Trying this game. Not sure about it yet - makes me a little sea sick. Can't figure out how it works.

I read in Jenny100's review that it's possible to pick a wrong conversation. How do you know if you do that or if you pick the right conversation? I am in the bar and there is a long list of people/items I can ask about. I asked about Mikes and Kefalgon which is what I think is right but how do I know?. (I did actually try all of them just to hear the responses and nothing else sounded like it would be right.)

Also, with the computer, am I supposed to just guess what to "search" or will I know when the time is right what I'm trying to search for? The bartender mentioned a name of somebody that Mikes spent time with, or tried to, who I would think maybe I could "search" but without closed captioning I can't really understand the person's name (at least not the last name).

I know these are kind of general questions but I'm just not sure how to proceed because I don't know the basics of how the game works. I'm at a total loss here.

Any advise appreciated.

Taking a look at one of the walkthroughs, I found this about conversations:



Beyond that, I really don't know.

It also appears to me that you will know what to search for when the time is right. Having said that, I have no personal knowledge of this game at all apart from what I can see looking over a walkthrough, so maybe someone else's input can confirm or deny this.

Thanks Marian.

It didn't happen to say how you know if it's a "game-over experience"? For example, does it say "game over" or does it let you wander around aimlessly just not being able to progress. That's what really worries me.

No, it doesn't say, unless I'm missing something. I sure hope it means literally game over and not a dead end that you can be unaware of.

OK, thanks for looking. I really appreciate it. I'll just have to see how this goes.

I will look forward to hearing about it.

Hi Marian. I progress a very teeny tiny bit but I have to go back to the conversation with the bartender if you don't mind. Will there be some indication given if I choose the right conversation?

I assume the bartender is called Bloody Mary. I can't really tell if there's an indication given if you choose the right conversation - it doesn't look like there are any "wrong" conversations here. You will gain some useful information, though.

Yea, if I've gained any useful information it hasn't formed in my brain yet and I've talked to her quite a number of times. I must not be doing something right with the conversation. I did have a conversation with the band that is now complete and I can't talk to them anymore.

I've also made it to Hapacom but I can't get in because I don't know the code to enter or how to get it.

This is going to be a very long game. I am not good with conversation trees or with having to type stuff into computers which you have to do in his apartment. This may be a "use the walkthrough" game.



Thanks for looking!


OHH. Now I see how I can advance the conversation tree so there are more things to ask about. Maybe now I can figure it out.

Good luck, as always.

I've wanted to play this for a long time. @oldbroad, what are you playing on and do you remember where you got the game?

8dognight, I'm playing on Windows 7 but I got the download from ShinyLoot which is no longer in business. I don't know if the disc version would work in Win 7 or not. There are some for sale on Amazon.

Marian, I need help. I need to get in Jenny's apartment and look through Aristos stuff. I don't have any idea what I'm supposed to be doing while I wait for her to go out. I want to sweep but that's not working. If I have his name wrong, I apologize. I scribble and cannot read my own writing anymore and I exited out of the game because it was making me crabby. I also have to break into Rania's apt but I think Jenny's first.

Did you pick up any inventory items in the Iphestos Bar?

I picked up a coaster and a hat in the bar. I used the hat already to talk to Jenny and it is no longer part of my inventory.

This is what is currently in my inventory: lighter, book w/Pekes phone #, cd from band in bar, cotton balls, 3 sticks of gum, card from dumpster that got me in back door to talk to Gloria, coffee, toothpaste, cloth, tape, talc, tennis ball & vitamins. I can use the broom in Jenny's building but can't take it out with me.

While standing near the door in the janitor’s room, have you tried using the broom on Jenny's door?

I tried using the broom on the door from some point. Let me go back in the game and try again. This game doesn't give you hot spots to know where to use things and since it makes me a little sea sick it's a bit harder. I'll come back and let you know. I got out of the game again.

Not working. He keeps saying he must do something else first.

OMG. I went back in and tries again and it worked right away!

Thanks Marian. I'll be calling it a night soon.

Yes, I am heading for bed as well. I am glad you have made some progress with the game - you certainly were on the right track in terms of what to do.

