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TimeShift

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
TimeShift
TimeShift cover
Developers
Saber Interactive
Publishers
Sierra Entertainment
Digital Activision
Engines
Saber3D Engine
Release dates
Windows October 30, 2007
Reception
Metacritic 71
IGDB 75
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Microtransactions None
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Action, FPS, Shooter
Vehicles Motorcycle, Flight
Art styles Realistic
Themes Sci-fi
TimeShift on HowLongToBeat
TimeShift on IGDB
TimeShift on MobyGames
TimeShift on Wikipedia

Warnings

GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).

TimeShift is a singleplayer and multiplayer first-person action, FPS and shooter game.

The game has some compatibility issues with modern hardware, primarily with systems with over 8 CPU cores or threads. Additionally, due to how the title implemented GPU checks, the game will refuse to launch on any system using Intel graphics by default regardless of actual hardware capabilities, and may not switch to compatible discrete graphics device on hybrid GPU systems. Affected users can check this subsection for a workaround.

General information

Official developer site
GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
CD key
SecuROM DRM.
Windows
GOG.com
DRM-free
Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Is currently using an outdated version of the game. See Patches.
Windows
Missing the Urban ReDuel Multiplayer Map Pack DLC, and Futures-Past Multiplayer Map Pack DLC.
Not available for sale on GOG or Steam in Germany.

Version differences

The Steam version is outdated and has certain unintended gameplay effects not seen on a fully patched retail copy. I.E. the protective helmets on green-armored enemies do not function correctly, as a result they die in one headshot from any weapon. See Patches for a fix.

Demo

Demo can be downloaded here or here.

Essential improvements

Patches

  • All available patches for the retail version can be found here.
  • Patch 1.02 for the Steam release can be found here.[1]
  • GOG release is already patched to 1.02.[2]

Skip intro videos

Delete game files
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\video.
  2. Delete or rename saber_logo.bik, sierra_logo.bik and twimtbp.bik.

Fix startup crash on modern multi-core CPUs

Make sure that the game is updated to 1.02 release before following the steps below. See Patches for more information.
Install Unofficial Patch for > 8 Thread CPUs[3]
  1. Download the patched executable.
  2. Go to <path-to-game>\bin
  3. Make a backup of the original executable TimeShift.exe.
  4. Copy and paste the patched executable over the original.

Game data

In-game general settings.
In-game general settings.

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\UserConfigs[Note 1]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/10130/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\UserConfigs[Note 1]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/10130/pfx/[Note 2]
Each hit of the "quicksave" button creates a permanent new save, quicksaves do not override each other.

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video

In-game video settings.
In-game video settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
Menu and HUD elements are stretched. FMVs are in 16:9 resolution.
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Slider in settings appears to specify current horizontal FOV, however the game itself uses vertical FOV. To avoid confusion, it is best to set the vertical FOV via config. See Field of view (FOV).
Windowed
See Windowed.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See Windowed.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Up to 16 samples.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Nvidia users can force SGSSAA. See Anti-aliasing (AA).
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
Capped at 200 fps
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Field of view (FOV)

This game uses vertical FOV. See FOV Calculator for help.
Set custom FOV[citation needed]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\UserConfigs\Default
  2. Edit user.ini.
  3. Change FOV = 56.250000 value to the desired vertical FOV. WPN_FOV = 56.250000 sets the FOV for viewmodel, Menu_FOV = 56.250000 sets the main menu FOV.

Windowed

Force windowed mode[citation needed]
  1. Download and run DxWnd.
  2. At the top click on Edit, then Add.
  3. Set the name and executable path.
  4. Enable Do not notify on task switch.
  5. Click OK, start the game normally.

Anti-aliasing (AA)

Force SGSSAA[4]
  1. Download and run Nvidia Profile Inspector.
  2. Search and open the game profile.
  3. Set Antialiasing Compatibility to 0x004010C4.
  4. Set Antialiasing Behavior Flags to None.
  5. Set Antialiasing Mode to Override any application setting.
  6. Set Antialiasing Setting to Multisampling (2x, 4x, 8xQ).
  7. Set Antialiasing Transparency Supersampling to Sparse Grid Supersampling (same as previous value).
  8. Apply changes.
Enable FSAA[5]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\UserConfigs\Default.
  2. Edit user.ini.
  3. Set the VIDEO_FSAA property to yes.
  4. Set the VIDEO_FSAA_Qual property to 2.
  5. Save the changes.

Input

In-game mouse settings.
In-game mouse settings.
In-game key map settings.
In-game key map settings.

