Not sure if I should waste your time, or mine, with this as it is probably easier to look at the walkthrough but...

I have planted devices in Helena's pen, given Colin a mosaic tile, and given Margherita the black sunglass case. Nothing has come of this at all.

I have played scopa and know that I'm supposed to be stealing something (as Samantha)and should be consulting Gina which may be where I made a big mistake. I said I knew who Gina is but I don't and can't find any way to find out anything about her. I went back a second time to try for more info but that name didn't come up. Maybe I should try again?

The box of chocolate for Il Dottore is still sitting on the table; nobody has claimed it.

I've done the spying, the pigeon tracking, dancing (so I have a cat costume and made a little money), sold flowers for money, played scopa, got sick on sausages, been stung several times. I know Colin is really Justin.

Outside one of the clubs there is a garbage can and something else (can't remember what it is now). The something else has a 4 digit code I guess to open it (?) but there has been no clue that I found regarding this code.

At Accademia where I am supposed to steal the turquoise or whatever, there is a panel with 6 red spaces on it and a slot (like a mail slot). Nothing is active here though it seems like it should be. The gate gets me arrested if I touch it 3 times, but I feel I should be doing something with it.

I don't know what I'm missing. Been all around several times.

I don't want you to read the whole walkthrough to try to figure out how to help me. I can read it myself, but if you are familiar enough with the game to have an idea what I'm missing, please help!

Thanks.

OldBroad, I get stuck here too, because I usually forget this spot.

Your next course of action is Gina. For this, go to Antonio's office. "Gina" is the chess game on his computer.

Also, have you get searched the microdot on the card from the pigeon with Colin's microscope?

Thanks NDLVR for the info on Gina. I probably won't get to the game tonight but will try that when I do.

Yes, I did search the microdot under the microscope already.

NDLVR - I tried to go back to Antonio's office but I cannot get back in. Did the whole lock picking thing again but it will not open.

I don't have complete recall about this game, but I don't remember not being able to get back into Fango's office when I needed to, so I am not sure why you are having trouble with that.

Thanks Marian. I'll try again tomorrow or Wednesday and see if I can figure it out.

you may have to go to the Casa roof and use the binoculars to make sure Fango isn't in the office. Like Marian, I have never had the game not let me enter after picking the lock, so that's the only thing that I can think of that you may need to check

Good thinking - thank you for your help.

Yes, that's what I was thinking also. I had seen him through the binoculars a second time but I didn't try to go to his office at that time, so I hope I will see him again and that will work.

Thank you!!

Why, oh why, do you have to keep picking the lock???

I could not use the binoculars again but did manage to pick the lock again. I played chess using what was in the computer but apparently that is not enough. I left the office and now need to pick the lock (yet again) to go back inside. (Not really, because I haven't done anything new and can just go back in the office through my saved game, but still, why won't the door just stay open.)

I guess once I figure out the clue I will be moving on. If I can't figure it out, I'll be back for a hint.

Thanks!

I certainly agree with you that picking the lock once is plenty.

after playing chess (which will in code spell out the location of locked building the sapphire is in) Gina will send the keycard (which won't happen until the next day) at the Rialto Market. I believe at the recycling center

I need a hint about playing chess. I can't figure it out.

Oldbroad, you have to spell Zattere with your chess moves. The easies way I know of is just follow that part of MaG's tutorial here (which is what I always do, especially for the chess and the final 2 puzzles with the water wells at the end. MaG's tutorial is http://www.gameboomers.com/wtcheats/pcNn/NDPhantomofVenice.htm and you'll wanna scroll about half-way down the page

Thanks NDLVR! I was trying to spell Zatttere but not having any luck. As long as I know I'm on the right track, I'll try some more before consulting the walkthrough.

you're welcome and good luck

Thanks again NDLVR. Knowing I was on the right track, I was able to get the answer without using the walkthrough. I've moved on a little ways for now.

This game is HARD! Can somebody please explain something to me about the Chinese puzzle box that might help me to figure it out? I haven't got a clue. Or is there a clue that I missed somewhere?

Thanks!

Ah, I found a book to buy. Maybe this will help me.

It is not an easy game at all, even when played on amateur/junior level. And yes, a book will help you with the puzzle box.

