In this adventure, it's 2025 and you're visiting the Hack & Makerspace, a place where everyone can build, repair, and experiment with technology. Someone's even made a temporal relocator, but it's missing a few parts. Where and when will this quest take you? Who will you meet? And what will you make?
This solution is by David Welbourn, and is based on Version 1.0.0 of the game.
SPOILERS AHEAD. Reading a walkthrough prematurely can sometimes diminish one's enjoyment of an interactive fiction game. Please make an honest effort to play the game before reading this walkthrough.
Limbo is unlocked when you put the vacuum coil into the relocator's slot.
[1] In "Hackspace - Storage Room", USE TEMPORAL RELOCATOR, then select the appropriate number to travel to the time and place listed.
[2]PRESS DEVICE anywhen (except in 2025) to return to "Hackspace - Storage Room".
Map 3: Da Vinci
The "Da Vinci" region is unlocked by putting the repaired circuit board into the relocator's slot.
[1] In "Hackspace - Storage Room", USE TEMPORAL RELOCATOR, then select "Year 1503 - Florence, Italy" to travel to "Da Vinci - Courtyard".
[2]PRESS DEVICE anywhere in Da Vinci to return to "Hackspace - Storage Room".
Map 4: Damascus
The "Damascus" region is unlocked by putting the crystal into the relocator's slot.
[1] In "Hackspace - Storage Room", USE TEMPORAL RELOCATOR, then select "Year 1175 - Aleppo, Damascus" to travel to "Damascus - Courtyard".
[2]PRESS DEVICE anywhere in Damascus to return to "Hackspace - Storage Room".
Map 5: New York
The "New York" region is unlocked by putting the Damascus steel into the relocator's slot.
[1] In "Hackspace - Storage Room", USE TEMPORAL RELOCATOR, then select "Year 1888 - New York, United States of America" to travel to "NY - Laboratory Entrance".
[2]PRESS DEVICE anywhere in New York to return to "Hackspace - Storage Room".
Walkthrough
Play the tutorial?
> 1(yes)
Tutorial - Navigation
> help.(shows several pages of basic IF help)
> x Gizmo. talk to Gizmo.
> n.
Tutorial - Objects
> talk to Gizmo.
> x compass. take it.
> x telescope. take it.
> e.
Tutorial - Interactions
> talk to Gizmo.
> x chest. open it.
> x torch. take it. use it.
> enter chest.(denied)
You need the torch to be lit to continue south.
> s.
Tutorial - Dimly Lit Room
> talk to Gizmo.
> restart.
Foreit the game?
> Y
Go through the opening screens.
Play the tutorial?
> 2(no)
Hackspace - Entrance Hall
It's probably best to do a general tour of the place first and avoid taking much of anything until ypu need it.
> x me. i. x key.(has hackspace logo)
> x jacket.
> x corkboard.(found Advert and Flyer)
> x advert.(re Makerspace)
> x flyer.(Andy is missing; "Has anyone checked in the storage room?")
> x door.(locked)
> x hook.
> n.
Hackspace - Workshop (S)
> x Stephan.(loves 3D printing)
> talk to Stephan.
> talk to Stephan.
> x heat gun.(good for short bursts of heat)
> x 3D printer.(ready to PRINT)
> x computer.(ready to USE)
> x scanner.(for inanimate objects only)
> n.
Hackspace - Workshop (N)
> x callipers.(a measuring tool)
> x prybar.(for dismantling delicate joints)
> x cutter.
> x chalkboard.
> x Carl.(loves to fix things)
> talk to Carl.
> e.
Hackspace - Electronics
> x oscilloscope.
> x repair station.(found Lamp, Shrink Tubing, and Soldering Iron)
> x lamp. x tubing. x iron.(empty)
> x whiteboard.
> w. s. s. s.
Hackspace - Kitchen
The cupboard and fridge are a bit confusing. They are not true containers although they pretend to be. When you open the cupboard, a mug is added to the room, and when you open the fridge, a milk is added to the room. But the room description doesn't refresh until you explicitly LOOK, so it's not immediately obvious that the object list changed.
> x cake.
> x cupboard. open cupboard. look. x mug.
> x brewbot.("insert mug")
> x fridge. open fridge. x milk.
> x poster. x sink. x tap.
> n. e. n.
Hackspace - Coding Room
This game doesn't hide objects in the room descriptions. The laptops aren't listed, so they're not actually implemented.
