The in-game tutorial is really helpful. I was too impatient (typical Aries) to read the 30-page guide at first, and just jumped right in with the tutorial turned on. It led me through the basics. I actually didn't flip through the guide until well after I'd started family #2 in a second slot, and the dryer fire is out, the shed is open, I have 32 out of 48 collectibles, and nobody's going hungry - they're all a bit exhausted from 7 straight hours of play, though. :-)