@~Here is the first of THREE solutions received for The Dig. The @~others will be printed in future issues. The Dig - Solution by ARNIE In orbit use the communicator on Miles to release the pig, click on it and take it to the surface. Get everything from the pig and place the charges in quadrants 2 and 3. Use the shovel on the rock and the digger on the dirt then arm the devices and head for the shuttle. Click on the devices to activate the cut scene and return to the surface. Once in the tunnel use the digger on the projections until you see 4 plates. Push them all and enter via the large opening. Pick up the plates and place them in the pedestal. THE SURFACE Check out the three locations, in the wreck pull the wire and open the chest to get the tracking device. Pick up the engraved rod and head for the grave. Once there take the tusk and the jawbone, next head for the dirt mound and use the tracker to find the bracelet. Now back to the platform where a ghost will appear and point to the spot where you dig. NEXUS Pick up the purple rod and the plate then explore all the available locations. To get any further you have to replace the lens in the slot by programming the light device. It may not be the only way but I used 4 purple, 7 yellow, 1 blue and 1 red to pick up the lens. Now clear the screen and use 5 purple, 4 blue and 1 red to replace it in the slot. Get the blue crystal and go to the first door to the left of the ramp. The rods are the keys to many things so examine the purple one and set the door symbols to the same. Voila, one impressive door opening. Inside all the doors are tram call buttons so push it. This tram takes you to the museum and library and will henceforth be known as the Museum tram. Try to open the weakened door so you know you need help. The ruined door plays no part in the game so don't waste time on it. Go outside and up, at the strange device adjust the lens and click on the switch, holding down the mouse button, until the line makes contact with the centre. This produces a light bridge. The same method is used on all 5 bridges. Enter the museum and get the life crystals and the engraved tablet, look at all the displays to get a hint on some future problems. Pick up the red rod and talk to Maggie in the library. Down to the water and examine it to see a cave below. The fossil is useful later but for now get the tram back to the nexus. NEXUS Use the red rod on the door two left of the museum tram and press the call button. This time nothing happens so leave it for now. This will be the Tomb tram. Now for the resurrection, use a green crystal on the body and bring Brink back to life. He can help you open the weakened door in the Museum Island. Once inside get the explosive canister and a load of crystals and head for the water. Once Brink has gone you must assemble the turtle bones as they should be then use the bomb on the skeleton and resurrect it with a crystal. Use the fossil as a rough guide to assembly, left click to select a bone and right click to rotate it. In the Underwater Cave get the plate and the orange rod. NEXUS/PLANETARIUM Use the orange rod on the door to the right of the ramp and call the tram to the planetarium. To get across the gap you must time your jump to coincide with the wave, once over use the shovel on the boulder. Turn on the light bridge and head for the crevice, all you can do for the moment is get the glowing rod. Go back to the main screen and watch the creature steal the door part. Now for some clever stuff, get the rod and pin, put the pin in the wheel hole, pick up the pole twice and use it on the pin. Get the rib cage and put it on the hook then use the rod on the cage to make a trap. When you look in a hole the creature will come out and you must manoeuvre it to the trap. Once you get him put the bracelet on him and track it to the cave. Dig out the entrance and track until you can dig out the missing door part. Repair the door and get the plate and the two sceptres. By using the gold sceptre on the large planet and the silver on the small one you can move them round until you create an eclipse, remember the display in the museum. Move the small planet in front of the large one. When successful a cut scene will show the eclipse through a hole in a spire. Press the button and head back to the nexus. NEXUS/MAP ROOM Put your plates in the alcove and then use the green rod on the remaining door. It won't open so pry off the plate with the tusk and join the plate and the sparks with the wire. Take the tram to the map room and find the light bridge and activate it. Now return to the nexus and go down the dark tunnel through the airlock. It is time to fix the broken Tomb tram. Click on the glowing panel and save the game, do not click on any live crystals as they go out. Insert the glowing blue rod in a hole and click on the dead crystal, now by sliding the crystals up and down you can activate the dead crystal. It is tricky so you may have to spend some time at it. When you are done a tram will go past the window. TOMB TRAM On the plateau you see the eclipsing moons you created, dig out the stone plate and enter the tomb. Stand on the conveniently marked slab to open the shutter, to keep it open you must have the rod from the critter trap. Insert the blue crystal in the hole and go outside. Move the dirt to reveal a lens and enter the tomb again. Touch the statue to reveal a crypt which you cannot yet enter. Follow the path to the platform where you find Brink, not that he is very pleased to see you. The light bridge here is broken so open the plate and move the light source around and click on the prisms until you make a connection. This part was fiddly but keep at it until you turn on the bridge. Nothing else to do here so examine the engraving on the wall and head for the map room. MAP ROOM Use the rod combinations on the control panel to see holograms of various locations especially the crypt; ah-ha, secrets are revealed. Head back to the tomb and stand on the crypt. UNDER THE CRYPT After activating the guard dog, use a crystal on the remaining pile of bones, they then kill each other. Use the engraved rod on the door slot and go to the pyramid. The rod also activates the pyramid. Resurrect the alien and try to talk to him. As you don't speak the language click on the stop talking button. Wait for the cut scenes to end. Maggie needs help so go to Brink. BRINK'S PLATFORM He will not help you so enter the cave and shine the torch on the bats, Brink will run out while you steal his crystals. Both of you now need to find Maggie. Use the bridge and head for the nest in the Map Room Island. RESCUE MAGGIE Brink will distract the beast while you go out the door to the waterfall. Push the boulder to divert the water and return to Maggie. She must open the grate to wash away the beast so talk to Brink about the monster and he lures it to the grate. Maggie does the rest. Very ALIENish. You now have Maggie to translate the language so head back to the crypt via the museum island to get some more crystals. BELOW THE CRYPT When you have re-resurrected the creator ask all the questions you want and Maggie translates. After this the next step is to find the missing plate. Head for the beach with the glowing light in the wall. BEACH Use the engraved tablet on Maggie and she raises the lost island, just go in and get the plate then head back to the nexus. ALCOVE Just as you are going to insert the plate Brink makes contact and needs help. He is stuck in the crevice on the Planetarium Island. CREVICE To free Brink you must cut off his hand with the jawbone. Now you all head for the alcove to fit the last plate. ALCOVE Fit the plate to open the Cathedral tram door and take the tram. In the lab examine the console to see you need two crystals and a machine part. If you have crystals fit them but make sure you have one to use on the creator again. He is the only one who can help you find the part. UNDER THE CRYPT Eventually he gives you a rod to take to the map room so do it. MAP ROOM When you use the creator's rod on the map it shows you where the missing part is hidden. So head for that beach and get it then go back to the lab. LABORATORY Brink steals all the crystals and returns to his machine so follow him. Turn on the light bridge and go to the platform. PLATFORM Talk to Brink by clicking on the eye part symbol and use it with the machine slot. Take the two crystals and the eye part back and when Brink dies go back to the lab. LABORATORY Fit all the pieces and get Maggie to operate the controls by clicking on the alien device icon. Go outside and stand on the light bridge. To get rid of the beast turn off the bridge, then turn it on again and enter the eye then the portal and enjoy the ending. - o -