Yes I agree, the instructions are crap.
That is if you are not computer literate to the point where you understand what is what in computer terms.
The instructions are also crap when you consider that many come through the search link of:
Plane Shift (I passed the annoying intro page)
Given that you do not immediately see a link to the registration page, nor are you given a direct link to the forums and the web site requires a person to look for the FAQs it is crap. It does not take in the general mentality of the average human being who is loath to dig for information.
Yes news is great, for those who are already playing and have been with the game for a while hearing new news is fine and wonderful. For the first time visit Recent News is less than helpful in \'Getting Started\' and in some instances may be counter productive, adding confusion to a new complex set of ground rules and instructions.
Ideally the main page of the site should have a direct link to the download, a direct link to the players guide, a direct link to the registration page (where you create your account) a direct link to FAQs & Troubleshooting (You must make it clear that FAQ covers troubleshooting)
Perhaps the main page should be dedicated to screen shots, the general gist of the World (About) Then a link to News, Story and other additional information about the game.
Another issue (at least on my end) is that many times when I do click on the link to players guide, story, etc I get the infamous \"Page cannot Be displayed\" I assume that others are getting this as well, which is frustrating and leads people to skip reading the instructions. Here I am a week later (day by day I get more information) and I still have only read 75% of the guide simply because clicking next leads to that error page. I would image that the less patient would give up after one or two tries and ?wing it?.
Compounded by all this you are introducing what for many RPG players is a new concept in game play - No levels, Progression points, etc. If the person is fresh and new to RPG forget it, they are clueless to what all of this means.
To be blunt about it the instruction should be dumbed down a little more, taking nothing for granted about the average user?s understanding of computers, RPG, etc. This is also called \"User Friendly\" a nice way of saying
\"We went out of our way to make this as simple for you as possible.\" Yes including simple instructions such as going to one\'s C:/program files/plane shift folder to find the icon for playing the game (which I assume was the mistake made with the OP here - which may be in part that most programs put an icon on the desktop).
The installation instructions can be confusing. On the same page you have Windows, and Mac and Linux user instructions. I would suggest that the page before breaks these down into three separate pages to where the user clicks on his/her Operating system and is not cluttered with the three sets of instructions. Each following branch of pages is only covering that system.
Take the configuration instructions:
\"Specify the graphics and sound settings that you prefer and then press OK.\" Great for those who know what size their screen is, or understand the differences between software sound and Open AL - yes there are many out there who are clueless to what would, on the surface, appear to be basic computer knowledge. Perhaps a breif description of what each thing means will go along way in helping the newbie find his/her way to configuring the game. You must assume that the person just took their computer out of the box and never had one before.
Another terrible assumption being made is that everyone follows directions or even turns to the directions before doing something. In reality the percentages of people who do take the time to read the instructions first is far, far lower than those who jump in and start doing.
Ideally the game itself needs to have the instructions right there on each page of character creation: EXAMPLE, Most people will start off on the first creation page, select a race, and play with the buttons for features name the character and hit next. They will either not see ?Paths? or they won?t know what it is since it is not a button people will assume that it is a title. It should be right there
?You have two choices: click Paths for quick generation, or Next for the longer, more in-depth, creation process.? I know it is, to those who understand and read instructions, obvious that one reads instructions first and carefully proceed. It is human nature to jump in with sweet abandon and then go to the forums and post their questions there.