Got the puzzle box but did have a little cheat (actually this was a big cheat when I think of it). I had googled Chinese Puzzle Box prior to posting here and there is a video, I guess of the solution. I didn't look at it but it showed numbers (just on the search page) for the order to press the squares, so with the book it was easy.

I'm playing in senior mode but I think it said the only difference in modes is that there is no task list in senior mode. It didn't say the puzzles were any harder.

Thanks Marian

Have fun.

I guess I'm stuck again. The only thing I can think to do is pick Fango's lock again but it's not working. I know the solution is random so I've backed out and gone in again to try different combos but the door won't open. Nobody has anything new to say to me. The "key" from the puzzle box doesn't seem very helpful to me right now. The card in my inventory isn't shown on the key.

Any hint available?

Thanks.

Have you tried going to your bedroom and going to sleep?

Nancy took a couple of naps. I'll try again tomorrow after I take a nap.

Sounds like a plan.

it is better to play on junior first then senior.

I probably would have chosen junior but it didn't show any difference to the game play other than the task list. The puzzles are all the same.

wait till you get to the death trap of the last puzzle.

Nap didn't help anything. I'm still stuck unable to do anything.

If you had a task list, it would be easier to figure out what you have done/haven't done. That's what I like about the "easier" level of difficulty.

I'll have a look-see at the walkthrough at this point in the game, but the game is somewhat nonlinear. That's probably why going to sleep didn't do anything, because there's something prior to that in the walkthrough that you haven't done yet.

Yea, I know. I like nonlinear games but it does make it harder to ask for help or to look at a walkthrough without seeing something you don't want to see.

I definitely appreciate the help Marian!

You're welcome, but I really haven't been of much help at all. I don't think this is a case of talking to everyone again who is available for conversation, but then again I don't know for sure.

No, I've talked to everybody and there isn't anything else to say. I can't get through to Sophia, just get a busy signal. Nothing ever came of this:

I have planted devices in Helena's pen, given Colin a mosaic tile, and given Margherita the black sunglass case. Nothing has come of this at all.

I haven't done anything with that Propane box by the club where you play Scopa. I think that's where it is.

I don't know what to do with the code on the back of the flyer that Margherite said she was talking to Fango about.

Other than that, it seems I've done everything I can do. I don't know why I cannot pick the lock again. Cannot use the binoculars.

Do you have a keycard with electronic gadget in your inventory?

How would I know? Nothing is labeled. I have a key card that I used for instructions from Sophia. And I have that electronic thing to open the gate at Zattere. I also have the "key" about the different cards. I think that's all the keys I have (besides my room? key).

Was I not supposed to give the sapphire to the Scopa guy? I did.

You haven't done anything wrong. And Nancy Drew games, I am happy to say, won't get you boxed into a corner that you can't get out of.

I didn't think so. I'm just feeling a little disappointed that I didn't get anywhere in the game today at all.

Unfortunately I have to work tomorrow so I guess I better call it a night.

Thanks Marian!

Tomorrow is another day. Only one month left of work for you. Good night.

Enter this code on the fax machine keypad in Fango's office.

Hi LadyLinda, the problem is that she can't get into Fango's office right now and says she can't use the binoculars.

Okay, perhaps a new day will help here.

That's what I thought, too - but she isn't able to sleep for the night.

I'll probably need to peek at the walkthrough. I'm not playing tonight but I'll go through it all over again tomorrow and if I don't get anywhere I'll give in to the walkthrough.

Thanks LadyLinda and Marian.

Sorry I couldn't figure out a good suggestion.

No problem Marian

When you figure out what you were missing, let me know what it was - I'm curious.

Well, I tried everything again last night and just now read the walkthrough and I didn't miss anything that should be holding me back. I did miss the chocolate in Fango's office with the position of them to get COPPASAFE but that doesn't seem to have mattered.

The only thing I seem to be able to do is to keep trying to pick the lock. I've already had it in position numerous times that the door should have opened but it didn't. I did see some strategy mentioned in the walkthrough that I will try. I may actually have to give up on this game. It's getting old now.

Well, that is really weird. I have never known of anyone to report a glitch with this game such that you are permanently stuck (nor has anyone ever reported any glitches, period), so it's just got to be one little thing that's amiss. I don't think it has anything to do with not picking the lock correctly or the lock not working.