> x badge. x pinboard.
> s. s.
Hackspace - Bathroom
> x basin. x dispenser. x shelf.
> x small sign. x urinal.
> s.
Hackspace - Cubicle
> x roll. x toilet. look. x turd.
> n. n. e. n.
Hackspace - Library
> x magazine.("Learn Electronics" with bag of components)
> take magazine. read it.
> x bag. take bag. open bag.
> x capacitor. x diode. x resistor.
> x armchair. sit on armchair.
> drop magazine. drop bag.
> s. s.
Hackspace - Sewing Room
> x Julie. talk to Julie.
> x scissors. x fabric. x machine.
> n. e.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> x box.("Andy K")
> open box.(found Circuit Board)
> x board.(some components missing)
> take board.
> x plywood.
> x shelving.(found Solder and Butane Cylinder)
> x solder. x gas.(tiny labels)
> x strange object.(broken time machine)
> look.(The Strange Object is replaced with a Red Button and a Temporal Relocator.)
> x button.("Activate")
> x relocator.
> take solder. take gas.
> w. w. w. n. n. e.
Hackspace - Electronics
> take iron. fill iron.(+1; with gas)
> x iron.(HEAT IRON and COOL IRON)
> x board.(You use the lamp here to learn that the board is missing a diode, resistor, and capacitor.)
> fix board.(+1. You use the iron, solder, diode, resistor, and capacitor.)
> x board. take board.
> drop iron. drop gas. drop solder.
> w. s. s. e. e. e.
Storage Room
> push button.(The machine turns on; a keyboard and a slot are revealed.)
> x slot.
> put board in slot.(Something else is ejected.)
> look. x device.("PRESS to return")
> take device.
> x keypad.
Use the machine's full name:
> use temporal relocator.
>> 1("Year 1503 - Florence, Italy")
Da Vinci - Courtyard
> x bench. x pots. x fountain.
> n.
Da Vinci - Forge
> x hammer. x scraps.(silver)
> x forge. use forge.(no: not for you)
> s. s.
Da Vinci - Storage
> x bottles. x leather. x crate.
> n. e.
Da Vinci - Worshop
> x stool. x invention.
> s.
Da Vinci - Living Space
> x cup. x pitcher. x bed.
> x stand.(found Coin)
> take coin. x it.(gold)
> n. e.
Da Vinci - Study
> x Leonardo.
> talk to Leonardo.(He needs a gear; he gives you something.)
> i. x gear.(poor copy)
> x chair. x drawing.
> x desk.(found Scrolls and Letter)
> take scrolls. read it. drop it.
> take letter. read it. drop it.
> press device.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> w. w. w. n.
Hackspace - Workshop (S)
> scan gear.
> use computer.
>> A("3D Scan Object")
>> B("Fix 3D Model")
>> C("Slice 3D Model")
>> D("Print 3D Model")
>> E("Exit System")
> x gear.(perfect)
> take gear.
> s. e. e. e.
Storage Room
> use temporal relocator.
>> 1.
Da Vinci - Courtyard
> e. e.
Da Vinci - Study
> give gear.(+1. He gives you a Temporal Stabilizer Crystal, then runs to his workshop.)
> x crystal.
> press device.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> put crystal in slot.(+1)
> use temporal relocator.
>> 1("Year 1175 - Aleppo, Damascus")
Damascus - Courtyard
> x fountain. x fish.
> n.
Damascus - Grand Bazaar
> x dates. x hat.
> e.
Damascus - Caravanserai
> x rug. x camel. ride camel.(no)
> w. s. s.
Damascus - Forge
> x charcoal. x forge.(fire weak)
> x Farid. talk to Farid.(His bellows are broken.)
> x bellows.(DISMANTLE it, replace the panels, and repair the leeather)
> take bellows.
> dismantle bellows.(no: need prying tool)
> n. w.
Damascus - Metal Trader
> x Jamal. talk to Jamal.(only accepts silver and gold)
> give coin.(+1. He gives you an iron ingot in exchange.)
> x ingot.
> e. e.
Damascus - Scholar
> x Lectern.(found Book)
> x book. take it. read it. drop it.
> x timer. x hanging.
> x Ishaq. talk to Ishaq.(asks if you seek knowledge about Damascus)
This is confusing because you don't need to talk to Ishaq yet.
> press device.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> take plywood.(You'll need it soon.)
