Timeline (video game)
| Timeline | |
|---|---|
Cover art
|
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| Developer(s) | Timeline Computer Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Eidos Interactive |
| Director(s) | Michael Crichton |
| Designer(s) | Michael Crichton |
| Composer(s) | Bill Brown |
| Platform(s) | Personal computer |
| Release |
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| Genre(s) |
Adventure Puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Aggregate score | |
|---|---|
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | 41/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| AllGame |   |
| CGW | |
| Game Informer | 7/10 |
| GameSpot | 4.2/10 |
| GameSpy | 56/100 |
| IGN | 3.8/10 |
| Computer Games Magazine |  |
| The Adrenaline Vault | |
| The Electric Playground | 5/10 |
Timeline is a 2000 adventure/puzzle video game published by Eidos Interactive for the personal computer. The game was developed by author Michael Crichton's Timeline Computer Entertainment (initially formed as Timeline Studios), and is based on Crichton's 1999 novel of the same name. Crichton was directly involved in the game's creation.
Timeline is played from a first-person perspective, with a focus on adventure and puzzle-solving. The plot of Timeline is largely similar to the novel, with some changes that include the absence of the novel's scientific aspect and character development, and the removal of characters such as Andre Marek.
In the game, a group of scientists discover a method of time travel and ventures to 14th century France to conduct research. When one of the scientists, Edward Johnston, does not return from the trip, a graduate student named Christopher Hughes travels to the time era to search for Johnston. The player controls Hughes, and is accompanied by Kate, who provides hints to the player throughout the game. The game is divided into various chapters, which include the player participating in a jousting tournament. Enemies cannot be killed in the game, as doing so could disrupt Hughes' future timeline. Killing an enemy results in the player being forced to restart from the last save point. The game includes a free-roaming tour mode, in which the player can observe the environment while Michael Crichton provides narration to explain the history of the area.
In April 1999, Crichton announced the formation of his own video game development company, Timeline Studios, which would develop games based on Crichton's previous projects. In May 1999, publishing company Eidos Interactive announced that it had invested a stake in Timeline Studios as part of a publishing deal. Development began that month on Timeline's first project, an unspecified video game planned for the first half of 2000. On June 21, 2000, Eidos announced that the company's first game with Timeline Computer Entertainment would be Timeline, based on Crichton's 1999 novel of the same name. Eidos had hoped that Timeline would break new ground with its emphasis on diverse environments, interactivity, and story.
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