Instruction Manuals of Yore

ShackNews has an interesting article up now that examines those classic pieces of literature that proud gamers try to avoid: instruction manuals. These days, the instructions that come with a retail game provide only the basest of information on how to play the game. Years ago however, an instruction manual could provide a more in-depth look on the game’s world and sometimes even make for an entertaining read. Take for example the Fallout manual, which was made to look like a guide for a Vault Dweller in the game. One that stands out in my mind though was the manual for Where is Carmen Sandiego in U.S. History?, which came with a 1408-page book titled, What Happened When: A Chronology of Life & Events in America. That thing got me through a number of U.S. History papers. You can check out more examples of cool instruction manuals of yore here.