Software:Putt Putt Travels Through Time

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Putt-Putt Travels Through Time
Developer(s)Humongous Entertainment
Publisher(s)Humongous Entertainment, Night Dive Studios
Producer(s)Ron Gilbert
Designer(s)Brad Carlton
Bret Barrett
Matthew Mahon
Nick Mirkovich
Writer(s)Laurie Rose Bauman
Composer(s)Jeremy Soule
EngineSCUMM
Platform(s)Android, Macintosh, Windows, iOS, Linux
ReleaseReleased:
  • June 6, 1997 (Win, Mac)[1]
  • August 14, 2012 (iOS)
  • October 04, 2013 (Android)

Re-released:

  • May 15, 2014 (Linux)
  • May 15, 2014 (Steam)[2]
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Putt-Putt Travels Through Time is a 1997 video game and the fourth of seven adventure games in the Putt-Putt series of games developed and published by Humongous Entertainment. In 2014 Night Dive Studios re-released the iOS, Linux and Steam versions. This is the last game to feature Jason Ellefson as the voice of Putt-Putt.

Production

Concept art for Merlin the Medieval Sorcerer, a new character in the game Putt Putt Travels Through Time. Artists played around with designs and colours until settling on the finished version as he appears in the game (bottom).

The production team brainstormed ideas for the follow-up title in the Putt Putt franchise. Among the alternate titles were: Putt-Putt Goes to the Carnival, Putt-Putt Saves the Universe, and Putt-Putt Learns to Fly. They eventually settled on Putt-Putt Travels Through Time.[3] While the designs of the main characters were already established, the team had to work on designing to look of new characters such as Merlin the Medieval Sorcerer.[4] Next, the scripts was written and storyboards were created to layout how each scene would work as a self-contained piece, as well as part of a larger story.[5] Background artists then interpreted both the script and storyboards to create the look and feel of the game through the backgrounds; part of their job was to leave lots of space for clickable hotspots. Once the basic design sketch was approved, it was given more detail and finally painted.[6] Next, animators created series of drawings based on the storyboards which when viewed together would simulate movement; each of the 30,000 drawings were then individually scanned into a computer, where they were cleaned up and had imperfections removed.[7] The next stage was for artists to colour frames and animate clickpoints; Humongous noted that while this stage was "tedious", it allowed low-level artists to be creative and use their initiative.[8] Next, the work was handed over to programmers who wrote code to ensure the game responded to player choices, and who added sound effects to synch up to the animations.[9] The music was created by Humongous, while voice actors were auditioned by the company (if new to the franchise), then sent to a studio to record their lines.[10]

Putt Putt game designer Nick Mirkovich commented that there was a design philosophy of creating immersive interactive world for players to explore, and that like other games by Humongus, items needed for game completion were programmed to be in different places for separate playthroughs.[11] Players could go behind the scenes into the game's production via the company website.[12]

Plot

The game begins with Putt-Putt packing his new school supplies. Putt-Putt is excited to show Mr. Firebird his history report, calculator, and Smokey the Fire Engine lunchbox before school starts. He wakes up Pep, brings his coin, and heads down the road to Mr. Firebird's Lab. He explains about his new Time Portal invention, which allows the past and future to be seen without actually traveling there. After Putt-Putt takes out his things, Mr. Firebird attempts to start the machine. After failing, he realizes he needs a coin to start the machine, and he is fresh out. Putt-Putt offers the coin, and Mr. Firebird starts the machine.

However, the Time Portal goes haywire (out of control) and opens up. It sucks Putt-Putt's objects and Pep into time. A panicked Mr. Firebird tells Putt-Putt of the risk of being sucked into time unless the portal is shut closed for sure. Putt-Putt assures him that he will gather his things and Pep soon, and enters the Time Portal. Putt-Putt must retrieve his lost things and Pep in order for Mr. Firebird to close the portal for good.

Putt-Putt returns to the present with his things and Pep, and Mr. Firebird closes the portal for good. Putt-Putt tells Mr. Firebird that he liked time traveling and that it was the best fun ever. Mr. Firebird is glad that Putt-Putt had fun while time traveling, but then tells Putt-Putt that he's going to be late for school unless he hurries. Putt-Putt tells him that he's right, and he will show him his school supplies later. At school, Putt-Putt shares the news by telling everyone about time traveling.

Gameplay

The game mechanics are the same as the prequels including the glove box inventory, horn, radio and accelerator. There are also a number of optional minigames throughout the four eras.

