Alright, here's the deal...I just went out and purchased URU Complete Chronicles, which states that it includes "Uru: Ages Beyond Myst, The Path of the Shell, & To D'ni Expansion Packs". I have two CD's from which to install (which appeared to have installed beautifully), and now I have designed my avatar and am walking through the desert. I talk to this guy sitting outside his motor home (kind of reminds me of a relative of mine) and he begins to tell me of this task I need to complete. My question is; have I purchased three separate games that have been installed on these two CD's? Can someone explain 'expansion packs'? Any help will be appreciated!

Darlene, the main game is Uru--you should finish that completely before you start the expansion packs (although it's not strictly necessary, but you'll miss a lot if you don't).

The expansion packs are two add-ons to Uru--originally it was intended to have a live, on-line component, but when that idea fell through, the content that had already been worked up was released along with The Complete Chronicles.

Both of the expansion packs contain a couple of new Ages to explore, plus some other stuff like journals, clothes, and additions to your Relto (your own private age).

If you walk on up the hill past the trailer, you'll find a cleft in the ground where the main character of the Myst legend, Atrus, was raised by his grandmother. You have things to do there (and also in the desert area around the Cleft), which will open up the rest of the game to you. It's well worth your time and trouble, in my estimation...

Darlene, take your time and enjoy this game.
I've purchased URU and then To Dni w/POTS and then I bought Complete Chronicles when my new computer refused to read the original URU CD.

I just started it over again yesterday.

A couple of tips:
Switch between 1st and 3rd person view w/f1 key.
It will give you a different perspective sometimes when you need it.
Use the Caps lock key if you want your avatar to stay in run mode.

Have fun!

Hey Darlene,
You are in for one wonderful journey! I finished the Complete Chronicles and once you have installed, you never have to do anything more. You play all three with the same installation and using Disc 1 to play. Your Uru won't end with the credits like the walkthrough, and you are able to get some of the bonus items earlier in the game. (clothes for the avatar)

When you are in your Relto, you will notice you have books on the right side of the wardrobe; this isn't so with Uru (w/o To D'ni and POTS) so you really can go and do whatever you want.
I used Coelo's w/t and had the most wonderful time... I hated to see it end.

The hints about changing from 1st to 3rd person and back are good, as is using the caps lock for running. Mostly I played in 3rd person and walked. You won't believe just how beautiful the game is.

Have fun!
linda

You are in for one exciting time with these. I have played URU and the EXPacks several times and never seem to get enough of it/them. We had a lively interesting discussion going in DISCUSSION some time back, with lots of SPOILERS so if you don't want the games spoiled for you don't do a search for it or read it until you have played these at least once...And you can play and replay many times by creating a new avatar with a new name. Be aware that you cannot use anyone else's saved games as URU etc uses only one saved game slot and keeps overwriting it, so someone elses saved game will not work for you and I am not sure we ever did solve the problem of "inserting" one into our saved game file. I would say it is the one major gripe I had with these, you could not go back to a previous saved game and replay a section. And the saving of where you are is automatic when you leave the game so you do not get to always choose where you save and where you don't. If you get stuck somewhere do a search in HINTS for at least 6 months using "URU, D'ni, POTS" and you will find lots of help. Enjoy
Love, Betty Lou :kiss:

Thank you, all, for the wonderful feedback. Your comments have me truly looking forward to this game. I'll let you know how I'm doing!

And don't feel bad about your confusion, the documentation included with URU is sparse to say the least & they give you no information whatsoever about how the various expansion packs related to URU or how you will eventually interface with them. I found that the fair number of URU CC reviews available by a Google search helped a lot and you might want to checkout the Prima URU-CC guide not necessarily to use as a constant walkthru, but for some useful hints & history of the Myst games!

I do have to say though that with URU-CC now selling as low as $15, it's an incredible deal considering the estimates of at least 60 hours of playing time!

I just got back from EB - bought a used copy of URU and a new copy of the Path of the Shell expansion. (Cost me $15 instead of the $20 for the complete chronicles.) The Path of the Shell box says "To D'Ni content included." Do I now have everything that comes in the complete chronicles, or is there other content that I'll miss out on? I couldn't tell from the info on the boxes (but I guess that's how they rope people into buying more than they need to!)

