The Firefighter Turned Game Manual Maverick: A Tale of Creativity and Courage

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into creating manual booklets for video games?

Yes of course, background wise there isn’t much to tell, I’m trained in Musical Theatre and Professional Dance, and while doing bits and bobs theatre wise, in 2016 I moved to Norfolk where I then joined the Fire Service for my local area. Been a firefighter since and did theatre stuff or MC at events through the years. I’ve always liked Tech, and got on with computers well, worked in IT Support while living in London and before moving to Norfolk, so image creating/editing was always a fun lil pastime for me.

In 2018 I got a new game for my recently acquired switch, while I was excited to play Super Mario Odyssey, I did notice how empty it was, looking on the Zelda BoTW game I had, I thought maybe someone out there created something to put in the clips, complete the set. There wasn’t anything out there to my surprise, I experimented creating a lil manual for Super Mario Odyssey myself at home, home printer and scissor cuts, just for me. Shared online where some were interested but I wasn’t 100% happy with the quality in sending them out (Think I only sent out 1 from 5 I made back then), It looked rough to me, and was looking into better methods when my HDD died, erasing all the files and years of photos etc. in the process…. So not wanting to re-create all the work again, feeling gutted, I went off on the project for years, though it was something kept in my mind every so often.

When Covid hit, I found I had a lot more free time especially during lockdown, and it got me thinking of the manual I made, seeing if I could order some for games as it’s been 2 years since, surely there is something. But I found nothing out there. So I thought about it and decided to re-create the old one I lost alongside the BoTW Mini companion idea I had based off of what I’d like and seen through the community, spent a few months to get the print how I wanted it to be in the end. From there I then shared it on a facebook community group, and with others liking it, wanting one for their own, the rest just expanded from there amazingly! Which is just crazy when thinking about it.

What inspired you to start creating these manual booklets for physical video game collections?

It was more frustration haha, I thought it was annoying that clips were in the case and nothing was filling them. Even now you’re lucky to get an ad/DLC card or such, but nothing really fills it’s void, and that’s what got me looking to create something for it, so when I opened the case it looked more complete to me. Working on the manual itself was the older style I had in my collection, looking at the N64, GameCube manuals for Super Mario and using the technics and main areas of whats included to inspire me what to put in mine, what styling to go for etc.

Printing wise was just trial and error, I wanted to make a high quality print and feel to be something that looked official or matching alongside the game if it existed while definitely not being official and state it isn’t.

Can you walk us through your creative process for designing and printing these manual booklets?

Sort of to an extent, It varies from game to game a lil. The main point is knowledge, do I know the game?, how well?, and also ask the community what games would they like to see, as it helps get the idea of what to focus on. Then it’s gathering resources, images, chapter ideas or information, styling for the manual/booklet which I aim to match to the game style, what works and doesn’t, history of prior manuals if there have been any and what I can reference, better as a manual or a booklet for the game?

It’s a lot of different elements and most of it is setup to create the file. Once you have everything you need I say it’s just a good eye on what to put where to make it look ok altogether. Program wise you can do this with paid or free programs, there isn’t any “one does all” it’s just what you’re most use to.

From there I get a check print before having them all printed on what’ve I’ve tested paper wise etc to be how I want to print, they get cut, saddle stitched (stapled), and the check print before printing more gets looked at to see if it’s how I envisioned the manual/booklet, if something is off or wrong, and correct it thereafter if need be before printing more.

How do you decide on what information to include in each manual booklet?

It’s kinda a “feels right” sensation. You can always add more information but that then takes much more time to complete and it’s a weight up of how long you want to take making one with the information at hand. So they vary in size because of this factor and time can be about a month to two months for each one.

There is key information though that I say would have to be included, for a manual I would aim to always have if I can: Story, Controls, Characters, some specific game information, notes page of course.

Booklets are more progressive so they’d be more key items, check lists etc to help progress through the game, so not as information driven.

Some manuals have both elements but because they’re more information driven, they’re considered a manual from a booklet.

How do you see the role of manual booklets in the modern age of digital game downloads?

Well with digital, I think it won’t be there as it hasn’t in recent generations. With physicals which I do hope will still continue to be a thing for many years, There is a usecase for them. Although some may not read them as much, for new players, me even haha, I find that that some tutorial sections are hours long. I want to get into the game, when younger I use to read them on the way home, at school, wherever possible so I would know the controls and the backstory or such before playing the game. Spending an hour or more on the tutorial section is quite tedious for me, I’m not feeling the game as well and just kinda want to get on with it, learn for myself. Or it is a fun and challenging game, but for work or such I find myself away from it for a few months, coming back in the middle of the game where there is some challenge forgetting the combo’s or controls etc. can be quite the adjustment period back into it, so having something to refer back to easily for a few minutes is great for me.

There is a need I’d say to always have them. When they started leaving the scene, it was said to be due to the environment or such, I will say there are many ways to make these eco, planting trees per x amount, recycled paper, a big company could still do it well and be friendly to the environment at the same time if they wanted.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your business so far?

Depends what you call issue. The main problem and issue I have had currently is the postal service haha, they aren’t the quickest, or like to sometimes just cause and issue, strike here and there, which is out of my control and does has me looking at alternatives or methods for people after these for themselves. With the Recent cyber attack they had, it pretty much just stopped me dead for a month and only recently came back up to a slow process while they still go through the backlog over the Christmas period where they were constantly on strike. It’s a cost thing though to keep using them as I don’t want people to pay a fortune for postage if they don’t want to. I aim to do the best I can but postage is one thing unfortunately I have no control over, so when there is something going on, it’s quite frustrating to not be able to do much about it.

Other than that haha it’s this sorta stuff, I’m not great at marketing or social media, I’m kinda just doing my own thing here and there which has me distracted from that side of things. So when someone like yourself or others want to share my work, review etc, I get really excited and thankful as it means a lot that you want to, and I really appreciate the support because it does help so much, and keep these going really.

Maybe timing too, I take my time making these which means I don’t make as much a year, but I’m one guy and as the saying goes “A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad” so I take that into what I’m doing and aim to just do the best I can at the time.

What do you hope players will take away from using your manual booklets with their physical video games?

Some joy, something that makes them smile and think “that’s a bit cool” maybe. There are quite a few easter eggs throughout certain ones, so it’s nice that people aim to look through and find them. But the main thing is being useful, help remind someone of the controls, help keep progress so someone can get to 100% in BoTW for instance, something that has purpose for the person and to put in the case, fill that void to complete the physical set.

Can you share any exciting projects or releases you have in the works for the future?

Ohhhh well, it’s a long list I’m getting through. Currently though I’m working on Paper Mario and the Origami King, afterwards I’m not too sure, but we’ll see how it goes. Very excited for the new Tears of the Kingdom, so something will definitely be out for that game at some point this year.

What sets your manual booklets apart from others in the market?

Well, I think for the Switch, I might of started the market, but could be I never looked hard enough at the time. Setting apart I would hope it’s not only the print quality and feel, which I try to make to the highest quality I can do, but also how the manual is made. They’re all different really from one another, styling, information etc, which makes them unique and themed for that game hopefully quite well. I hope people see and enjoy that aspect of them.

Lastly, what message do you have or video game collectors who are looking for unique and meaningful additions to their physical collections?

If you want something to remind you of the golden days of gaming, be useful, and complete the void that’s been in modern physical game cases, being bare and empty. These are perfect for you. The switch has clips in the case, you might as well put them to good use.