AFAIK there's no manual, but try looking here - http://www.gamefaqs.com/genesis/618165-pier-solar-and-the-great-architects/faqs/61924

Thanks, that's one I found too. It's also where I read that the cartridge version comes with a manual.
I figured someone, somewhere had scanned that to a PDF by now.
Have to wait a bit longer and see.
Thanks again for the reply.

The question is how come there is no manual on GOG, since the cartridge version does come with a colour manual and traditionally GoG games come with the manuals and such.

Is there something in particular that is driving you nuts? There is a very slight explanation of the controls in the options menu in game.

I think I'm good now, just like to have things explained up front so I don't have to read the developers mind. This one's pretty easy though. Thanks. ;-)

It's nice to have the manual nevertheless, for the story, the art etc.

Thanks for the link to the GameFAQ. I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out how this game works. No in-game tutorial, no in-game manual, no manual on GOG, no manual on the official Pier Solar website. WTF? How am I supposed to know what to do when nothing in the game is ever explained and there's no manual for me to read? I eventually figured out sorta how the gather thing works on my own and that PP probably means power and DP probably means defense. As for the other stats, how the heck am I supposed to know what they mean? Luckily I can read this GameFAQ and finally find out.

It is completely unacceptable for a game that has no semblance of in-game tutorial and no in-game manual to ship without a manual in the game folder or on-line. I thought GOG was better than this?

It's not GOG's fault that no manual or tutorial exists. If you want one, complain to WaterMelon.

Fair enough. I guess my ire was directed at the wrong party, though GOG could have at least scanned the booklet that came with the original Genesis version. The prompts would have been wrong, but at least it would, presumably, explain how systems work and what stats mean. Still, it's WaterMelon's fault for not making a manual for the PC version.

I think if Water Melon would have provided them with a Mega Drive/Genesis copy of the game GOG would have scanned it by now. And I don't think GOG will purchase other releases of new games they have to scan manuals the developer does not provide.
That said, I have a first print run Mega Drive copy. Unfortunately I have no working scanner at the moment. And even if I had it would be a bit harder to get good scans, because in the Mega Drive/Genesis they glued the manual to the box for whatever reason. I could try to take pictures of the manual, maybe that could help.

how about you go to a copy shop and let it scan there.
They can scan it to a good enough resolution and everything should be okay.
still, because of the glued manual it would not be easy but manageable. ;)

I don't want to give my a game box that is worth about 150-300€ on ebay to the idiots who work at copy shops here.

I'll see what I can do, but I think the devs should be the one publishing some kind of manual. Even the electronic version of the Mega Drive manual they should have laying around would help.

Certainly agreed.
If you do find it in yourself to go through the trouble to get it scanned, ping me for a thankyou game or two. (I don't reliably log into gog all the time, but eventually I'll see it.)

I'm not sure what good it will do, if any, but I decided to e-mail Water Melon to see if they would consider providing the manual to GOG. I will be sure to let you know what they say if they respond.