Since we're under semi-quarantine, I've gone back to adventure games to pass the time and the colored ball puzzle is a b...h. I have the walkthrough by MaGtRo and the solution by drdel, but one thing I don't understand. The instructions say move the outer ring to 3 o'clock. Since there are no marks on the outer ring, or the other ones for that matter, how do I know when it's reached 3 o'clock? Is it when the row/line of balls with the empty hole in it is at 3 o'clock?

Kudos to drdel, whoever she/he is must have spent hours on this unmentionable puzzle!

It's been ten years since your last post - nice to have you back.

I played this when the game first came out and all I remember about it is that if I hadn't followed MaG's walkthrough, the game would have been uninstalled at this point.

Let's see if someone else remembers this well enough to answer your question.

If not, there is a video walkthrough here that might shed some light. The ball puzzle starts at around 3:53.

It sounds like you can move the outermost ring that has a single slot for a ball, and not just the inner rings.
Moving it to 3 o'clock would be on the right side, where 3 o'clock would be on a clock.

Jenny100 -
Each of the five rings can be turned. When I turn one, how do I know when it is at 3 o'clock? The only thing I can think of is when the empty ball in that ring is at 3 o'clock. But I'm not sure I want to do all the many moves and then find out that's not it.
Marian
Thank you, yes, it's been a while. I'll try the video walkthrough and let you know.

For the inner rings and center, you won't know and you shouldn't need to.
It's only the outermost ring that is asymmetric and has a nub only sticking out in one direction -- the nub that the walkthrough refers to as a "free spot."

In the picture here
http://www.gameboomers.com/wtcheats/pcNn/NiBiRu/coloredballs.jpg
the outermost ring has the nub at 9 o'clock. Right-click the ring and it should rotate and move the nub around.

OR = Outer Ring


It's not talking about where the balls are. It's referring to how that outermost ring "OR" can have its "free spot" moved to the right side of the circle.

Maybe seeing it in a video will help.

OKAY!! Now I'm with you. I've been calling it the empty spot and not realizing that it is always there sticking out full or empty. Duhh!

Thank you.

Worked like a charm. Thank for all your help.