed manual revision work for two Wii products and a Nintendo DS product to rave reviews. If you believe in your product, why ship it with a sloppy game manual?
January 28th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
i like your article. what would a person have to study in college to be a video game manual writer? i’m studying technical communication right now. it’s pretty much user manual writing, or officially: “communicating technical information to a general audience”. it sounds boring, but i want to liven up my career with something like video game manual writing. So, would Tech-comm be an ok major of choice for video game manual writing?
January 30th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Yes indeed – tech-comm is perfect for manual writing…! Of course, game manuals tend to be a little less formal and more concise than application and procedure manuals, but the concept is the same.