Is there anyone who can help me in a spot of Chapter 4 in the Myst 4 game?

Hi Squirt -- I'm copying this over to the Hints forum so that the experts there can help you.

Thanks, Becky.

Hi squirt, please tell us exactly where you are in Chapter 4, and the problem you are having, so that we can best help you.

at the end of that chapter there is a coiled snake. You have to run your hand/mouse over the bottom line (of the most right coil) four times. Then a handle is suppose to drop down to take you to a cabin with the next link book. I ran my hand across the bottom, right line from right to left four times. Nothing happens.

thank you

Try these tips from Graham's walkthrough:

Use your fingertips on the bottom stripe on the right, stroking from right to left. Note that the hand icon should not be a pointy finger or grabbing hand.

Hold down your left mouse button for each stroke and release at the end

Do not stroke too slowly.

When the dragon wakes, click on its head as quickly as possible since it really didn't want to be woken up.

thanks I'll try again.

I did try and get a 'open hand' rather than the pointer or the grabbing, but couldn't get it to switch to that. I'll try again.

thank you

Hope that works for you. Let us know how you get on.

well I still can't get it to work.
wonder if there is something I was suppose to do before it, to trigger something.
Seems like this should be a simple funtion.
Hate to think I can't finish the game.

thanks for your help

That's frustrating. Have you checked back through the walkthroughs (there are quite a few for this game in our Walkthroughs section) to see what it might be?

Let's wait for someone who is familiar with this part of the game to drop by with some suggestions.

I have sent two saves. One, I believe, for before the snake puzzle is done and one after.

Wanted to thank you again for trying to help.
Since that function was just to give me a ride back to the beginning of the chapter to where a linking book was, I just back tracked the whole chapter to where I started.
So I'm continuing the game.

thanks again..

Glad you;re moving on with the game. Wonderful that you found the solution yourself.

Hey, squirt !

Be careful with using saves from others for this game. If the save you receive has come from a player that has (or has not) completed Spire; all of that game progress comes with it.

That ride to the finish is worth taking. Plus, you'll have to solve this same puzzle once more, so here are my notes for your benefit:

A summary of the some of the mistakes that are made on the snake puzzle:

- It is the bottom right stripe that you must stroke

- The hand icon doesn't change when you touch the stripe.... the fingers stay the same. I had success with the fingertips touching the stripe when stroking.

- Dragging too slow or too fast... be steady and calm.

- slipping off the end too far... the puzzle is fairly forgiving... you can slip off a tad, but it works best of you stop right before the end of the stripe.

- Click and hold down the left-mouse button on the RIGHT side of the stripe to DRAG LEFT across the stripe, then release the mouse button at the left end. Then do it again three more times..

- Remember, stroke RIGHT to LEFT...

- When the snake uncoils, quickly LEFT-click his head. You have about three seconds to do this.

I recommend going back to try the ride.

Dadguy

dadguy!

thanks Dadguy
guess I gotta figure it out. I thought I could by pass the 'snake' so I retraced by steps back to the linking book to Tomahna, that part worked. But when I got through the few steps there that took me to the next link book to Serenia, it wouldn't let me use that link book. So guess it's going to make me do the snake.
Someone did send me a link from Tomahna (that got me past the snake and to the next link book) but it still wouldn't let me use the book to Serenia.
I'll try your hints.... thanks.

well... thanks so much Dadguy. I tried your suggestion about using shorter strokes (not to go past the end of the stripe) and it worked. I continued on to the point of the linking book to Serenia, that still didn't work. I figured out I had to open the Journal (to the left) before it would work. So......... I was at this point a couple different ways/times just didn't do the Journal first. But at least now I'm through it, and did it the proper way rather than the short cuts. Thanks so much for your help.

Yay squirt!!

Ahhh, isn't it a nice feeling to solve a puzzle that has blocked you for so long. I just loved that ride from the snake chair to the beach.

You WILL have to solve the identical snake puzzle near the end of the game in Serenia.

Have fun!

Dadguy

Thanks again, dadguy!

Glad you're progressing now, squirt.