You should have everything.
Install the expansions before you start playing Uru though. Some people have lost their saved games after installing the expansion.

Thanks, I'll do that.

I'm trying to find Uru The Complete Chronicles to buy for someone. I can't find it in any of the online places I usually buy from.
I went to two Best Buy's and Comp USA today and no one had them.

Anyone know where to get it?


Thanks,
Susan

Here Susan. Great price too!

http://store.ubi.com/item.jsp?item=008888682035

Rusty

Thank you Rusty. You always come through.
I am going to order it right now.
Have a great weekend.
Susan

OK, here's another question...having the 'complete chronicles', I noticed in my Relto bookshelf, I have two extra books along with the four Age books. Are these the extra Ages that are the expansion packs?

Yes.

How do I get to my Relto? I tried pressing F3 and nothing happened. I also can't figure out how to save my game (or does it save automatically)?

And I picked up some funny goggles down in the chasm that my avatar is wearing now. Is this a permanent part of my outfit? I want to take them off.

This definitely takes some getting used to, but it's neat! I liked making my avatar at the beginning. I wish more 1st person games had the option to create a character and play in 3rd person instead... I might like them better if they did.

And to add to Fov's excellent questions, how do I apply my Relto pages to customize my Relto? Meaning, I found a page that looks like a roof, read the walk-thru that says it needs to be a bright green to be applied, but when I press on the page and turn it to bright green, nothing happens to my Relto roof? Am I being too picky about my decorating?

First you have to play enough of the game that you arrive at your Relto. That means finishing the Cleft area - finding all the journey cloths that are hidden there. Just before you get to Relto, you find and pick up a linking book that you keep with you throughout the rest of the game. You access it by moving your cursor to the bottom of the screen and clicking on the linking book that appears. It takes you to your Relto.

Quote:

I also can't figure out how to save my game (or does it save automatically)?

It's automatic. Unfortunately it only saves what you've done. It doesn't save your position. Whenever you start up a new playing session, you start out in your Relto.

Quote:

And I picked up some funny goggles down in the chasm that my avatar is wearing now. Is this a permanent part of my outfit? I want to take them off.

You're stuck with them until you get to your Relto. Then you can use the closet and outfit your character the way you want. I picked them up too. Big mistake. Ugly things, aren't they? Makes you look like a bug.

Quote:

This definitely takes some getting used to, but it's neat! I liked making my avatar at the beginning.

I liked that too. You'll continue to find new clothing throughout the game and can change your clothes at your Relto whenever you go back there.

Quote:

I wish more 1st person games had the option to create a character and play in 3rd person instead... I might like them better if they did.

I liked that too - better than I thought I would. I would have liked more clothes though.

You need to leave your Relto and come back for the page to take effect.

Thanks Jenny! I read somewhere (the manual?) that I'd get the linking book at the beginning of the game. Took me about 2 hours just to get the Yeesha hologram thingie to work... doesn't feel like I'm at the beginning anymore! So I was afraid I may have missed it. Glad to hear I'll be able to take off those goggles, too. I want my cute wire rimmed glasses back!

For the clothes, are there any player-made downloads like for the Sims?

What I liked the best was when I got into one of the expansion packs and I was able to outfit myself in shorts and bare feet! Since I run around the house barefoot whenever the temperature is above 50 or so, I was dancing when I got rid of those heavy shoes. And it makes a different noise than the shoes do when you run--I love those little touches...

I almost went for the bare feet but was afraid it might hurt. I picked the open toed sandals instead. And got to paint my nails... too cool!

I really like how when that guy outside the trailer is talking, if you move around, his voice moves around to the left or right speaker depending on where you're standing in relation to him. That is a very cool touch. I'm sure other games have done it (maybe?) but I've never noticed it until URU.

I don't know of any. But I've seen pictures of Relto mods, so there might be something somewhere.

I started the game some time ago (Complete Chronicles) but I'm being a bit dense on the story line (or is it three story lines)....well, said I was being dense.

Anyway, got out of the game playing mood but trying to get back to them again and that is one I would like to enjoy but untill I understand how the three games fit together in this one game then I don't think I'm going to make it through it.

BillyBob, Uru is obviously the main game--the two expansion packs are just that: they give you more content to explore. There are new places to go, new things to pick up for your Relto, new clothes, journals--in short, more and new fun...