We're over a year late on this, but you'll have to excuse us on not keeping up to date with the Strawberry Shortcake video games series. Insert Credit pointed us to the delightful fact that Strawberryland Games, Ms. Shortcake's 2006 minigame collection for the DS, comes with a Strawberry-fragranced instruction manual, just like the original dolls! One reviewer even described the booklet as having captured "the scent of Franken Berry cereal."As amusing as we found this "bonus feature," should companies spend their time, money, and imaginations on such trivial details? Well, it convinced us into talking about a licensed children's game 15 months after its release, so there's obviously some value to this approach.
In fact, we wish more publishers would follow The Game Factory's lead and put out their own appropriately scented manuals. Wouldn't it be cool if Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles smelled like an ashtray when you opened its box? Or if My Horse and Me's manual wafted a farm-like aroma? Okay, so those examples aren't too great; we're sure you can come up with much better ideas.
[Via Insert Credit]
Share
_thumbnail.jpg "Dragon Quest IV")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-04-2008 @ 12:27PM
linex7 said...
There was a Strawberry Shortcake game for PS2 that did the same thing with the manual a while back.
Reply
1-04-2008 @ 12:29PM
CJC said...
I believe the Earthbound magazine ads were scratch-and-sniff as well.
Reply
1-04-2008 @ 1:21PM
Chris said...
I wonder what the manual to Custer's Revenge would smell like...he he
Reply
1-04-2008 @ 2:05PM
JC Fletcher said...
Leisure Suit Larry 7 came with a sheet of scratch-and-sniff panels to add ambient smells to certain parts of the game.
members.tripod.com/~blackstar1997/scents.htm
Reply
1-04-2008 @ 2:13PM
Robert Baldwin said...
The Warioware manuals have generally had either stickers, or at least activities. Its a nice bonus that helps entice a person to purchase it new, rather than used and possibly gutted.
Then you have manuals on the other side of the spectrum that don't have much info at all, useful or fun.
The Transformers manuals don't mention that you can change your colors on your bot or con.
Reply
1-04-2008 @ 5:00PM
Benjamin L. said...
I think some games should also have their own smells
Dementium: Rotting Flesh
Front Mission: Artillery Casings [they do actually smell different than regular fire-arm casings]. Same for "Military Paint" by DS
Babyz: Bad Diapers [OR Talcum Powder]
NFS/Mariokart/RaceDriver: Highoctane Fuel
Any Mario Game: MaGiC ShRoOmS!
Reply
1-05-2008 @ 5:05AM
Dio said...
My Phoenix Wright manuals smell like... Justice.
Reply