Part 2/2

As to what luis_sera said, I do think it's a bit silly when there's a category with literally one run, meaning there is no recorded competition (Free WR LOL). This can be changed easily by having someone else do a run in it. Just because there aren't close top times, doesn't mean there isn't competition or prestige to be had. Steam being the most popular version is fairly natural, because it is the fastest one and generally the most accessible as well. A time being difficult to beat doesn't mean it's impossible (everytime I think "surely nobody's gonna beat THIS NG Pro time", it's beaten). Trying to artificially produce this kind of a competitive environment by removing categories/platforms will almost certainly not work out.

The only sensible changes I can see being done are combining console generations with each other eg. Wii/PS3/Xbox360 as one and PS4/XboxOne as another, as there isn't that much difference between them. Honestly, I prefer the way it is now.

I'll have you know, I only ran this on PC, but due to some oversight, the run has also been placed on the console boards. I have no qualms with that incorrectly placed run to be removed.

If you want your ideal consolidated board, you can do it on your own spreadsheets or site or whatever else instead of ruining this one.

Part 1/2

First off, as Erxike said, this really seems like another attempt at doing an arbitrary change to the board (refering to the change from 2023 that was executed and then reversed: https://www.speedrun.com/re4steam/forums/f9rnx) to make it "more competitive" whilst actually having the opposite effect and removing history. That change was made without consulting more than just a few speedrunners of the game as a whole and was only reverted because of the massive backlash.

Arguing that consolidating the categories and/or platforms will create more competition and "prestige" would be antagonistic. All of a sudden people with runs on the board have their runs removed and get told it's because their categories/platforms don't matter. That literally removes competition. This also prevents any future submissions into the categories. Removing runs/categories/platforms will remove a part of the history of the game. I consider Srcom the premier example of record keeping and history archiving in speedrunning. The board is already very neatly and accurately organized.

Is this runner better than that runner? How do we compare this version to that version? Which version should I run?"

Compare runner A's time to runner B's time in the same platform/category. There is no need to compare versions because they are all either their own board (PC 2014, consoles) or as sub-categories (drop-down list for consoles). You can run whichever version you prefer or have access to. If you want the fastest possible version, it's PC 2014. If you want whatever else, you choose the one that fits your needs.

There is no government, elected officials, or laws that say we have to do this or that because you’ll get in trouble if you don’t. The beauty of speedrunning is that the runners get to decide how things are run and can change them at any time they want"

The way I see it, the mods of the game are the governing body of its speedrunning. They can and will make the boards look how they see it best. They are the de facto legislators, but that doesn't mean they should act out of their own interests. The real power will always lie in the hands of the runners of the game, who vastly outnumber the mods. Last time, their consent was never sought and it backfired majorly for the mods. If anything, there should be a vote where all runners of the game (people with a run on the board) can vote on various reasonable options eg. "keep the board as is", "change to be like X", "change to be like Y" etc. with each option explained in detail to avoid confusion.

If you want to speedrun Super Mario 64, then you buy an N64. This is a no brainer and you do what you need to do to run the game in the competitive environment. When it comes to RE4, this is the opposite and has quite frankly gone too far in the wrong direction by trying to include anything and everything related to the game and its versions. Having so many versions of the game has always been something that moderators and record keepers have struggled to maintain and has divided the community in so many ways that has only hurt us"

In regards to running a certain version: SM64 can be run on console, virtual console and emulator. The VC is actually the fastest, but the N64 is the most popular version. The runners can choose whichever they want and there's no reason to have any of that changed. It's also relatively simple to get an N64 with the Japanese version of the game, whereas running RE4 GC USB requires a PAL GC disc, a GC compatible Wii, a GC controller, an SD card and a capture card with composite cables. It's also not an official release of the game, so it doesn't make sense to prioritize it over the actual disc version.

In regards to keeping track of runs: Srcom was made to keep a track of runs and act as an archive. Just because it can be difficult to maintain the boards accurately and fairly, such as including reasonable, popular categories like "NG + Any% + difficulty + platform" and excluding actually arbitrary ones like "NG + Save the Dog + Blindfolded" and making changes to accomodate a more fair load-removing timer, doesn't mean it should be done away with. You can always recruit more moderators/verifiers to ease the burden.

