Before We Pressed Start

About this episode

Enjoying the show? Support it here. Before games taught us how to play, there were instruction manuals. Folded inside the box, they were more than just guides to the controls. They introduced us to new worlds, told stories, shared artwork, and built excitement long before we ever pressed the Start button. In Episode 7 of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores why video game manuals became such an important part of growing up for a generation of players. From reading them in the car on the way home to studying every screenshot before finally getting to play, these little booklets sparked imagination in ways that today's instant downloads rarely can. But this isn't really a story about instruction manuals. It's about anticipation, imagination, and a time when discovering a new world began on paper before it ever appeared on a screen. Because sometimes the objects fade. But the feeling doesn’t. Get InvolvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist. No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here. If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app! And pl