Thinking with Time Machine: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:03, 1 November 2023

Revision as of 22:22, 3 August 2024

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

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2020}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox video game

| image = ThinkingWithTimeMachineGreenlightSquareCover.jpg

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

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'''''Thinking with Time Machine''''' is a [[Single-player video game|single-player]] [[Video game modification|mod]] for ''[[Portal 2]]'' developed by Stridemann, and released by SignHead Studio. It was initially released to [[Steam (service)|Steam]] in April 2014, for [[Microsoft Windows]], and [[macOS|OS X]] systems, available freely to existing owners of ''Portal 2''.

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

[[File:ThinkingWithTimeMachine_ClipboardScreenshot.jpg|thumb|left|[[Chell (Portal)|Chell]] holds a clipboard in her left hand, allowing her to use the game's time travel mechanic.]]

In ''Thinking with Time Machine'', the player controls [[Chell (Portal)|Chell]], the protagonist of the official [[Portal (series)|''Portal'' games]].<ref name=ply>{{Cite web|last=Good|first=Owen S.|title=Mod adds time travel to Portal 2|date=2014-04-26|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/4/26/5656526/time-travel-mod-portal|accessdate=2017-11-11|website=Polygon}}</ref> In addition to the series' "portal gun", it also gives the player a tablet-like "[[time machine]]", allowing them to record their movements, and summon a double who performs those motions. The player can only use a single recording at a time, with previous recordings being deleted when a new action is taken. Recordings can perform all the actions a normal player can, and the player can also stand on their recording, allowing them to reach higher surfaces.<ref name=pcg>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/mod-of-the-week-thinking-with-time-machine-for-portal-2/|title=Mod of the Week: Thinking With Time Machine, for Portal 2|work=[[PC Gamer]]|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en}}</ref>

Most of ''[[Portal 2]]'''s testing elements are included in the mod, with new mechanics being taught through an instruction board.<ref name=pcg/>

{{clear}}

== Release and reception ==

''Thinking with Time Machine'' was released for free to existing owners of ''[[Portal 2]]'' via [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on 18 April 2014 by developer Stridemann and publisher SignHead Studio.<ref name=steam>{{Cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/286080/Thinking_with_Time_Machine/|title=Thinking with Time Machine on Steam|website=Steam|access-date=2021-10-06}}</ref><ref name=pcg2>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/portal-2-mod-thinking-with-time-machine-now-available-on-steam/|title=Portal 2 mod Thinking With Time Machine now available on Steam|work=PC Gamer|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en}}</ref> It was one of the top 200 Steam games in the year of its release.<ref name=ars>{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/03/steam-gauge-measuring-the-most-popular-steam-games-of-2014/3/|title=Steam Gauge: Measuring the most popular Steam games of 2014|work=Ars Technica|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en-us}}</ref>

The game was received positively by multiple PC gaming reviewers.<ref name=rpspcg/><ref name=pcgrps>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/23/portal-2-mod-valve-time-travel/|title=Portal 2 Mod Adds Time-Travelling Legs|last=O'Connor|first=Alice|date=2014-04-23|website=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-09}}</ref> Alice O'Connor of [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] positive in a positive 2014 review "for those lacking in some of the social niceties, it’s perhaps the closest we’ll get to playing Portal 2 co-op.” ''[[PC Gamer]]'' reviewer Christopher Livingston similarly praised the mod, stating that "working with your past self will seem almost as natural as working with a co-op partner".<ref name=pcg/> Though writer for [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'']] Bo Moore praised the overall design of the puzzles, he noted that some lacked "[[Valve Corporation|Valve]] polish".<ref name=wrd>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/04/thinking-with-time-machine/|title=This Portal 2 Mod Lets You Play Against Yourself|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en-US}}</ref> Additionally, both Moore and Livingston criticised the mod for not featuring enough portal-based puzzles, especially in initial levels.<ref name=wrd/><ref name=pcg/>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Reflist|40em|refs=

<ref name=rps>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/23/portal-2-mod-valve-time-travel/|title=Portal 2 Mod Adds Time-Travelling Legs|last=O'Connor|first=Alice|date=2014-04-23|website=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-09}}</ref>

<ref name=pcg>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/mod-of-the-week-thinking-with-time-machine-for-portal-2/|title=Mod of the Week: Thinking With Time Machine, for Portal 2|work=[[PC Gamer]]|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en}}</ref>

<ref name=wrd>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/04/thinking-with-time-machine/|title=This Portal 2 Mod Lets You Play Against Yourself|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en-US}}</ref>

<ref name=ply>{{Cite web|last=Good|first=Owen S.|title=Mod adds time travel to Portal 2|date=2014-04-26|url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/4/26/5656526/time-travel-mod-portal|accessdate=2017-11-11|website=Polygon}}</ref>

<ref name=pcg2>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/portal-2-mod-thinking-with-time-machine-now-available-on-steam/|title=Portal 2 mod Thinking With Time Machine now available on Steam|work=PC Gamer|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en}}</ref>

<ref name=ars>{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/03/steam-gauge-measuring-the-most-popular-steam-games-of-2014/3/|title=Steam Gauge: Measuring the most popular Steam games of 2014|work=Ars Technica|access-date=2017-11-11|language=en-us}}</ref>

<ref name=steam>{{Cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/286080/Thinking_with_Time_Machine/|title=Thinking with Time Machine on Steam|website=Steam|access-date=2021-10-06}}</ref>

}}

==External links==