Finally resolved the letter issue but now cannot get that book to be on the table of the beatniks. So wandered around and around talking to everyone, doing things but no luck. Can't seem to get that book to appear on the table.

So still at it:)

Lilac, there is a walkthrough here that lays it out in a bare bones fashion. Why don't you check it to be sure you've done everything necessary up to the book. There really isn't that much to do between picking up the letter and getting the book...

Finally got it through my thick resistent little head how this game is programmed. One can go back and pick up inventory items evidently as long as one is in the year you are playing. So even though the saved games I have been using lack some inventory items (drives me nuts going around to get them) I can pick them up and use where needed. And evidently the game is not that linear but there are spots where an item is needed and you must have it to progress. So am off and running again but trying to get Manny to put that drug in Naranja's bottle is a trying aspect - not figured it out quite yet. He keeps saying "I don't want to do that" or "they will see me". And after all that work to find that baster and put the drug into it - grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Are you opening the refrigerator door, Lilac--and making sure it stays open...

Yes, I finally found the way to do that but it was still no go. However, after much copy/paste, copy/paste of saved games finally found one that got me up to the office of Manny and could push the button that caused the casino to be shut down and Manny and Grottis are off into Year 3! At long last!!!!!!!!!!! Wondering if anyone else using saved games had this trouble or is it the saved games I got from this particular fellow. It drove me crazy having to run around and get things for the inventory when in my last game I was carrying everything. Can't decide whether he played the game all on his own whereas I did also but followed a WT to make sure I was collecting all the inventory items needed to smoothly play along. Must say the game is constructed well so that you can go back and get needed items unlike a game I just had where if you missed something, made a mistake you had to start all over again! I may live yet through this:)

This is one of the hazards of saved games, Lilac--unless the game is very linear you will probably have to either backtrack or miss something.

But at least you're moving again...

Just goes to show one, here I have been complaining about games being so linear and then when one comes along I don't recognize the advantage of if being non linear. So I complain about having to retrace to get inventory things after using a saved game. Do human beings ever quit complaining:)

And as you say Jenny, I am off and running now. Mostly "off" though

Am stuck trying to get anchors coordianated with Manny to hook to his sycthe. Have anchor raised but he fails to hook it each time. The WTs I am following are not definitive enough FOR ME (the all time klutz at these things) so am lost. Some talk about a starboard side for pushing a button but only see one button is there another for the other (left) side?

Here are some pretty definite directions, Lilac--I hope they help:

Push the red button on the starboard side (right). This raises the anchor.
· Look at the controls. Press ‘u’ while looking at them.
· Pull down the right control by pushing the right arrow key.
· Back away from the controls. (Press ‘u’)
· Press the starboard button again.
· Press it one more time to raise it. It will hook on to the port anchor.
· Look out the starboard porthole.
· Use your scythe on the anchor. It will hook on to the porthole.
· Press the port side button.
· Use the controls again.
· Pull down both controls (Press the down arrow.) The ship rips in half and then sinks...

Morning desertlilac,
Did Jenny's Step by step help?
I can't belive no one else has posted !
If this just a girl help thing, with just you and Jenny, I will step aside. If not, there is much to do, after you go under the sea. This is a top ten game for keeps !!

Could be I have a glitch here? Have tried 3 WTs and following them best to my 'girl ablity' re controls etc. and still never see the chains hooked together outside the ship. I always get the anchor raised (not sure starboard or port) and Manny never hooks it to side of the porthole.

Have tried on my own futzzzing around with the controls and still never see the chains hooked together. So maybe need saved game at this point. Anyone have same? Meantime will still run back and forth between the red button and controls to see if I get lucky.

Love this game - the concept, story line is a hoot and the dialgue just kills me. And I loved the music when in Rubaclava - miss that horn playing!

Guess what gang!!!!! Fianally found that other button for the starboard side. Thought there must be two buttons - port and starboard but could not see/find the second button. When I finally did and followed directions - blew us all to smithereens:) So am now at the bottom of the sea glub glub and once again under way - just not breathing right now:)

Great going! There are so many things to admire about this game (you listed some of the same things I admire about it) that it IS worth putting up with some frustration. It IS hard to tell when Manny's head is turning to look at things, isn't it?

I agree re the good things/frustrations of this game. Yes, his head turns pretty fast. Sometimes one misses it. Am at the door with the tumbler lock - probably will be here for some time:)

Evening desertlilac,
There is no easy/quick solution here. You see how you must try to get the cylinders to a flat spot, like a bank vault, to open it. The tuff part is how to set them top to bottom or bottom to top,I cannot say as your having too much fun. The only hint for now is when you think you have them all in the open position, put Manny's
Scythe in the flat side of the tumblers to hold them open.

Got it and am now on the beach but stuck here due to a glitch I think. Am climbing the ladder but just about get to the top when I am thrown to the desktop. Have tried 5/6 times now and each time cannot proceed. Anyone else have this problem and if so what did they do? Am I going to need a saved game to get by this part?

Hi Lilac,
Can you enlighten me about the ladder? Where is it? What are you attempting to do on the beach?
Kay

Am not stuck in the game itself. The game keeps throwing me to the desktop so that I cannot proceed. Have climbed up the big machine like apparatus and am headed toward a ladder but I cannot do anything/go an further because the game blacks out and I am back on the desktop.

Things I have tried to correct situation:
adjusted hardware settings
adjusted color settings

all made matters worse - got thrown into soft mode or the launch window would not work at all.

See if Glitches can help or do a search on glitches to see if there's a previous problem that can give some ideas.

Have already done so but so far no 'takers'. Maybe game is so old people have forgotten it.

Am underway again!!!! Found a patch that corrected this problem. Evidently a glitch does exist at the exact spot I am at on fast PCs. The patch updated the game and I am merrily underway again. Hope this helps other either playing or going to play this excellent game.

DesertLilac says:

"Am almost to end of third year - at the place rescuing Menche and working with tumblers. Have a WT that gives very very clear directions. But I cannot get it to work despite following the directions to the last turn.

Anyone succeded here and what did you do? Generally directions I have are right, left, right, left but they do not seem to follow the turning tumblers."

This is a tricky part--Lilac; as I remember, the pieces don't look exactly lined up when they are. These are the best directions I've found: SPOILER
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Turn the wheel to the right until all four of the tumblers are moving. Stop the wheel when the topmost tumbler is lined up with the door jamb (i.e. there's a gap between them). Now, turn the wheel to the left until the second tumbler is lined up. If you go too far, you'll have to start over. Now, back to the right to line up the third one, and then back to the left for the bottom one. Step away from the wheel and look at it. Manny will tell you if they're lined up or not...

Ah ha - your directions are different than mine Jenny - maybe I can get that door open now. Thanks for the info.

Hi DL
Are you going to Manny's office ? (Not the office from the beginning of the game ). You take the elevator up (beside the Blue Casket) and go around the elevator and up the stairs. The letter should be on the table in his office.
Cathy