Uhs Mac

UHS Mac is the Macintosh build of the Universal Hint System reader, version 4.0, published by Illume Software. Universal Hint System files give step-by-step solutions to puzzle-based adventure and role-playing games while letting the player reveal one hint at a time, from subtle clue down to full answer.

Concept

UHS is a hint format rather than a single game: you download a hint file for the adventure you are stuck on, open it in the reader, and click through progressively more explicit hints for each puzzle. Version 4.0 of the Mac reader gave access to every hint file on the official UHS web site, including over 100 files specifically tagged for Macintosh games.

Features

The 4.0 release runs on both PowerPC and 68K, supports all UHS file formats, and renders embedded images when QuickTime 3.0 is installed. UHS files can be converted on the fly into Game Doctor "prescriptions" -- the companion application from the same studio -- and the reader ships with comprehensive online help and Help Balloons.

Where the hint files come from

UHS files are distributed from uhs-hints.com and various mirrors, typically as .zip downloads. The read-me warns specifically about Stuffit Deluxe's "Convert files to Macintosh format" preference, which strips characters the reader needs intact; users are told to disable that option before unzipping a UHS file.

Author and successor

UHS for MacOS is published by Illume Software (Provo, Utah; illumesoft@aol.com), the same team behind Game Doctor. A later Carbonized 5.00 release runs natively on Mac OS X through Snow Leopard and shares registration codes with 4.00, so 4.0 owners can upgrade without re-registering.