Thinking with Time Machine: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|2014 modification for Portal 2}}

{{Good article}}

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{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}

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| publisher = SignHead Studio

| engine = [[Source (game engine)|Source]]

| platforms = {{ubl|[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]|[[OS X]]|[[Linux]]}}

| released = April 18, 2014

| genre = [[Puzzle-platform game|Puzzle-platform]]

| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]

}}

'''''Thinking with Time Machine''''' is a 2014 [[Video game modification|modification]] for ''[[Portal 2]]'' developed by Ruslan "Stridemann" Rybka, and releasedpublished by SignHead Studio. The gameplayer controls [[Chell (Portal)|Chell]], the protagonist of the [[Portal series|''Portal'' series]], who wields the [[portal gun]], while the gameplay revolves around the concept of a tablet-like [[time machine]] that is also controlled by the player. The tablet allows the player to record their movement and replay the recordings, creating a double that performs the recoredrecorded tasks. Additionally, the mod allows the player to see their own legs by looking down.

The development began after the release of ''Portal 2''. Initially released on the [[Mod DB]] website, ''Thinking with Time Machine'' went through the [[Steam Greenlight]] process, after which it was released as a free modification on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on April 18, 2014. The time machine concept and the ability for the player to see their own legs by looking down were commended by critics, while the lack of usage of the [[portal gun]] and the mod's short length were criticized.

== Gameplay ==

{{main|Portal (series)#Gameplay}}

[[File:ThinkingWithTimeMachine_ClipboardScreenshot.jpg|thumb|alt=A screenshot of Thinking with Time Machine showcasing the time machine tablet|[[ChellThe (Portal)|Chell]]player holdscontrols thea tablet-like time travel device in her left hand, allowing her to usethroughout the game's time travel mechanic.|left]]

Like the [[Portal series|''Portal'' series]], ''Thinking with Time Machine'' is a [[Puzzle-platform game|puzzle-platform]] modification for ''[[Portal 2]]'' played from the [[First person perspective|first-person perspective]], in which the player must solve puzzles in "test chambers".<ref name=":0">{{Cite newsmagazine |last=Moore |first=Bo |date=April 28, 2014 |title=This Portal 2 Mod Lets You Play Against Yourself |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/04/thinking-with-time-machine/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |workmagazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030025025/https://www.wired.com/2014/04/thinking-with-time-machine/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014 |title=Thinking with Time Machine |url=https://kotaku.com/games/thinking-with-time-machine |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=[[Kotaku]] |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804180052/https://kotaku.com/games/thinking-with-time-machine |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="pcg">{{Cite news |last=Livingston |first=Christopher |date=April 27, 2014 |title=Mod of the Week: Thinking With Time Machine, for Portal 2 |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/mod-of-the-week-thinking-with-time-machine-for-portal-2/ |access-date=November 11, 2017 |work=[[PC Gamer]]}}</ref> Throughout the game, the player controls [[Chell (Portal)|Chell]], the protagonist of the ''Portal'' series.<ref name="ply">{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen S. |date=April 26, 2014 |title=Mod adds time travel to Portal 2 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/4/26/5656526/time-travel-mod-portal |accessdate=November 11, 2017 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> The player uses the [[portal gun]] that can create two ends of a portal, colored orange and blue.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ocampo |first=Jason |date=July 11, 2007 |title=The Orange Box E3 2007 Preshow Hands-On - Portal |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-orange-box-e3-2007-preshow-hands-on-portal/1100-6173775/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804180052/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-orange-box-e3-2007-preshow-hands-on-portal/1100-6173775/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The game also features other ''Portal'' mechanics such as buttons, cubes, and laser fields.<ref name="pcg" /><ref name=":3" />

In addition to the portal gun, the player is also given a tablet-like "[[time machine]]" in their left hand.<ref name="pcg" /><ref name="ply" /> Looking down at the tablet allows the player to record and control their movement, including walking, jumping, and picking up objects.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="pcg" /> After recording themselves, the player user can playbackplay back the recording, which summons a double who would perform the selected motion.<ref name="pcg" /><ref name="ply" /> Only one recording can be played at a time, although it can be replayed infinitely.<ref name="pcg" /> This allows the player to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.<ref name="rps">{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=April 23, 2014 |title=Portal 2 Mod Adds Time-Travelling Legs |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/23/portal-2-mod-valve-time-travel/ |access-date=November 9, 2017 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804180131/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/portal-2-mod-valve-time-travel |url-status=live }}</ref> Recordings can perform all the actions a normal player can, and the player can also stand on their double, allowing them to reach higher surfaces.<ref name="pcg" /> After performing a new action, the previous recording is deleted.<ref name="pcg" /> Another feature of ''Thinking with Time Machine'' is the ability for the player to see their own legs by looking down, which is not available in the ''Portal'' series.<ref name="pcg" /><ref name="rps" />