I guess I need more help. In Jenny's apt, I found a key and opened up a box but there isn't anything in it. It looks like the bottom might come up but if so, I can't do it. I also opened up a BusyManBag. If there was a clue to this combination, I didn't find it. I started with 000 and worked my way up until it opened. Fortunately that worked, as that does not always work with some puzzled if you haven't seen the clue. Anyway, I took a couple of things out of there but it looks like there might be something off on the right side of it that I can't seem to get. Not sure if it's anything or not. There is a locked door, I'm assuming is a bedroom that I can't get in.

I still have the same stuff in inventory as mentioned above plus I pilfered: scissors, bra, plunger, chemtron card, psychiatric unit discharge, and from Gloria's some nail varnish.

I don't know what else to do now. I am stuck again.

Thanks.

About the BusyMan case - here is the "logic" of the puzzle:



Looking over this section of the walkthrough, it looks to me like you have done everything, but it's possible I am missing something and will look it over again if need be. The walkthrough from here goes to a new area of the game.

The walkthrough is referring to a certificate and a Chemtron card - is your psychiatric unit discharge a certificate?

Thanks for the info Marian on the BusyMan Bag. I looked at it as a clue because some of the letters were in caps and some not, but I didn't come up with anything. Never would I have thought to count the quantity of letters and consonants/vowels. Maybe gives me some idea of how the puzzles work.

The discharge does not say "certificate" in the title but in the body it says something about "certifies that" something or other. It does not stay up on the screen long enough to even read it all at one time. I was hoping it opened a new location but it did not. Neither does the Chemtron card. Not that it matters. Places need codes and stuff that I don't know.

I'll make those items my focus and see if I can figure something out.

I am still not seeing that you have missed anything in this section of the game.

After this section, it says to leave the building and go to Nick's apartment. Having said that, if nothing is working for you, I will see if I can try to ferret out what you need to do that you haven't already done.

I'm stumped! I went to Nick's and tried to use the computer to look stuff up and talk to Pekes again. I think maybe I just don't know what to look up or how to look it up. I am really no good at this type of puzzle.

Was that box I unlocked in Jenny's supposed to be empty?

The box next to the television was indeed empty.

One walkthrough takes you back to Nick's apartment; another takes you to the Pallatino Building. So, I guess that there is some freedom within the game, even if just a little, and that it's not strictly linear.

Did you read/see the locksmith's card in Nick's apartment? It might be useful for something.

Why do they make you go to all that work of finding a key just to open an empty box???

I cannot get into the Palatino without a membership. I thought maybe I would find something in Jenny's to get me in there but...

No, I have not seen a locksmith's card in Nick's apartment. I will look around for that.

Thank you Marian.

Nitey Nite!

Onward and upward.

No such luck Marian. I can't find it.

I looked at a couple of walkthroughs this time and it turns out that you look at the locksmith's card in Nick's apartment but that you actually find it in the bar. Sorry about that. I was assuming you found it in the apartment as well.

Maybe take another look around the bar. Cast your eyes in a downward direction.

OK, thank you again. I will try that next time. If I don't get the hang of this game soon, I will let you off the hook. No sense you having to read the walkthrough just to tell me step by step what to do.

Good luck.

I found the locksmith's card but for the life of me, I don't know what good it does you.

I did get into Rania's and found her remote control and 4 crumpled up pieces of paper amongst her plants that each have a different number on them, and I went back to the alley behind Gloria's and found an Instruction Receiver (at least I think that's what he's saying).

Nothing helpful that I can figure out though!

You can do something in Nick's apartment with the locksmith card.

There are also five pieces of paper to find at Rania's.

Thanks Marian. So far I haven't found the fifth piece of paper at Rania's, nor anything to do with the locksmith card. I've tried dialing the number on it, which didn't do anything.

Anyway, as this game is not linear and I don't seem to understand any of the puzzles, I have taken a look at the walkthrough which got me into Hapacom, which maybe should have been easy but, to me, was kind of stupid.

I think I'm just going to finish the game out with the walkthrough so I can move on to something else. I just don't get logic to this game.

Thank you for all the reading you've done for me and I'm sorry I've wasted your time!!

I find that with some adventure games my mind is just more in sync with that of the game designer's, and with others never the twain shall meet, so I know what you mean.

At least I got a little more info about the game, which is always useful for a moderator in the Hints forum.

Good luck with finishing.

OMG, typed a bunch of stuff and accidently hit something that erased it all.