> w. w. w. n. n.
Hackspace - Workshop (N)
> take prybar. dismantle bellows.
> drop prybar. i.
> x cover.(must REPAIR it)
> x frame.(need to replace two wooden boards)
> x tacks.(still useful; need a hammer)
> take callipers.
> use callipers.(You now have measurements.)
> i.(The frame is now Wood Fragments.)
> drop fragments. drop callipers.
With the plywood and measurements:
> use cutter.(You make a new Frame to ASSEMBLE.)
> look. x frame. take it.
> repair cover.(no: need materials and tools)
Go get the hammer and leather from Da Vinci.
> s. s. e. e. e.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> use temporal.
>> 2
Da Vinci - Courtyard
> n.
Da Vinci - Forge
Save yourself a few steps by taking the scraps as well.
> take hammer. take scraps.
> s. s.
Da Vinci - Storage
By the way, neither the hammer nor the prybar can open this crate.
> take leather.
> press device.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> w. s.
Hackspace - Sewing Room
> take scissors.
> repair cover.(using scissors, leather, and sewing machine.)
> x cover. take it.
> drop scissors.
> assemble bellows.(using frame, cover, tacks, and hammer)
> x bellows. take it.
> drop hammer.
> n. e.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> use temporal.
>> 1
Damascus - Courtyard
> s.
Damascus - Forge
> give bellows.
Farid promises to forge Damascus Steel for you if you bring him the right materials.
> talk to Farid.(Research the materials needed)
> n. e.
Damascus - Scholar
> talk to Ishaq.
This time, you ask about Damascus steel, and he gives you a List.
> read list.(Charcoal, Iron, Silver)
Charcoal is already at the forge. Your ingot is iron. Your metal scraps are silver.
> w. s.
Damascus - Forge
> take charcoal.
While holding Charcoal, Ingot, Metal Scraps, and List:
> talk to Farid.(He forges steel.)
> x steel.
> press device.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> put steel in slot.
> use temporal relocator.
>> 3("Year 1888 - New York, United States of America")
NY - Laboratory Entrance
> take newspaper. x it. read it. drop it.
> e.
NY - Main Laboratory
> x generator. x oscillator.
> e.
NY - Equipment Store
> x rubber. x tubes.
> x wires.(uninsulated)
> w. n.
NY - Observation Room
> x controller.
> e.
NY - Office
> take notebook. x it. read it. drop it.
> x Nikola. talk to Nikola.
He needs insulated wire.
> w. s. e.
NY - Equipment Store
> take wire.
> press device.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> w. w. w. n.
Hackspace - Workshop (S)
> take gun. n. e.
Hackspace - Electronics
> take tubing.
While you carry the Copper Wire, Heat Gun, and Shrink Tubing:
> use gun. x wire.
> w. s.
Hackspace - Workshop (S)
> drop gun.
> s. e. e. e.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> use temporal relocator.
>> 3
NY - Laboratory Entrance
> e. n. e.
NY - Office
> give wire.(Nikola gives you a vacuum coil.)
> x coil.
> press device.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> put coil in slot.
> use temporal.
>> 4("Year Unknown - Unknown, Unkown")
Limbo - Endless Void
> x Andy. talk to Andy.("Let's get out of here!")
> press device.
Hackspace - Storage Room
> talk to Andy.(He's going home to his wife Janine; he leaves.)
> w. w. w.
Hackspace - Entrance Hall
> talk to Andy.(He doesn't have a key.)
> unlock door with key.
Congratulations!
You have successfully repaired the Time Machine and have returned Andy to the Hack & Makerspace!
Extras
Characters
Gizmo is an adventurer's guide. Talk to him often in the tutorial section.
Stephan is in the workshop (south). He's keen on 3D printers.
Carl is in the workshop (north). He likes both woodworking and electronics.
Julie is in the sewing room. She's quite enthusiastic about the cloth arts.
Leonardo Da Vinci is in his study. He's needs your help in crafting a gear for his latest invention.
Farid al-Saffar is at his forge in Damascus. His bellows needs to be repaired.
Jamal al-Wafi is a metal trader, but he only accepts gold or silver for his wares.
Ishaq al-Hakim is a scholar in Damascus.
A camel named 'Saudi Quattro' is in the caravanserai; he seems unimpressed with you.
A red herring is swimming in the Damascus courtyard's fountain.
Nikola Tesla is in his New York office. He needs insulated wire.
