Video Tutorials (created by Skribe Forti, a well-known Machinimator)
How to Move Around in Blue Mars
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.

View in Full Screen
Hold down the ALT key then tap the Enter key to start Full Screen mode.
Tap ALT + Enter again to exit full screen mode.

"Very High" Rendering Quality
Click the wrench icon to open the Options panel.
In the Display Menu, Choose Very High Rendering Quality.
Note: This setting is only recommended for fast computers with high-end video cards.

To view to this Tutorial
Click the [?] icon in the toolbar of most Blue Mars windows.

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 Browser
Click the Home icon in the toolbar.

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.

NEW! Smoother Movement
You can set your avatar movement to "Absolute Direction," so arrow keys and WASD keys move the avatar in the specified direction. 1) Open the Options Menu (Ctrl+O or Click the Wrench icon in the UI Toolbar).
2) Click Controls on the Side Menu.
3) Change Avatar Controls from Default to Absolute Direction.
4) Click the OK button to save your options.

(By default, the avatar pivots on the spot when you push "A" or "D" or the left or right arrow keys.)

NEW! To turn Off Blue Cone
Open the Options Menu (Ctrl+O or Click the Wrench icon in the UI Toolbar).
Click Controls on the Side Menu.
Click Pointer to Off.

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 6 zoom settings.
Tip: Use the scroll button on your mouse to scroll through the 5 camera zoom settings.

To Turn On Camera Follow
Click the Wrench in the Toolbar Menu (or tap CTRL + O) to open the Options Menu.
In the Options Menu, click the Camera tab on the left side.
Select ON or OFF.

Note: Camera Follow is set to OFF by default.
Tip: Use your keyboard arrows to move with Camera Follow on for smoother movement.

Hide the User Interface (UI)
Right-click the main window to focus outside the chat window.
Press the Ctrl+H keys to hide the UI.
To restore the UI, press the Ctrl+H keys again.
Tip: To restore the Chat window, tap the C key.

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 Open the Chat window (after you close it)
Tap the C key.

Send a Private Message to a Friend
Click the Friends list icon. Wait a few seconds until the list opens.
Click the name of a friend in your list. Then click Send Message.
Tip: You can send a private message even when your friend is offline.

NEW! Group Private Messaging
Click the Friends list icon. Wait a few seconds until the list opens.
Click the name of a friend in your list. Then click Send Message.
Click and drag the name of another friend into your PM Window to add that Friend to the Chat.
Note: You will see the names of everyone participating in the Conversation in a tab on the Right side of the PM Window.

Resize the Chat Window
Drag the chat window up.
Then drag the lower right corner to resize the window.

Overview
Tip: Use a headset to avoid feedback.
Voice chat Sound is ON by default.
Voice chat Microphone is OFF by default.
A red dot will appear over the head of avatars who are speaking.

To Turn Voice Chat Off or Change Options
Click the Wrench icon in the Toolbar (or tap CTRL + O), to open the Options Menu.
Click the Voice tab in the Options Menu.
Use the ON and OFF buttons to turn Voice Chat On or Off.
Use the Speaker volume to control the volume of voice chat.

To Turn your Microphone ON or OFF
In the Options menu, set your Microphone volume to about 50% to TURN ON your microphone.
Set your Microphone volume to zero to TURN OFF your microphone.

NEW! Quickly Mute and Unmute your Mic
Click the red button in the chat window to unmute your microphone .
Click the red button again to mute your microphone.

Mute Another Member
Right-click the avatar you want to mute.
In the right-click menu, choose Mute.

Troubleshooting Voice
Voice problems? Vivox voice troubleshooting page.

NOTE: This is an early version of Voice Chat in Blue Mars.  In future versions we will add easier volume controls, possibly private voice chat and more...

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.

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.

NEW! To Try On Items Before You Buy
Click an item in a shop.
Click the "Try On" button in the purchase window to see the item on your avatar before you buy it.

Info coming soon

Info coming soon

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

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

Flying in New Venice
Tap the F3 key to fly.
Use the WASD keys or Arrow keys to move.
Tap the Q key to land where your camera is pointing.

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 main content being streamed over the internet is chat text, and the 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 Options. Then select a smaller screen resolution.
 • Reduce the rendering quality: Click the wrench icon to open Options, then select the Low setting in Render Quality.
 • Update your video card drivers.
 • Close other large programs you may have running.

Troubleshooting Voice
Voice problems? Vivox voice troubleshooting page.

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.