I saw something in the w/t about climbing the boxes behind Gloria's and seeing a drain. I managed to get up there somehow but didn't see any drain. Next thing I know, I'm down in the sewer system maze. I find a dead body, accidently knock a card of his into the water which floats away so I have to go chasing after it. I found it and got myself back to the ladder but can't seem to get up the ladder. I am physically feeling sick to my stomach right now from too much movement in the sewer.

I don't think I like this game too much but I WILL finish it!!!

Try Control-Z when that happens.

Thanks Jenny100. I will do that in the future providing I remember.

Marian, did you see anything in the w/t like what I'm describing? I cannot find anything like this but I'm only skimming, trying not to totally ruin the whole game for myself. I think I may have to go to a prior save and not climb the boxes. Maybe I drowned in the sewer and just don't know it.

I did see something in the walkthrough mentioning a sewer drain and a ladder. And apparently there is a certain time when it's a good idea to move the boxes.

Yea, I think in looking for the drain and accidently somehow ending in the sewer, I have gone down there before I was supposed to. Believe me, it was not intentional. I felt too sick to go back in the game and try some more so I started replaying Ravenhearst (the first game). I hope I will get back to Conspiracies tomorrow for awhile and be able to finish it one day soon.

Thanks again Marian!

Ravenhearst sounds more relaxing for a Sunday than this game. Again, good luck in finishing Conspiracies.

I am still trying to play this game (with the walkthrough). I'm on page 5 under "Back to 2019" in the home of Prokopiou trying to get the methylated spirits off of the tall cupboard. I've climbed 3 filing cabinet drawers. You're supposed to use the ruler to get the spirits. If you just left click the ruler is not open. If you right click, it opens but doesn't stay open for long. You can't use the Control key with it like with some items. I can't figure out how/where exactly to use it to get the spirits. I tried googling to see if I could find any other info or walkthroughs but can't. Can somebody who played this possibly help me (Jenny100??) or has it been too long to remember clearly enough?

Hi Marian

So, I was looking through my games list trying to decide what to play next in my XP computer since I finished Limbo of the Lost last night and Conspiracies/Conspiracies II caught my eye. I don't like to play a sequel (or next game in a series) if I have not played the first (or prior) game/s so I once again was Googling about Conspiracies. You can see I started this thread almost 4 years ago . I found a different walkthrough than the one I was using and I happened to find the game on UHS hints (don't know why I didn't find it there before).

I have FINALLY moved on with the help of UHS hints!! I only somewhat remember the story and totally didn't remember the game controls. I couldn't even figure out how to open my inventory and had to dig out the booklet from my disc. The game I have installed is actually from Shiny Loot and I couldn't find the game icon or the game. I tried to search for it and the game just opened up instead of pointing me to it. I now have a new shortcut on my desktop and will hopefully finish this game!

Now you can call me persistent .

I hereby crown you the Queen of Persistent!

I agree with Marian! I would have totally forgotten about it by now!

It has irked me all this time but I couldn't really find the energy to open the game up now and then just to end up frustrated.

The other game still in my mind bugging me is Alfred Hitchcock's The Final Cut. I was playing it in my (MY as opposed to the one I am using now which belonged to my sister) XP even more years ago when the computer stopped working. I was so far into it and I can remember certain things about it and want to finish it. The key word there is finish. I don't know if I really want to replay it from the beginning but I just may have to do that. I never did decide what I want to play next in the XP so maybe it will be that.

Keep us posted.

Well, my making progress was short lived. I am stuck again in a timed area. I have everything I need in my inventory and know which way to go but I cannot go in the direction I need to. As soon as I have control of the mouse, my character seems to automatically turn the wrong way and I get shot. I've been trying for 1-1/2 hours. There is one thing I'm not sure if I have right but can't seem to change it. I should have stacked some boxes up earlier in the game and I did, but I don't know if I stacked enough of them or stacked them the right way or in the right place but I no longer have the items needed to try to use the fork lift again. I don't know where I might have dropped the items. Very heavy sigh! I looked in a few places but am wondering if I left them down in the sewers. I went down there but just didn't have it in me to look around the maze like area, and then I couldn't get back up to ground level (just like the first time I was down there). Started getting sick feeling so I got out of the game.

I took a look at UHS hints and read about the forklift. Did you locate an antenna that the clark uses to receive instructions? If so, there are a few steps after that.

The ultimate objective is to move the boxes around in such a way that you uncover something, but you need to locate that antenna and do a few other things first.