Reception

Computer Shopper felt the game was fun, but ultimately failed to live up to predecessors of the genre.[13] [null The Cincinnati Post] deemed the game "outstanding", and recommended that younger children purchase an earlier title in the Putt Putt series first to acquaint themselves with computers before attempting this more "challenging" title.[14] The Boston Herald gave the game a rating of 4.5 stars, praising the abundance of clickakle hotspots in every scene which would keep kids entertained while completing the adventure.[15] The newspaper also deemed the game one of the "finest kid titles ever".[16] [null Rocky Mountain News] gave it a B, commenting that it lived up to the quality standard of Humongus Entertainment.[17] The Washington Times wrote that the game was "delightful" and "uncomplicated".[18]

In the Fourth Quarter 1997, the game was the 4th biggest seller in the PC Kids/Edutainment category.[19]

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[20]
IGN8.4/10 (PC)[21]
MetzomagicStarStarStarStarHalf star[22]
Greenman Gaming52%[23]
The Electric Playground8/10[24]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.awn.com/mag/issue2.3/issue2.3pages/news2.3.html
  2. ↑ "Putt-Putt Travels Through Time on Steam". Steam. http://store.steampowered.com/search/?developer=Humongous%20Entertainment. Retrieved August 24, 2016. 
  3. ↑ "The Making of Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Page 2". Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980210052324/http://www.humongous.com/Clubhe/Playroom/putt/page2.html. 
  4. ↑ "The Making of Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Page 3". Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980210062500/http://www.humongous.com/Clubhe/Playroom/putt/page3.html. 
  5. ↑ "The Making of Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Page 4". Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980210065313/http://www.humongous.com/Clubhe/Playroom/putt/page4.html. 
  6. ↑ "The Making of Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Page 5". Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980210070505/http://www.humongous.com/Clubhe/Playroom/putt/page5.html. 
  7. ↑ "The Making of Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Page 6". Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980210071008/http://www.humongous.com/Clubhe/Playroom/putt/page6.html. 
  8. ↑ "The Making of Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Page 7". Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980210071205/http://www.humongous.com/Clubhe/Playroom/putt/page7.html. 
  9. ↑ "The Making of Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Page 8". Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980210071259/http://www.humongous.com/Clubhe/Playroom/putt/page8.html. 
  10. ↑ "The Making of Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Page 9". Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980210071347/http://www.humongous.com/Clubhe/Playroom/putt/page9.html. 
  11. ↑ "Humongous Entertainment crafts its biggest Putt-Putt adventure ever: Putt-Putt Travels Through Time hits stores June 1. - Free Online Library". https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Humongous+Entertainment+crafts+its+biggest+Putt-Putt+adventure+ever:...-a019359023. 
  12. ↑ "Humongous Entertainment crafts its biggest Putt-Putt adventure ever: Putt-Putt Travels Through Time hits stores June 1. - Free Online Library". https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Humongous+Entertainment+crafts+its+biggest+Putt-Putt+adventure+ever:...-a019359023. 
  13. ↑ Putt-Putt Travels Through Time. (Humongous Entertainment)(The Learning Arcade) (Software Review)(Brief Article)(Evaluation). 1997-09-01. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19662897.html. 
  14. ↑ NEW PUTT PUTT MOST CHALLENGING.(AT HOME). 1997-06-14. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72816515.html. 
  15. ↑ KID TECH: Players 'Putt-Putt Through Time'.. 1997-05-25. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56395136.html. 
  16. ↑ New Yu-Gi-Oh! `Duelist' game hits its mark.(Arts and Lifestyle). 2002-11-03. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-93897725.html. 
  17. ↑ `HERCULES' A CAN'T MISS BABY-SITTER.(Entertainment/Weekend/Spotlight)(Review). 1997-07-25. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67728134.html. 
  18. ↑ Dachshund, Frog Help Math Skills Take Leap. 1998-05-26. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-58337780.html. [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  19. ↑ "Top PC and Video Games Spur Strong Growth for The Interactive Entertainment Industry - Free Online Library". https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Top+PC+and+Video+Games+Spur+Strong+Growth+for+The+Interactive+...-a020060836. 
  20. ↑ Brad Cook. "Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Review - Allgame". Allgame. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141212004616/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15959. Retrieved September 6, 2016. 
  21. ↑ "Putt-Putt Travels Through Time Review". IGN. http://www.ign.com/games/putt-putt-deluxe-pack-809069/pc-691493. Retrieved August 24, 2016. 
  22. ↑ Rosemary Young (July 1998). "Putt Putt Travels Through Time Review by metzomagic.com". metzomagic.com. http://www.metzomagic.com/showArticle.php?index=246. Retrieved September 6, 2016. ""It's a worthy challenge for pre-schoolers and a particularly good game choice for a young first time adventure game player."" 
  23. ↑ NeoJ (March 24, 2015). "Putt-Putt Travels Through Time". https://www.greenmangaming.com/games/putt-putt-travels-through-time/. Retrieved September 6, 2016. ""Some puzzle parts in a classic point and click procedure with cute graphics and lots of charismatic characters."" 
  24. ↑ Bonnie James (May 15, 1997). "Putt-Putt Travels Through Time - Electric Playground". Greedy Productions. Archived from the original on August 4, 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/19970804194723/http://www.elecplay.com/pc/puttputt.html. Retrieved September 6, 2016. ""If your kids liked any of the other Junior Adventures, they will like this one too."" 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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