Video Tutorials (created by Skribe Forti, a well-known Machinimator)
How to Move Around in Blue Mars
How to use the Blue Mars Interface
How to play the Waterfall Game

Display Resolution
We recommend a Windows display resolution of at least 1280x768 or higher.
Tip: Adjust your computer's display resolution before you run Blue Mars.

To view this Tutorial
Click the [?] icon in the lower right corner of most windows.

Using the Places Browser

Visit the Welcome Area
Click the Welcome Area button.
Then click the "Go" link on the lower right of the screen.

Visit a City for the first time (downloading a City)
1) Click the button for the City you want to visit.
2) Click the Download link at the top right of the window.
3) After the City downloads, Click the Refresh link.
4) Click the City to select it.
5) Then click the Go link on the lower right of the window to visit the City.

Visit a City after you download it
1) Click the button for the City you want to visit.
2) Then click the Go link on the lower right of the window to visit the City. That's it!

When a City is Updated
We updated the Cities frequently, when the developer uploads new content. When this happens, you will see a [+] sign by that City in the Places Browser (because it has been updated since you downloaded it). Download the updated City, then click the Refresh link to visit it.

To return to the Places Brlowser
Click the Home icon in the toolbar.

Getting Around in Blue Mars

To Move
Click the ground in the direction you want to move.
Or you can click the sky, then use the arrow keys to walk around.
Tip: You can also use the WASD keys to turn and move.
Tip: Click the top of the Blue Mars window frame to select the Blue Mars main window.

To Turn your Avatar
Click your avatar, or click the title bar of the Blue Mars window to select your avatar.
Use the left or right arrow keys to turn your avatar.

Looking Around in Blue Mars

To change Camera Viewpoint
Right-click and drag your mouse to rotate the view.

To set the Camera Zoom
Click the camera icon in the Toolbar to toggle through 4 zoom settings.
(We are developing an enhanced camera system for future versions of Blue Mars.)

Chatting and Chat History

To Chat
Type your message in the chat box in the lower left corner.
Hit the Enter key to post your message.

To Minimize the Bubble Chat history box
Click the "x" on the top right corner of the chat box.

To Expand the Bubble Chat history box
Click the plus sign "+" on the top right corner of the chat box.

Animations, and Interacting with Other Avatars

To Dance or do another Action
Right-click your avatar.
Choose Action.
Click the Action you want to do.

To Interact with another avatar
Right-click the other avatar.
Click Interaction, then click the Action you want to do.

To send a Friend Request
Right-click your friend's avatar.
Choose Friend Request to invite them to become your friend.

To trigger animations in the Chatbox

You can trigger animations by typing in the Chatbox. Type a slash, then the name of the animation, for example:
/dance
/dance #2
/wave
/clap
/jump
/neener
/seatedchair
/airguitar

What other animations can you discover? Hint: click the Animations icon in the toolbar to open the Animations window. You can find many animations here.

Customizing your Look

To apply Cosmetics or add a Beard
Click the Face icon in the Toolbar.
Make the changes you want.
You can click "Undo" to undo the last change.
You can click "Reset" to start over.
Click the "Close" button when you are finished.

To Change Clothes or Hair
Click the Clothes icon (shirt) in the Toolbar.
Click the appropriate button to select your new clothes or hair.
Click the Cancel button to undo the changes you made and exit the inventory.
Click the Done button to confirm the change.

To Edit your Face
Click the Face icon in the Toolbar.
Edit your face, then click the Done button.

To Edit your default animations
Click the Animation icon in the Toolbar.
Click the drop-down menu.
Select which animation you want to use
Click Done to save the changes, or Cancel to exit without saving.

Waterfall Ring Game

To move your hovercraft in the Waterfall Level
Space = Up
Ctrl = Down
W = forward
S = backward
A = go Left
D = go Right
Move the mouse to steer.

New Venice (Venezia)

Tip: You can also use the WASD keys to move.

Teleporting in Venice
Tap the F3 key.
Then use the menu to teleport to your destination.
Tap the Q key to land where your camera is pointing.

Tip: You can also use the WASD keys to move.

Troubleshooting

Slow Response /Lag
The main factors that affect speed in Blue Mars are your video card and computer speed. If you have a slow response in Blue Mars, it is likely due to an older video card or relatively slow computer.

After you download a City, all of the content is on your computer. So the only thing being streamed over the internet is chat text, and position data for avatars and other moving entities. All of the rendering and processing is done on your computer.

To speed up Blue Mars:
 • Reduce the Blue Mars window size: Click the wrench icon to open Preferences. Then select a smaller screen resolution.
 • Reduce the rendering quality: Click the wrench icon to open Preferences, then select the Low setting in Render Quality.
 • Update your video card drivers.
 • Close other large programs you may have running.

If you do not see the Places Browser
You are using the developer version of the client.
The developer version of the client is for testing and does not include any Cities or the Places Browser.
To visit the Cities, you need to download the Blue Mars Client from BlueMars.com.

Display or Mouse Problems
We recommend a display resolution of at least 1280x768 or higher.
Please adjust your display resolution before you run Blue Mars.