Quoted from Circus_Animal:The key words were "readily available". There's a massive difference between a player failing to learn the rules and the rules not being available for a player to learn. I can't think of a single sport where players have no choice but to learn how the scoring system works by trial and error.
I'm with Flynnibus on this one, the instruction card is there to get you started, as it always has. Then you explore the game, take time and enjoy figuring out how things work, what scores big, what things you can or can't stack together.
It's all part of the enjoyment I get when I play a new machine, all part of the fun.
This is not the responsibility of stern to put together, really. There are plenty of guides, tutorial videos, and strategy threads here about games, the information is there if you want it.
Or play with friends, chat at tournaments, and get the info.
If Stern put out a full "guide" to scoring and rules, I would have to read it to be competitive at tourneys,because everyone else would. But it would ruin part of what I enjoy about new titles.
It would also take away the opportunity for me to figure out something that others haven't, those little things that can help keep tournament play fun, trying to get the unknown advantage.
The instruction card as it is and has been, is just fine.