The campaign starts at the end of ''Portal 2'', after which the player is introduced to the time machine concept through a series of tutorials.<ref name="pcg" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ketchie |first=David |date=April 26, 2014 |title=Thinking with Time Machine Mod Bends Time in Portal 2 |url=https://thegamefanatics.com/thinking-time-machine-mod-bends-time-portal-2/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |work=The Game Fanatics}}</ref> There is no custom [[voice acting]] in the mod.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Yasuda |first=Nobuki |date=April 25, 2014 |title=『Thinking with Time Machine』 Greenlitも納得、貫禄のファンメイドMOD |trans-title="Thinking with Time Machine" A fan-made mod that Greenlight is convicedconvinced of |url=https://automaton-media.com/articles/impressionjp/impression-thinking-time-machine/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=Automaton Japan |language=ja |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130161239/https://automaton-media.com/articles/impressionjp/impression-thinking-time-machine/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Thinking with Time Machine'' features a [[level editor]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Thinking with Time Machine |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/286080/Thinking_with_Time_Machine/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=[[Steam (service)|Steam]] |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714184620/https://store.steampowered.com/app/286080/Thinking_with_Time_Machine/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Development and release ==

''Thinking with Time Machine'' was developed by Ruslan "Stridemann" Rybka and published by SignHead Studio.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=May 3, 2015 |title=Steam Gauge: Measuring the most popular Steam games of 2014 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/03/steam-gauge-measuring-the-most-popular-steam-games-of-2014/3/ |access-date=August 3, 2024 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716013609/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/03/steam-gauge-measuring-the-most-popular-steam-games-of-2014/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Torrejón |first=Rocío |date=April 19, 2021 |title=Portal 2: 10 años de la penúltima obra maestra de Valve |trans-title=Portal 2: 10 Years Since Valve's Penultimate Masterpiece |url=https://as.com/meristation/2021/04/19/reportajes/1618822119_095027.html |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=Meristation |language=es |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804180147/https://as.com/meristation/2021/04/19/reportajes/1618822119_095027.html |url-status=live }}</ref> StridemannRybka said that the development of the mod began after the release of ''Portal 2'', that the overall development was frustrating, and that at one point he was close to quitting the development.<ref name=":1" /> Initially, the mod was published on the [[Mod DB]] website in 2013.<ref name=":1" /> "It took two years... there were ups and downs... I felt depressed and inspired... I wanted to give up so many times... but the desire to complete this miracle won out", Stridemann said.<ref name=":1" /> The mod later went through the [[Steam Greenlight]] process and was accepted due to the mod's concept.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Svetlichny |first=Sergey |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Thinking with Time Machine: добавляем в Portal 2 четвертое измерение |trans-title=Thinking with Time Machine: Adding a Fourth Dimension to Portal 2 |url=https://itc.ua/articles/thinking-with-time-machine-dobavlyaem-v-portal-2-chetvertoe-izmerenie/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=ITC.ua |language=uk |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804180055/https://itc.ua/articles/thinking-with-time-machine-dobavlyaem-v-portal-2-chetvertoe-izmerenie/ }}</ref> The mod was released on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] for free on April 18, 2014, for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[OS X]], and [[Linux]] platforms.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="pcg2">{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Phil |date=April 22, 2014 |title=Portal 2 mod Thinking With Time Machine now available on Steam |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/portal-2-mod-thinking-with-time-machine-now-available-on-steam/ |access-date=November 11, 2017 |work=[[PC Gamer]] |archive-date=November 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111205540/http://www.pcgamer.com/portal-2-mod-thinking-with-time-machine-now-available-on-steam/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 23, 2014 |title=Découvrez le mod Thinking with Time Machine avec Portal 2 |trans-title=Check out the Thinking with Time Machine mod for Portal 2 |url=https://syfantasy.fr/actualites/decouvrez-le-mod-thinking-with-time-machine-avec-portal-2/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=Syfantasy |language=fr |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625005620/https://syfantasy.fr/actualites/decouvrez-le-mod-thinking-with-time-machine-avec-portal-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Considering that it is a modification, users must own ''Portal 2'' to play ''Thinking with Time Machine''.<ref name="pcg" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hurley |first=Leon |date=April 25, 2014 |title=New Portal 2 Mod Adds Time Travel |url=https://kotaku.com/new-portal-2-mod-adds-time-travel-1567628112 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref> The game was one of the top 200 on Steam in 2014, and was downloaded over 300,000 times.<ref name=":2" />

