The manual...

Submitted by Fedule on September 6, 2004 - 1:49pm

So I finally got me boxed copy, 12 days after the ship date. Didn't really matter, seeing as I downloaded the disk image version, but eh. Had I not already played it so much, it would've been worth the wait. So I read the manual...

OK, the pdf manual is fine. No problems.

The paper manual, however, is another issue entirely.

1st and 2nd page: Fine

3rd page: Cuts straight to the middle of the powerups section. No header. Some powerup names and descriptions are captalized, some are not.

4th page: End of the powerups section. Same issue with capitalization, otherwise fine. Beginning of Support. Fine.

5th page: Finally, the end of the Game Types. Other than being two pages late, fine. Beginning of multiplayer section, fine.

6th page: Beginning of the powerups section. Other than caps, fine.

7th and 8th pages: Fine.

It seems to me as though the pages were submitted in the wrong order. Other than the caps issue with the powerups, the writing itself is fine, but the middle four pages are mixed up. How'd that happen?

Submitted by Zwilnik on September 6, 2004 - 2:34pm.

No idea, it should be the same as the PDF manual. It's possible that the printers mixed up the pages when stapling them. It's possible it's only on your one (if anyone else has got their box yet, can you confirm this ?). I haven't actually got the full box + CD + manual yet, as FV will have been concentrating on filling orders first Smile

Might be worth sending off an email to support@freeverse.com to let them know, just in case it's all of them somehow!

Submitted by Fedule on September 6, 2004 - 5:49pm.

Well, I sent off an email.

On closer inspection, it appears the middle "leaf" was stapled the wrong way around. This is likely due to either:

The pages were sent off in the wrong order, so it will be like this in all current versions
The pages were printed incorrectly, so it will be like this in all current versions

or

Laziness of the teenage part timer who was collating and putting the manual together, in which case the problem will only be present in a few copies.

And I would like to point out here the liklihood that I know far better than anyone here how it feels to be a teenage part timer in a printing press.

Either way, the problem is solved by a 180 degree turn or a quick round of firings...

Submitted by Zwilnik on September 6, 2004 - 6:21pm.

"Laziness of the teenage part timer who was collating and putting the manual together, in which case the problem will only be present in a few copies.

And I would like to point out here the liklihood that I know far better than anyone here how it feels to be a teenage part timer in a printing press."

been there Smile That and stuffing 2000+ newsletters into envelopes and sticking address labels on them Beee

Submitted by Fedule on September 6, 2004 - 7:30pm.

All gotta start somewhere, eh?

Ever shrink wrapped a thousand (I think) small leaflets individually? At least I can shrink wrap to goddamned perfection now...

Although now you mention it, my current job in Self Storage does involve a lot of letter folding. I would say I've done 2000, but obviously not all at once. And we don't use labels - we've got those new fangled windowed envelopes now.

Damn, what were the chances... I'd take printing -> developing over printing -> self storage any day. If... I knew... how to... code...

Actually, I was seriously considering game development as a career until I "discovered" journalism and got into reviewing and editorialing and all that. So now I can moan/evangalize all I like about decent games. When GameFAQs get their butts around to adding a section for Airburst Extreme, there'll be a nice, shiny 10/10 review for Airburst Extreme (not 9 because all these damn bugs can be fixed) waiting for them. Incidentally, Airburst the Original was the first game I ever reviewed on GFAQs...

Submitted by Zwilnik on September 6, 2004 - 7:35pm.

Thanks Smile

btw. we need to think of a new name for the original Airburst when referring to it now that Airburst Extreme's out. I've been calling it Airburst Classic from time to time, but that doesn't sound right. Maybe just Old Airburst Smile

Submitted by Fedule on September 6, 2004 - 7:59pm.

I always thought Airburst Classic sounded alright, actually...

As you saw, I've been calling it Airburst the Original. But that sounds like some seriously upper-classy-posh-thing, don't you know.

Personally, I would stick with "Airburst" and "Airburst Extreme"/"Extreme". I don't think anyone would neglect to say "Extreme" if they were talking about Extreme and not Airburst the Orig- I mean, Airburst...

But from an entirely practical point of view, I'd suggest sticking with Airburst Classic. It sums it up perfectly. It's a classic game and can run in OSX or OS9 (Classic).

Submitted by macspud on September 18, 2004 - 12:25am.

I can confirm the screwed up hard copy of the manual. It has all the same information as the PDF but in a mixed up order!

Submitted by Fedule on September 18, 2004 - 1:55pm.

To the Shoot-The-Printer-mobile!

Submitted by Zwilnik on September 18, 2004 - 2:50pm.

We're taking a tip from Microsoft on this one and calling it a feature. The initial run of Airburst Extreme now ships with an "interactive puzzle manual" Biggrin

Submitted by Fedule on September 18, 2004 - 6:53pm.

Ever creative, I see. Good to see...