Time Zone (video game)

On-Line Systems

Industry	Video game development and publishing
Founded	1981
Founder	Roberta Williams
Headquarters	United States
Products	Time Zone

Time Zone is a graphical adventure game spanning multiple disks, created and directed by Roberta Williams specifically for the Apple II. Developed in 1981 and launched in 1982 by On-Line Systems (which later became Sierra Entertainment), the game was distributed on six double-sided floppy disks, containing 1,500 distinct locations and 39 different scenarios. At a period when most titles occupied only a single floppy disk side, Time Zone stood out as one of the earliest extensive games available for personal computers. In 1985, versions were also released for Japanese platforms including the PC-88, PC-98, and FM-7.

Gameplay

The player embarks on a journey through various historical eras and geographic locations, solving puzzles while interacting with notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Cleopatra, and Julius Caesar. The interface combines still images with a text parser that processes two-word commands.

Development

Constructed using the company's Hi-Res Adventures engine, Time Zone was both designed and scripted by Roberta Williams. The development process spanned six months and involved approximately ten team members, representing an early example of a dedicated development group comprising programmers, artists, and designers. Each of the more than 1,300 individual sites featured original artwork. Although initially scheduled for a Christmas 1981 release, the launch was postponed until March 1982. Given its challenging nature, Sierra established a telephone support line to assist players.

Reception

BYTE referred to Time Zone as "the longest adventure game to date," emphasizing its considerable scope. The title received a Certificate of Merit for "Best Computer Adventure" at the fourth annual Arkie Awards. Nonetheless, sales were disappointing; with an original price tag of US$99 (a notably high amount when adjusted for inflation), it was among the priciest computer games upon release. Later in 1982, the game was re-released under the SierraVentures label but failed to achieve significant commercial success.

Reviews

• Electronic Fun with Computers & Games (February 1984)
• Jeux & Stratégie #17 (October 1982)
• Games #46 (December 1983)