== Reception ==

Alice O'Connor of ''[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]'' rated the mod positively.<ref name="rps" /> Christopher Livingston of ''[[PC Gamer]]'' also praised the mod, saying that "it's very cool watching the past version of Chell appear and run through her recording".<ref name="pcg" /> He''Rock commendedPaper theShotgun'' functionslisted of''Thinking thewith tablet,Time comparingMachine'' the time machine concept to the [[cooperative mode]], theas abilityone of the playerbest tomods seefor their''Portal own legs, and the tutorial puzzles2''.<ref name="pcg" />{{Cite However,news Livingston|last=Pearson noted|first=Craig that certain|date=December puzzles20, in2021 which|title=The thebest doublePortal cannot2 be directly seen, "can get a little weird", while he also complained aboutmods |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the lack of usage of the -best-portal-2-mods gun.<ref|url-status=live name|archive-url="pcg" https://web.archive.org/web/20221012214749/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/> Phil Savage of ''PC Gamer'' praised the-best-portal-2-mods time|archive-date=October machine12, concept2022 and|access-date=August stated1, that2024 the|work=[[Rock modPaper "dramatically expand[sShotgun]] the complexity" of the ''Portal'' series.}}</ref name="pcg2" />

AliceThe O'Connortime ofmachine [[Rockconcept Paperwas Shotgun|''Rockpraised Paperby Shotgun'']] also rated the mod positively, especially complimenting the ability to view legs in-gamereviewers.<ref name="rpspcg" /> ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' also listed ''Thinking with Time Machine'' as one of the best mods for ''Portal 2''.<ref>{{Cite news |lastname=Pearson"pcg2" |first=Craig |date=December 20, 2021 |title=The best Portal 2 mods |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-best-portal-2-mods> |url-status=liveLivingston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012214749/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-best-portal-2-modsand |archive-date=OctoberSergey 12, 2022 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |work=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]}}</ref> Bo MooreSvetlichny of [[Wired (magazine)|''WiredITC.ua'']] praisedcompared the designtime ofmachine puzzlesconcept butto notedfunctions thatof some puzzles lackedthe "[[Valvecooperative Corporation|Valvemode]].<ref polishname=".pcg" /><ref name=":03" /> He,Phil however,Savage criticizedof the''PC modGamer'' foralso itspraised shortthe time machine lengthconcept and forstated notthat featuringthe manymod puzzles"dramatically whereexpand[s] the portalcomplexity" gunof isthe ''Portal'' usedseries.<ref name=":0pcg2" /> NobukiBo YasudaMoore of ''Automaton[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' noted that the mod lacks a clear plot.<ref name=":1" /> Moore and Livingston compared the time machine mechanic to the 2010 ''[[The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom|]]''The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom'']] game.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="pcg" /> [[Becky Chambers]] compared it to the ''[[Braid (video game)|''Braid'']]'' video game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chambers |first=Becky |author-link=Becky Chambers |date=April 27, 2014 |title=This Portal 2 Time Travel Mod Lets Chell Solve Puzzles With Her Past Self |url=https://www.themarysue.com/portal-2-time-travel-mod/ |accessurl-datestatus=August 4, 2024 |work=[[The Mary Sue]] |archive-date=May 16, 2022live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516231623/https://www.themarysue.com/portal-2-time-travel-mod/ |urlarchive-statusdate=liveMay 16, 2022 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=[[The Mary Sue]]}}</ref>

Reviewers have noted that the game lacks usage of the portal gun; Livingston and Moore saw this as a net negative.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="pcg" /><ref name=":3" /> Livingston praised the tutorial puzzles, but noted that certain puzzles, in which the double cannot be directly seen, "can get a little weird".<ref name="pcg" /> Moore praised the design of puzzles but noted that some puzzles lacked "[[Valve Corporation|Valve]] polish", while Svetlichny described them as challenging.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> The game's short length was also criticized.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> Nobuki Yasuda of ''Automaton'' stated that the mod lacks a clear plot.<ref name=":1" />

The ability for the player to see their own legs by looking down was commended by reviewers.<ref name="pcg" /><ref name="rps" /> Livingston praised the addition, noting that it helps the player throughout the gameplay.<ref name="pcg" />

== References ==

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[[Category:Linux games]]

[[Category:MacOS games]]

[[Category:Portal (series) fangamesfan games]]

[[Category:Puzzle-platformers]]

[[Category:Science fiction video games]]

[[Category:Source (game engine) mods]]

[[Category:Steam Greenlight games]]

[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]

[[Category:Video games set in abandoned buildings and structures]]

[[Category:Video games set in laboratories]]

[[Category:Video games set in the United States]]

[[Category:Windows games]]