I don't know, I haven't used it.

From now on, the mod that allows the use of a modified Direct Input file that among other things has Style Switcher and damage/hitbox display is banned as it causes an unwanted change in the way the video file cutscenes are played. The cutscenes get automatically skipped and usually faster than normal. The mod in question: https://github.com/muhopensores/dmc3-inputs-thing/releases

The DMC3 Tools also includes this and to make things simple it is also banned: https://github.com/644/dmc3music

Clarification: The standalone music player by hies is allowed, found here: https://github.com/644/dmc3music/releases/tag/v1.6

It has been revealed that an older version of Style Switcher that comes with a quick fix package found on PCGamingWiki (https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/912-devil-may-cry-3-starter-pack/) changes something with the game that causes a Stinger slide to happen in M6 spike room where it is normally not possible. I do not know if other such spots or deviations are present in the mod, so to avoid any trouble, this version of the mod is banned. I only know of one run with this, which will be removed to be consistent with previous bans of Style Switcher versions.

Please use either Style Switcher 2.4.3 or 3.1.6 (latest) found in the resources page.

Also changing the FOV of the game from 0.5 to anything else is banned as causes the player to see more or less enemies on screen depending on the value and since the game has camera aggro it can be favorable or unfavorable depending on the situation. It may also have other unknown effects down the line which could lead to taking action so to avoid that, changing FOV is banned.

Yes, it's included in the DMC3 tools found in the resources. I don't remember who has used it with what controller but it should work alright. It also installs Style Switcher along with it.

Because Vergil doesn't have cutscenes to skip through.

It was discovered that cutscene movement is possible in more scenes than the ones previously mentioned (elevators on M4, M5, M7, M14, M12 Geryon defeat, M17 spike room). The reason this could be relevant is not just being able to save some time moving, but if the IGT doesn't run during these scenes, ILs will be heavily affected by this. The full list (not including possible ones in secret missions or areas not relevant to speedruns) is this:

M3

After activating wheel (blue door hand disappears) scene

M4

Chamber of Echoes, Living Statue Room Enigma pre and post scene, elevator going up scene, Incandescent Space pre and post scene, Chamber of Echoes scene, Endless Infernum 1st & 2nd scene, Gigapede enter & defeat scene

M5

Post Bloodgoyle scene, Jester pre and post scene, Giantwalker Chamber post Jester, post Astronomical Board scene, using Vajra scene, pre & post Living Statue Room scene, using Soul of Steel scene, elevator wheel activation scene, elevator going up scene, A&R combination scene

M6

Trial of the Warrior pre and post scene, Artemis scene

M7

The Divine Library pre and post scene, Tranquil Souls pre and post scene, elevator going down & up scenes, Chamber of Echoes fire door scene, Cursed Skull Chamber wheel activation scene & pre and post scene, Tranquil Souls post scene, Peak of Darkness scene

M8

Tusk scenes, Gigapede scenes, Ignis Fatuus pre and post scene, Leviathan pre scene

M9

Rotating Bridge scene, Provisions Storeroom pre and post scene, Subterranean Garden pre and post scene, Subterranean lake scene, Provisions Storeroom (2) pre and post scene

M10

Stone Mask scene, Rounded Pathway pre and post scene, Provisions Storeroom pre and post scene, Rotating Bridge scene

M11

Altar of Evil Pathway scene, Altar of Evil pre and post scene

M12

Torture Chamber scene, Altar of Evil pre and post scene, Marble Throughway pre and post scene, Rotating Bridge scene, Geryon defeat scene

M13

Effervescence Corridor pre and post scene, Vestibule puzzle solve scene, Orihalcon scene

M14

Elevator going up scene, Altar of Evil pre and post scene, Hell's Highway scenes

M15

Upper Subterranean Garden post scene, Gears of Madness pre scene, Altar of Evil Pathway pre scene

M16

Chamber of Sins post scene, Living Statue Room pre and post scene, Waking Sun Chamber Golden Sun scene & pre and post

M17

God-cube Chamber scene, Trial of Wisdom pre and post scene, Trial of Skill pre scene Skull Spire pre and post-scene, Doppelganger post scene

M18

Chess boss pre and post scene, post boss scenes

M19

Room of Fallen Ones pre and post scene, Nirvana of Illusions pre and post-scene, Infinity Nirvana pre and post-scene

A link to this thread will be included in the rules for convenience's sake.