Audio

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Options mentions 5.1 but it outputs up to 7.1.[6]
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
EAX support
EAX 5.0.
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
Not available on Steam.
German
Only retail in Germany, censored violence. This patch adds German language to Steam version while keeping the game uncut, and also includes the 1.2 patch. This patch does the same for the GOG and international DVD versions.
Italian
Not available on Steam.
Polish
See this guide to enable in the Steam version.
Brazilian Portuguese
Unofficial translation; TriboGamer.
Russian
Local retail version only, download.
Spanish
GOG only. Steam version, download.

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
LAN play
16
Online play
16 GameSpy services have been shut down;[7] see GameSpy for workarounds.

Connection types

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 7777-7877, 27900, 27901, 28910, 29910
UDP 7777-7877, 27900, 27901, 28910, 29910
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

VR support

3D modes State GG3D Notes
Native 3D
Nvidia 3D Vision
TriDef 3D
iZ3D
vorpX
G3D
User created game profile, see vorpx forum profile introduction.
Devices
3RD Space Gaming Vest

Issues fixed

Game refuses to launch on system with more than 8 CPU cores or threads.

The game does not run on CPUs with more than 8 cores or threads. The issue includes getting stuck at shader compilation process and general instabilities.[8]
Install Unofficial Patch for > 8 Thread CPUs[3]
  1. Download the patched executable.
  2. Go to <path-to-game>\bin.
  3. Make a backup of the original executable TimeShift.exe.
  4. Copy and paste the patched executable over the original.
(AMD only) Use Ryzen Master Utility and limit CPU to 8 cores without multithreading.[9]
Run Template:Tile in compatibility mode for Windows XP SP3 and as administrator.[citation needed]

Driver error message upon launch

Run Template:Tile in compatibility mode for Windows Vista SP2 and as administrator.[citation needed]

Micro stuttering

Lock frame rate
  1. Enable VSync in Video Settings.
  2. Limit frame rate to the monitor's refresh rate.
Use DXVK
  1. Download the latest DXVK release.
  2. From the dxvk-version.tar.gz archive, extract x32\d3d9.dll to <path-to-game>\bin.

Game launches with black screen

Disable all monitors other than the primary one in Windows[citation needed]
Edit configuration file[citation needed]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\UserConfigs\Default.
  2. Edit user.ini.
  3. Change the HRTF to 1.
  4. Save the file and exit.

Game crashes with Intel GPU

Use one of these fixes when the game launches with a white screen. Or closes immediately after launching it.
Use 3D-Analyze[10]
  1. Download 3D-Analyze.
  2. Start the program with administrative rights and select Timeshift.exe
  3. In the Vendor ID field type: 4318
  4. Start the game via Run
Use Fallout 3's Intel GPU bypass package.[11]
The fixes were made for Fallout 3, but also works with TimeShift. Only extract d3d9.dll from the archive to <path-to-game>\bin.

"Shadow map resolution" option grayed out and locked at medium

Due to how graphics card detection was implemented in this game, modern GPUs will not able to increase shadow map resolution above the default medium setting.
Edit Configuration File[12]
  1. Go to the configuration files location.
  2. Open user.ini.
  3. Search for VIDEO_ShadowMapRes and change the value from 1 to 0.
Changing any option in the graphics settings menu will cause reverting the setting to medium.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9.0c
Shader Model support 2.0b
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics Havok
Cutscenes Bink Video
Multiplayer GameSpy

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 8 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 6600
ATI Radeon X700
128 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0c compatible
Shader model 2.0b support
The game does not support Intel integrated graphics chipsets


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).
  2. 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/10130/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (10130) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References

  1. Steam Community :: Guide :: TimeShift Update 1.2 - Download and Installation Guide - last accessed on May 2023
  2. Verified by User:Radishface on 2023-03-26
  3. 3.0 3.1 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1869921614 [FIX] CPU and Startup loading crash.
  4. NVidia Anti-Aliasing Guide (updated) - Guru3D.com Forums - last accessed on November 14, 2016
  5. FSAA - PCGamingWiki - last accessed on May 2023
  6. PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up - last accessed on May 2023
  7. Pricing | GameSpy Technology
  8. gog.com - last accessed on May 2023
  9. https://steamcommunity.com/app/10130/discussions/0/490121928362720121/ (Howto) Running TimeShift on Windows 10 (64 bit) on 4+ cores :: TimeShift General Discussions
  10. Possible solution the problems with the launch, that helped me :: TimeShift General Discussions - last accessed on May 2023
  11. Verified by User:Fudgesiclesxd on 2022-09-07
    Works on my system with 4th generation Intel Core i5 with Intel HD 4600. Tested with Windows 11 with final intel Graphics driver
  12. "Shadow map resolution" grayed out, locked to medium :: TimeShift General Discussions - last accessed on May 2023