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Ubisoft may or may not be an enemy to PC gamers, but the publisher’s definitely a friend to the environment. Beginning with the PC release of Splinter Cell Conviction, Ubisoft’s set to roll out its 100 percent-recycled polypropylene “ecoTech” DVD cases, which are apparently the “most environmentally friendly” cases in the entire entertainment industry.
In addition, Ubisoft plans to bring its console releases up to speed with their PC counterparts, which have in turn recently caught up to almost every gamer everywhere by ditching paper instruction manuals. Seriously, do you ever read those things? We sure don’t.
The publisher notes that – before its switch to digital manuals – “one ton of paper used in Ubisoft’s game manuals consumed 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.”
Yeesh. Sorry about that one, Mother Nature. The gaming industry didn’t mean anything by it. Honest! As for all the rampant virtual deforestation we caused in Far Cry 2, though, we really don’t have any excuse for that. Then again, the day we come across a game where it’s a crime to play lumberjack with a tree or two but a-okay to shoot people in the face is probably the day we’ll trade-in our rigs and take up a new hobby. Just sayin’.
Comments are closed on this article
thegamepro
April 20, 2010 at 2:19pm
"Going green" is Ubisoft's way of saying, "We are cheaping out on our customers."
Ntldr
April 20, 2010 at 8:21am
Most of these games have a pdf version of the manual on the website now. If not you can lookup FAQs and other game info online so really there is no need for them.
harbingercmt
April 20, 2010 at 5:24am
Guess my PC tradition of reading the game manual while the game installed or I had free time away from home is all but a memory :-(
samduhman
April 20, 2010 at 4:45am
wow, type a long comment only to have the Spam filter nuke it. I can't even back up and try to fix it. I'd have to type it again guessing at why it was blocked?
TechJunkie
April 20, 2010 at 4:54am
They could have. But having a manual on the DVD is the better choice. Why not help save the environment as much as you can? Besides, the last thing I want is to open the manual and possibly see little chunks of corn imbedded on page 10.
Velcrow
April 20, 2010 at 5:34am
Let's be honest here. They wouldn't do this if it wasn't just more cost effective. I completely understand the 'environmental' spin, just hoping they don't think we're stupid enough to take that as the ONLY reason. The trend will be in this direction, anyhow.
Atomike
April 20, 2010 at 7:05am
If it was cheaper to make a manual, they would.
I LOVE manuals. I want them.
This decision is not about the earth, it's about saving money.
This press release is misleading at best.
TechJunkie
April 20, 2010 at 7:25am
I know it's more about cutting costs. But it also saves the environment as well. If it does both, then it's a win-win.
Atomike
April 20, 2010 at 11:55am
It doesn't save the earth.
It's paper. The most renewable resource on the planet.
Sure, it may take a little energy to cut and print the manual, but it's insignificant compared to most things you do in your daily life.
The day that we can't even use paper and not feel guilty is the day that everyone has officially gone crazy.
TechJunkie
April 20, 2010 at 1:30pm
LOL, But yes, trees (wood) is renewable. But the real question is while it's renewable, how long does it take for a tree to get cut down then grow again to be cut? Takes quite a few years. Not days, weeks, or months but years! So in essence, if every tree were to be cut down right now and all paper products were used up in months, it would take years before we could wipe our butts again....and I'll miss me some charmin....
Muerte
April 20, 2010 at 1:03pm
You've obviously never visited a paper mill. The amount of energy any factory uses is phenomenal. So if you can save a few trees and put a few pounds less carbon in the air by not printing an insignificant pamphlet and cut the cost of putting out a game, its a win, win.
Atomike
April 20, 2010 at 2:22pm
My car gets 40 miles per gallon. I'm not really worried about 8 sheets of paper.
If you really care about the environment, worry about things that matter - not things that don't.
