What happened to game manuals?

[Mercen-X]

• A comprehensive game manual?
• A in-game tutorial, many of them even?

Though I have fond memories of reading those lengthy manuals (I usually skip the parts about basic function, controls, and in-game features and got right to the summary of the game's premise), I don't really care.

In-game tutorials can be helpful, but for god-smurfing-sake make the bastards OPTIONAL!!!!! There's nothing I smurfing hate more than having to repeat a slow-assed repetitive tutorial when I already know what the smurf I'm doing. That's why I approve of the tutorials at the opening of the game (especially as an optional level like in Steambot or DoC). Typically, I prefer they do not appear anywhere else.