Marian, I had done that 4 years ago and had gone down in the sewer and had trouble getting out back then just like I did tonight. (That's what you uncover, a manhole cover/entrance to sewer. I'm just not sure if I moved/stacked the boxes right though and that may be stopping me from being able to get behind them, as I try to get away from the guy with the gun. I don't know that for sure though without being able to move more of the boxes. I'm supposed to be running to or towards that sewer and I can't. I don't have the antenna anymore and it is not in my apartment. You can drop inventory anyplace so if I needed room in my inventory who knows where it is now. I'm going to have to backtrack a little in the walkthrough to try to refresh my memory if I can. I'll try again tomorrow. This is where I am:

http://www.uhs-hints.com/uhsweb/hints/conspire/515.php

You are not just trying to uncover the sewer; you also need to stack the boxes.

Thank you for taking a look!

Okay, good to know.

According to this part of the walkthrough, this sequence involves moving the boxes in order to create a box wall next to the door. Then you need to use an item to get the manhole cover off, an item which is found in another location. I don't know if you can already have this item or not, but in any event if you don't have it you have to go back and get it.

Manhole cover was off 4 years ago. I just need to figure out if I can still move the boxes somehow. I have to find the antenna if that is possible.

I couldn't tell if you had to find the antenna or not. Is it required in order to use the forklift?

You need the antenna and a teleguidance device. Maybe the antenna is on the forklift still and I need to re-find the teleguidance device (or vice-versa). I just don't know what the heck it looks like anymore. It was originally found at the travel agency. This is why I am going to need to go back and re-read stuff and/or maybe go into some previous saves to refresh my memory. I'm not really looking forward to doing this .

The walkthrough makes it sound like the teleguidance device is to the right of the dumpster? Unless I am misunderstanding and it has since been moved.

I read a review of this game today and the reviewer thought that this game was an obvious rip-off and trying to imitate a Tex Murphy game but nowhere near as good (in fact, they called it a poor-man's Tex Murphy). They weren't saying they hated it outright, but they also didn't like it very much. I remember starting this game after it had been released and got as far as about four screens along and not liking it at all, and I uninstalled it. On the other hand, I remember others on this board who played the game and enjoyed it.

Don't let this put you off Tex Murphy, as Under a Killing Moon, Pandora Directive, Overseer and Tesla Effect are all terrific - some of my favorite games of all time.

It's been moved because I used it 4 years ago.

I like the characters in the game for some reason but I don't really like the way the game plays .

It kind of seems to me that the game is poorly designed, but that's only based upon what I have been reading in the walkthrough and also based upon your comments. Perhaps that's an unfair assessment.

Go read flotsam's review of Conspiracies II. It sounds the same but maybe, if I ever get through game one, I will eventually try game two (walkthrough in hand, of course).

Oh, and I think it was the antenna that was right there near the forklift, not the other thing.

The UHS page you linked me to says this:

The teleguided device and the antenna are required to operate the teleguided clark.

"How do I work the little forklift that's in the alley near the dumpster?
Right-click on it to learn a bit about it.
Nick calls it a teleguided clark.
It can be used to move the nearby boxes.
That would be useful if you wanted to find out whether there was something underneath them.
Trust me, you do want to find that out, so get on with figuring out how the clark works.
It's teleguided, which would imply that it has some way of receiving instructions, and you need some way of sending those instructions electronically.
First, locate the Antenna that the clark uses to receive instructions.
Then find an item with which you can send instructions to its antenna.
Before you can do that, you need to gain access to the Ermis Travel Agency area.
Once you're there, get the Teleguidance Device and come back with it.
Now use the clark's antenna on it to get it going."

This is a fun game Marian. You should give it another try!

I see.

I sold my copy many years ago on eBay and have never looked back.

I do agree with you about the characters, though - that seemed like the best part of the game.

I really disliked this game and I, too, sold my copy after only playing for a short time.

And as a comparison to a Tex Murphy game .... well .... 👎👎👎

Well, I have an extra copy for each of you

Kind of like comparing the scrawl on a wall in a public bathroom to the Mona Lisa, isn't it?

Sorry, oldbroad. Mad and I will now cease and desist.

🤐🤐🤐

Make fun all you want! I'm happy to keep you amused!!

