never.

D not because their for the weak though, just because they're useless.

Q) If I really like the game and can't figure something out. Other than that, manuals are for PANZIES!!

I look at the colourfull pictures.. No reading though.
Except Sega ones! Damn you and your no colour manuals Sega!!!

I read the manual. It makes for some good reading when your sitting on the toilet.

Only if i have a feeling that the game has a complex interface, or if i am unfamiliar with basic controls

Manuals used to be so useful

If the manual is pretty big I'll read through it. There is usually some decent info in there.

If the manual is two or three pages, I will usually skip it.

I like reading manuals. Good manuals can be quite entertaining.

C, C, C and if that fails C

I never read manuals...until after I've played the game for awhile (weeks, sometimes months). I consider figuring out what the game does and how it does it part of the experience.

And I never use strategy guides. I used a strategy guide for FFVIII once....and it killed the game for me. It took away all of the magic of the game.