Andy K is a missing maker (see the flyer). He built a temporal relocator in the storage room and got himself trapped in a limbo outside of time when the relocator stopped working. I've heard of someone being sent to Time Out before, but this is ridiculous!
Mentioned:
Janine is Andy's wife.
Credits
This is the response to CREDITS:
-------
CREDITS
-------
Game : Fixing Time: A Hack and Makerspace Adventure
Game Version : 1.0.0
Adventuron Version: 1.0.0 Beta 68j [PERSONAL USE ONLY]
Written by : Richard Pettigrew
Copyright Message : Copyright (C) 2025 Richard Pettigrew. All rights reserved.
Parser type : The game requires only two word commands (VERB NOUN).
This game is inspired by the growing global Hackspace movement and incorporates the ideas put forward by the members of Doncaster Hack and Makerspace. A special thanks to everyone for their support, inspiration and endless creativity.
This game will be made available on our Hackspace website once the Text Adventure Literacy Jam 2025 is public.
https://www.doncasterhackspace.org.uk
------------
SYSTEM FONTS
------------
- Delta10 - based on Delta 4 font, released into public domain by Fergus McNeill. Modifications by CA.
- Clairsys / Clairsys 10 by Paul Van Der Laan, SIL Font License.
- DAAD by Adventuras AD. Released into the public domain by Andrés Samudio. Minor adaptations applied (by CA).
- Bamburgh - Adventuron Font Created by Chris Ainsley. All Rights Reserved.
- Plotter Bold Extended by Damien Guard. Licensed free to use and redistribute (with games).
- Kitchen Sink created by Retroshark and Polyducks. The font may be used with attribution in commercial and non-commercial projects free of charge. The font may not be redistributed or remixed in whole or in part. It may not be resold elsewhere as an asset or part of an asset pack.
Inventory
Note that you can only have at most ten (10) items total in your inventory, including worn items.
Tutorial items
a Compass and a Telescope. They're both at the "Objects" part of the tutorial.
Feel free to do whatever you want with either, but realistically, you can only take, examine, and drop them.
a Torch. This flashlight is inside the chest in the "Interactions" part of the tutorial.
Take the torch and USE TORCH (to turn it on) so you can enter (and see in) the dark room to the south.
Hackspace items
Key. You're carrying it.
The key unlock the door in the entrance hall. This is necessary at the end of the game when Andy wants to go home.
Jacket. It's in the entrance hall.
You don't need it, but you can wear it.
Advert and Flyer. Find them by examining the corkboard in the entrance ball.
Examine them. The flyer tells you that Andy is missing and suggests checking the storage room.
Heat Gun. It's in the workshop (south).
While carrying the copper wire, the shrink tubing, and the heat gun: use the gun. The wire is now insulated.
Mug. It's in the kitchen's cupboard. Open the cupboard then look to refresh the room's contents.
In the kitchen, INSERT MUG (as per the Brewbot's instructions) to make a Mug (of Coffee). Take it and drink it. Note that you automatically drop the mug when you drink it.
While there's a sink and a working tap available and a poster asking that you "wash up", the game doesn't understand "wash mug".
Milk. It's in the kitchen's fridge.
You may not drink the milk by itself.
The milk is for tea and coffee drinkers, but I couldn't find a command that added milk to my coffee.
In the storage room, put the repaired board into the relocator's slot. The slot is only available when the machine is on; pushing the red button turns the machine on and off.
With the repaired circuit board in the temporal relocator, you can now USE THE TEMPORAL RELOCATOR to travel to the Da Vinci time-region.
Butane Cylinder. Find it by examining the shelving in the storage room.
While carrying both the soldering iron and the butane cylinder, fill the iron. The iron is now filled with gas.
Device. It's ejected from the temporal relocator in the storage room when you insert the repaired circuit board into its slot.
Take it with you and never drop it. Whenever you're not in 2025 and want to return to the Hackspace, push the device's button. It's your only way back there.
Da Vinci items
Hammer. It's at the forge.
When you have the new frame, the repaired cover, tacks and the hammer, ASSEMBLE BELLOWS to make a new bellows.
Metal Scrap. It's at the forge.
Examine it; it's silver. It's one of the ingredients for making Damascus steel.
You don't need them. If you try to use the pitcher, you decide not to; you don't trust the water here.
Coin. Find it by examining the stand in the living space.