If you would like me to send you a saved game, I could do that. I could look through my saves and try to find one that isn't too far past where you are now.

did you buy the chinese book.

have you listened to the music box in Fango's office? that coupled with the flyer from Margherita could be what's hindering you.

on the mention of planting the bugging devices, nothing comes of that until near the end (it is used in the last sequence to track the villain)

Jen, she can't get into Fango's office - and she also can't do anything with the binoculars right now.

I've done the Chinese book and I've listened to the music box and seen the flyer.
Thanks family and NDLVR.

Marian - I'm quite frustrated now and think I'm just going to take a rest from the game for awhile. When I decide to come back to it, I'll probably need that save. I'll let you know. Thanks.

how about the stakeout, did you call sophia and tell her the phantom is going to strike at Palazzo Orpello, if that is it, you might need a save.

Okay. The saves are not my own and it's not always easy to tell what they are from the way they are labeled, but hopefully I could find something. There may be others here with saved games as well.

My last thought is that you could watch a YouTube video walkthrough about an hour before from where you are now - that might yield something useful.

have you done the stakeout/has Nico been arrested?

If it helps, this playlist has my video walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5zYrhSRImo&list=PLrWwuQDIddur4bh7z_dReVH1xTACVtlPd

Also, I checked the saves at nicouzouf.com and it looks as though the propane tank (if you have the code) is where you should be. those save are: http://www.nicouzouf.com/en/?id=nancydrewthephantomofvenice

Thanks for posting the link with the saved games, Jen. For some reason I was thinking they didn't have saves for Nancy Drew games. And thank you for the link to your playthrough.

Don't know anything about a stakeout yet or Nico (heard the name once somewhere) or the propane tank code.

Thanks to all of you though. I'm still staying away from it. I'm also playing a match 3 game that I've been stuck in for a week on the same level so I think I am going to try a different (hopefully easier and more peaceful) casual game for now.

That sounds like a good idea for the time being.

Question. I looked at the list of save Jen linked to and number 25 is "got paid". I have played and won Scopa and been told the money will be wired to my Swiss account. Am I supposed to get this payment somewhere, somehow?

Unfortunately, no.

OK, so "got paid" just refers to what I already did I guess and I'm not missing anything there.

This is the first time a Nancy Drew game has let me down.

I never did start the casual game as planned.

It's driving me crazy that I don't know what the problem is. I played on junior/amateur level, but I have played and finished this game three times (with the help of a walkthrough, of course).

If you could do it without spoilers, I would recommend looking here too. It's a given that if you are stuck in a certain spot in an ND game, someone else has been as well and/or knows what to do. These forums can actually be very helpful in that regard.

Somehow, I just got it!!! I had all the tumblers down, let them all up and nothing. Then I went one (set) at a time down a notch and I think it was 3 notches down, the lock clicked open. That is NOT what I did the two prior times. Those times it opened when I put all the tumblers back up.

???

Thanks for the link to that forum Marian. I looked at some of it. There were 3 or 4 with lock picking problems but they didn't seem to have any more problems after being answered and the answers were not helpful.

I hope I don't have to open it again. At least I can go to sleep now not being frustrated by this. Sounds like there are more frustrations awaiting me though.

Again, weird - but all's well that ends well! So it was the lockpicking all along...

Yes, just me not doing something right apparently though I feel I did the same thing as the first two times. I did have a little trouble the second time too but not like this time. I'm too tired to play tonight.

I remember many nights after work being too tired to play a game. Things should be looking up for you in that department pretty soon.

I'm already stuck again. I did the stakeout and got the key from the propane box. While I was in Fango's office I didn't find anything else to do other than look at the cards in the drawer to get the location for the stakeout.

I've listened to the music box several times and I tried using the fax machine but cannot.

This game is not very helpful with hints of what to do next, or maybe I am just not paying attention. This is the hardest ND game I've played.

sometimes when I play I get stuck at the fax, and from what you described, it sounds like that's your hold up. I do love this game, but I feel it's the most difficult of all of the ND games. Would you like a save from after the fax?

No thank you NDLVR, at least not at this point. I'd really just prefer some kind of nudge/hint as to what I'm supposed to be doing, if that is possible.

when you try the fax, does the flyer show up on the left-hand side of the screen? Also when you looked at the flyer, did you look at the front and back?

