I highly suggest that Stardock invest in a writer or editor with a professional background; if not an English degree, some demonstrable proficiency with grammar and style should suffice.
Don't get me wrong - the enthusiasm and charm of the core team shines through the game's personality. But this new manual is dotted with all sorts of errors, from agreements to punctuation to phrasing (the game itself has several consistent mistakes, too).
Those things add up and affect a game's reception. People notice - and not just gamers. Sure, game text has often been a laugh since "All Your Base Are Belong to Us," but why rely on the lowest denominator? GalCiv has all the trimmings of a professionally managed and marketed game save for its elocution - that remains, if you'll forgive my honesty, somewhat amateurish.
Instructions and game text needn't be stilted or flighty: just efficient and polished.
Stardock seems to be on the cusp between homegrown development and big-market access. Its situation reminds me of a company I've known for a long time - Syntrillium Software (http://www.syntrillium.com). Before being bought out by Adobe this past month, Syntrillium was the model of a small company: warm and fraternal on the inside; sharp, smart and savvy in the market. And they were able to stay goofy.
Think about it, fellows. Your products are worth the additional work.
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