Examine the coin; it's gold.
At Damascus's metal trader, talk to Jamal, then give the coin to him. He gives you an iron ingot in exchange.
Gear. In the study, talk to Leonardo. He gives you a crude gear.
In Hackspace's south workshop, first scan the gear (using the scanner). Now use the computer, selecting options A through E in that order. A new gear is 3D printed. Take it.
Back in the study, give the new gear to Leonardo. He gives you a crystal in exchange.
Scrolls and Letter. Find them by examining the desk in the study.
Feel free to take them and read them, then drop them again.
Crystal. In the study, give the new gear to Leonardo; he gives you this time crystal in exchange.
Back in Hackspace's storage room, put the crystal into the temporal relocator's slot. This unlocks the Damascus region.
Damascus items
Dates. They's in the grand bazaar.
You may eat them, but you don't need to.
Hat. It's in the grand bazaar.
You may wear it, but you don't need to.
Rug. It's in the caravanserai.
You don't need the rug.
Charcoal. It's at Farid's forge.
The charcoal is one of the ingredients for making Damascus steel.
Ingot. At the metal trader, give the coin to Jamal; he gives you this iron ingot in exchange.
The ingot is one of the ingredients for making Damascus steel.
Sand Timer. It's at the scholar's.
You don't need the timer, but feel free to turn it.
Bellows. At Farid's forge, talk to Farid. He asks you to repair his bellows; it's now there for you to take.
While holding the broken bellows and prybar: DISMANTLE BELLOWS. The broken bellows is replaced with a broken cover, a broken frame, and some tacks.
While holding the repaired cover, replaced frame, tacks, and hammer: ASSEMBLE BELLOWS. You now have a repaired bellows.
Back at Farid's forge, give the repaired bellows to Farid. He now promises to forge Damascus steel for you if you research the materials needed and bring them to him.
Frame. Acquire a broken frame by disassembling the broken bellows with the prybar.
While holding the broken frame and the callipers: USE CALLIPERS. You now have measurements (somewhere in your memory) and the broken frame is reduced to wood fragments.
With those measurements in your mind, in the north workshop while holding the plywood: USE CUTTER. You make a new frame. Take it.
You don't need the book, but feel free to take it and try to read it. You don't understand its script.
List. After giving the new bellows to Farid at his forge, he promises to forge Damascus steel for you if you bring him the right materials. Now go to the scholar's and talk to Ishaq; he gives you this list.
Read the list. It names the three ingredients you need: characoal, iron (see ingot), and silver (see scrap).
Damascus Steel. At Farid's forge, while carrying the charcoal, ingot, metal scraps, and list: talk to Farid. He forges some Damascus steel for you; the charcoal, ingot, and scrap are consumed.
In Hackspace's storage room, put the steel into the temnporal relocator's slot. This unlocks the New York time-region.
New York items
Newspaper. It's at the laboratory entrance.
Feel free to take it and read it, but you don't need it.
Rubber Sheets. It's in the equipment store; refer to it as "sheet".
You don't need the rubber sheets.
Tubes. They're in the equipment store.
You don't need the tubes.
Copper Wire. It's in the equipment store.
While carrying the copper wire, the shrink tubing, and the heat gun: use the gun. The wire is now insulated.
In Tesla's office, give the insulated wire to him; he gives you a vacuum coil in exchange.
Notebook. It's in Tesla's office.
Feel free to take it and read it, but you don't need it.
Vacuum Coil. When you give the insulated copper wire to Tesla, he gives you this coil in exchange.
In the Hackspace's storage room, put the coil into the relocator's slot. This unlocks the Limbo region.
Stats
There is no SCORE, but this is the response to STATS:
- Game Statistics -
Number of turns: N.
Puzzles solved: N.
Cups of coffee consumed: N.
Easter egg commands discovered: N out of 12.
- Time Travel -
Current year: YYYY.
Number of times you've travelled back in time: N.
Number of times you've travelled forward in time: N.
I didn't find many Easter egg commands, but these I the ones I found:
PLOVER
PLUGH
XYZZY
Burping, farting, and sneezing are involuntary actions that might occur at random at any time or place. You cannot do them on purpose. You can play an entire game without doing any of them. Therefore, I theorize that you're more likely to burp, etc., the longer the game goes on. Possibly there are other factors that increase the probability, like eating the cake or making typoes or traveling in time too often, but this is just rash speculation.