WOuld you like the link to my video walkthrough and the time-point of the fax puzzle?

Yes, I've looked at both sides of the flyer; No, it does not show up on the left hand side of the screen.

You posted the link to your video walkthrough a few posts up. I did watch some of it.

I rewatched my walkthrough since it's been 3 months since I played the game. in the fax type 111#046, a sheet should come out of the fax with black colored in circles. I think once you do that you can do the normal fax part. If you check my playthrough, it's in the one listed at Part 13 (about 50 seconds in)

When I did this nothing happened that I noticed. I will try again tomorrow. I'm falling asleep at my computer. At least I can finally pick the lock now.

Thank you for your help!

okay I'm heading to bed now too, actually. I do hope that helps. if not there has to be something prior to the fax, possibly something small, that you've missed

This game is quite difficult, as I said before, even in amateur mode. I wouldn't have gotten very far at all without the task list that the amateur mode provides.

start over in junior mode, print out mags walkthrought and also look at how to play book, marion, and the others will tell you will it is, and mag is not going be mad if you print it out, that why mag does it and you will be happy.

Those are all good suggestions.

i know, it sounds like she is not happy, i have mags 6-32 walkthrought and mag did noy do 1-5, or 8 and i have those,, and playing on junior, i am happy as a clam.

I'm not unhappy family. Just either losing my brain cells or the clues are not there as they usually are in the ND games.

I have the walkthrough handy but I like to TRY to play without it if possible. When I look at walkthroughs I often see more than I want to see and that takes enjoyment out of the game for me.

I will not be restarting the game in junior made. That's for sure, though I may start using junior mode in the future. I have mostly always used senior mode and not had this much trouble. This is just a harder game to me.

One of the positives of ND games (for me at least) is that they are all very different and you never really know what to expect. I always liked that about the games.

They are all different which I'm noticing even more in the last few games I've played. I am playing them in order and only for the first time. So behind!

glad you are not unhappy, see you at 19.

Today when I typed in the 111#046 my print out of the musical notes came right out. I solved that puzzle and am in the wells now. So far not getting anywhere but hope to figure it out when I have more time. Right after I started playing I got a phone call (the real me, not Nancy). Should have started playing earlier in the day.

Thanks for sticking with me!

You're doing well.

glad to hear you've moved forward! I've always liked the wells part of that section of the game

For some reason I've been a long time fan of ND games

Your website sure is useful! We refer people to it a lot.

I was just roaming around as I do from time to time on GB forums. It's always a pleasure to see that my "work" is useful to someone somewhere. So I have to thank all of you to redirect to my website.
But talking about usefulness, you could say GB is a pure goldmine !
Anyway, I've greatly reduced my contribution to the gaming community: less time to play, less time to put new savegames on the internet

In any case keep up the great work here on GameBoomers !

Finished the game!!!

This was really a good game but hard.

I spent about double the time and had double the notes of any other Nancy Drew game.

Thanks again to all of you who tried to help me and gave me encouragement to continue.

Congratulations to you!

The very last part of the game, I always follow the walkthrough. I do think it's one of the more difficult ND games and a very good one.

When you are ready, I guess Haunting of Castle Malloy will be next?

Thanks Marian!

I didn't have to use the walkthrough. Really my biggest problem was having brain freeze with the lock picking, along with a couple of times I just wasn't sure what I was supposed to be doing. At those times I went and played Scopa. I wasn't very good at the dancing.

Yep, Haunting of Castle Malloy will be next, when I'm ready. How is that one?

#19 is completely different than Phantom of Venice, and not just in terms of setting. I've only ever played the game in Amateur mode and still needed help with portions of it. I think it's a fun game. It will be interesting to see what you think of it.

Congrats on finishing the game!! Sometimes you just need perseverance and time.

Malloy is one of my all-time favorites. I think it's much easier than Venice. Usually my biggest problem with Malloy is the difference detective arcade game in the pub and sorting the chemicals at the end.

Once or twice the jetpack gave me issues, but usually it doesn't.

I do think you will enjoy this game, and after you do complete it, the one after it, Ransom Of The Seven Ships is even easier (though the final puzzle with THAT one, you'll want a piece of paper and pen/pencil or a dry erase board, trust me ;))

glad you finished the game.

Ransom was one of the most difficult ND games for me!

Thanks for the info on the next 2 games.