Ubisoft getting greener by ditching paper manuals

[JohnTC02]

Ubi are saying this is part of a new greener Ubi initiative or is it just a cost cutting exercise.

Ubisoft will cease including paper instruction manuals inside its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 boxed games, starting with this holiday's Shaun White Skateboarding (as revealed in an announcement that quietly confirms the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Shaun White Skateboarding). In place of a paper manual, a digital manual will be provided and accessible in-game.

http://www.gamenewshq.com/news/473111

[firefly2442]

With manuals being so small and short lately it doesn't surprise me. I would guess console gamers probably don't need manuals for most games. The only thing where it might be helpful is on PC for strategy games or specialized games that are complicated. Most of the stuff you just learn by playing anyway.

[CR6]

This idea is fine with me as long as we don't need an online connection to access the manual

[NoQuarter]

^

Haven't you heard...this internet thing is the wave of the future...for everything.

____

I wonder How OliverReed is going to take this.

[Tinker]

Did they not make a misprint or something recently, and have to recall, reprint them? Naybe not/

Would be a lot easier to patch it.

[Rocky]

UBISOFT^® LAUNCHES ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PACKAGING FOR ITS PC, XBOX 360 AND PLAYSTATION^®3 SYSTEM VIDEO GAMES

LONDON, UK – April 19, 2010 – Today Ubisoft announced an environmental initiative to eliminate paper game manuals, replacing them with an in-game digital manual for all titles on PlayStation^®3 (PS3™) system and Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The program, the first initiative of its kind in the video game industry, launches worldwide with Shaun White Skateboarding this autumn 2010.

Ubisoft’s digital game manuals will provide multiple benefits for the player and the environment. Including the game manual directly in the game will offer the player easier and more intuitive access to game information, as well as allow Ubisoft to provide gamers with a more robust manual. Ubisoft internal data shows that producing one ton of paper used in Ubisoft’s game manuals consumes an average of two tons of wood from 13 trees, with a net energy of 28 million BTU’s (equivalent to average heating and energy for one home/year), greenhouse gases equivalent of over 6,000 lbs of CO2, and wastewater of almost 15,000 gallons.

“It’s pretty cool that Ubisoft is making a conscious effort to go green with its new video game packaging,” commented Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White. “I’m excited for my new skateboarding game to come out and stoked that it will be the very first Ubisoft game to be part of their green packaging initiatives.”

In addition to Ubisoft’s efforts to decrease paper usage in its game packaging, Ubisoft has partnered with Technimark, Inc. to release the entertainment industry’s most environmentally-responsible DVD case for all of its future PC titles in North America. The 100 percent-recycled polypropylene “ecoTech” DVD case will make its debut with Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction PC video game on April 30, 2010. Ubisoft has featured digital game manuals in its PC titles distributed in North America since March 2010.

“Ubisoft is often recognized for making great games, but it’s a special privilege to be the industry leader at saving trees,” said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America. “Eco-friendly initiatives are important to the global community and introducing in-game digital manuals on Xbox 360 and PS3 is just the latest example of Ubisoft’s ongoing commitment to being a more environmentally conscious company.”

About Ubisoft:

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 28 countries and sales in 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. Ubisoft generated sales of €1.058 billion for the 2008-09 fiscal year. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com

AboutTechnimark

The ecoTech is a product of Technimark's Sustainable Products Group, which is focused on developing specialized proprietary goods that are cost effective, sustainable, and improve the environment. Technimark is a fully-integrated recycling and injection molding company, which has been providing solutions in the injection molding industry for leading customers around the globe since 1983. Please visit: www.technimark.com for additional information.

[Sgt. Atoa]

If you want a manual from future UBISOFT games you need to get their Special collectors editions for only $10.00 aditional bucks LOL

[krise madsen]

Saving trees from being turned into mauals looks good on a press release. Saving money from not printing manuals looks good on the bottom line.

Personally, manuals are only really important on hardcore sims, and for most other games they're irrelevant.

[Rocky]

I was cynical when I first read this, but really, I think we should take it at face value, ie. Ubisoft looking to tick the green environmental box.

I'd actually guess that the time and implementation of producing an in game manual, probably matches the cost of the paper version, or certainly there abouts.

[Cpl Ledanek]

personally, its a good move to reduce waste, cutting down tree to producing paper, reducing carbon footprint, etc, etc

--- phone in an activation key or register online for registration key I say...even homeless ppl now have some kind of prepaid cellphone

or

just join an active global community like GR.NET for instructions.

[Harelip]

Now they just need to come out with fully biodegradeable packaging and DVDs, so people can throw their games out with good conscience.

[wombat50]

Agreed Harelip.

[NoQuarter]

DTD distribution would be even more eco-friendly, and in keeping with their current net-centric (UPlay, OSP) push.

The cynics out there would really be stoked if they didn't release half (or more) of the garbage they do in the first place, not to mention the tree-huggers.

Save the planet Ubisoft, rethink your entire catalog -and its direction.

[WhiteKnight77]

Making paper is not as hard on the environment as one would think. Sure, there are trucks that haul the wood to the plant, but they could be carrying it to a saw mill for lumber instead. Power for paper mills comes from the generation of steam from bark and recovery boilers. If you use recycled paper, it cuts down on costs too. There are inks that are environmentally friendly that can be used. One other thing, trees are planted expressly for paper (and lumber) and have staggered growing and cutting years. Nothing from a tree goes to waste in making paper.