So, there are 2 walkthroughs here and the UHS hints. Twelve years ago (probably when I bought the disc version of the game) I printed out the one by Rosemary and Gordon because it is printable. The one by Bert Jamin is better though and so are the UHS hints. I just read Bert Jamin's WT from start to where I currently am in the game and there wasn't anything to indicate that I actually stacked the boxes. Some things happen automatically and I really can't remember how it worked from 4 years ago. If I pointed the transmitter thing at the antenna the rest might have happened without anymore of my input. However, I saw one line that said "Important note: if you get shot down here and you did all the things mentioned before, load your saved game. Before opening the door go down the sewers at the end of the alley once more and examine the dead body again. After that get out of the sewers and then open the door." So, I tried that and fortunately I didn't have any trouble climbing back up the ladder tonight. But, still no luck. One other thing I read is to use the Control key to run. That didn't work either. You use the arrow keys to walk and I always use the mouse to guide but decided to try the left arrow key since the mouse would not take me where I wanted to go and Voila! On the fourth attempt, I finally did it!

Now, let's see how soon I get stuck again . I did read in Bert's WT that I should have noted some symbols while in some maze, though in the other WT it doesn't mention that. I didn't, of course. While in the maze yesterday (or the day before?) I did make it where I needed to go without help but I checked UHS hints for help getting out and there was a nice map with a path on it so if I have to go back there, maybe UHS can help. I'm sure I'll find out very soon.

Progress has been made - terrific! Good luck as you venture on.

OMG!!!

I am trying to figure stuff out but mostly having to use the walkthroughs or the UHS hints, unfortunately UHS hints let me down by not telling me there was something I had to do before using the GPS tracker to go try to rescue Tony. I was supposed to go back in the storage room but I did not and now if I go back in there it is replaying the original scene and giving me a game over. I guess I am going to have to replay a bunch of stuff .

Both walkthroughs said it and in a different part of the UHS hints it said to do it but not the part I was following at the time. I wish I had looked at the walkthroughs also but the hints seemed to be working best for me at that moment I guess. I just can't believe that I can't go back in the room now and do what needs doing.

Well, I replayed what I had to. I am now trying to knock a light pole down with an explosive which is fine, but I can't seem to run in the right direction or not fast enough or something. Tomorrow is another day though because even if I get this first part done, there is another timed part right after it that the UHS hints assures me will not be fun .

That's awful to hear that UHS hints let you down. I can understand how that could happen, but still!

And timed sequences in games. Not one of my favorites.

Are we having fun yet?

I played this game back in 2003 around the time of its release. I don't remember much about it but I did mention some of the timed sequences in the review I wrote at
http://www.gameboomers.com/reviews/Cc/Conspiraciesbyjenny100.htm

I think this is the part of the game where you're at. Here's a quote from my review:



So I think it's more about figuring out where to run.
The walkthrough by Rosemary and Gordon says


So use the Shift key to run, and use trial and error to find exactly which direction is the "opposite back corner of the enclosure" to run to.

Thanks Jenny! I read somewhere to use the Ctrl key to run so that is what I was trying. I will try the Shift key when I return to the game. And yes, "opposite back corner" and "right corner" which I read somewhere?? Hopefully I will get past this part. I really do want to finish the game.

Marian, "Are we having fun yet?" As much of a pain as this game is, it is much better than the other game I am also playing now - Chronicles of Mystery: The Tree of Life. I am so disappointed in this game and am finding it quite unenjoyable.

Made it to Detronics. Shift worked wonders! Not too bad climbing up to the vent; took a couple of tries but was able to save the game every step of the way.

Remind me never to play Chronicles of Mystery: The Tree of Life.

Thanks very much to Jenny for coming to the rescue here - much appreciated.

What is the problem with Chronicles of Mystery: The Tree of Life?

I guess I'm just finding the conversations to be quite ridiculous and the puzzling tedious. Have you played the game Jenny? I did like the other City Interactive games from what I remember. Sometimes it's just the mood I'm in I guess.

I played it too long ago to remember much about it.
I thought it was very similar to the other City Interactive games though.

Yes, the mood you're in certainly does make a difference.
Sometimes I just don't want to sit through a lot of conversations.
There really aren't many games that have conversations that are actually interesting.

Most of these conversations just don't make a lot of sense though. At first I thought it was just this one person and that was okay - that it just had to do with his character, but it is with other people too.

Finished the game!

Great news!