Here are two changes to the CAKE rules:

The Gigazip glitch is allowed. (It is possible to acquire the Blue Orb fragment in M4 and still do Gigazip.)

All missions must be completed in order.

It has come to my attention that the newest version of the DMC3 Tools software allows you to select an option that enables cutscene movement with the Style Switcher 3 that comes with it. Unfortunately this option also enables moving in sections like the M6 spike room where it's normally not possible. If you use this tool to install the Style Switcher mod, make sure the option is ticked off. DMC3 Tools: https://github.com/644/dmc3music/releases/tag/2.3.0.0

Updating the rules to clarify this: "Doing cutscene movement in sections where it is not normally possible in the 2006 version is forbidden (possible ones: elevators on M4, M5, M7, M14, M12 Geryon defeat, M17 spike room.)"

As a result I have to reject some runs that have used this feature that went under the moderators' noses.

The poll has closed and the result is 16 votes for "yes" and 4 votes for "no": https://strawpoll.com/polls/PKgl3zOqpnp/results Thus using turbo button will be allowed for Vergil runs. I will update the rules for Vergil.

I am making a poll for all Vergil runners (users who have submitted a Vergil run to this day) on whether to allow the use of a turbo button function for Vergil runs. This would mainly be used to shoot Summoned Swords by holding the button instead of pressing it repeatedly manually.

I will send a private message to each runner here with a link to the vote that has the voting token present. The voting token is a unique key that is required for voting. The token prevents manipulation to the best degree.

I will keep the poll open for one week or until all the runners have voted.

Although not explicitly banned before, the early DLC redemption (PS4/PS5 Complete Edition exclusive) and slot swap (any version) glitches found by Evolvingfetus -> and and are allowed. You do not have to show setting up the Early DLC redemption in the run, as it happens before the timer starts.

As a fellow speedrunner and former runner of this game, I am appalled at this new "time limit" rule for the board. Who are the mods to decide what is "fast enough" and what is not? How can you say a runner didn't really try based on their time? The whole maximum time threshold is completely arbitrary.

Out of the three reasons you stated, only the first one makes some sense. Srcom does have a rule that goes "Runs that are clearly not making an effort to beat the game's category quickly may be rejected." so I understand not approving first playthrough submissions that last for half a day. The problem of having a lot of submissions to verify can be solved by adding more moderators. Taking on the role of a moderator requires one to actively verify runs and take care of the boards. It's not the fault of the submission amount that you deem to not have enough time. Simply add more moderators and/or verifiers. The argument that it "makes the board look better and more competitive." is false. You have LESS competition by removing and disallowing runs above a made up threshold. It does make scrolling down faster and easier I guess, but there's pagination available on srcom now so that doesn't make sense either. Although my run was not removed, I still felt the need to say I disapprove of this.

I've added sub missions to the individual level boards. Have fun running!

We have discovered that if the game's FPS exceeds certain limits like 70FPS or drops below 10, certain skips become possible that would not normally be so. Under normal circumstances the game's FPS (2006 PC port in particular) will fluctuate between the mid 20's and 61. As such, the external altering of the game's FPS is disallowed.

test

Addendum to this rule: NG runs are allowed, but only without a clan. NG runs done on the Epic Games version must show the clan status after the run (Status -> Online info).

Now that this game can be played on the Epic Games launcher, it has come to my attention that it's not possible to play the game in offline mode. This makes it unusable for NG runs as they require offline to prevent online clan buff inheritance. NG+ runs are fine.

If the video recording stops, then it will be invalid unfortunately.