Thinking with Time Machine: Difference between revisions

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'''''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 player 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 recorded 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.

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Like the [[Portal series|''Portal'' series]], ''Thinking with Time Machine'' is a [[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 magazine |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 |magazine=[[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 convinced 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>

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