Howdy,

Recently, my nes run of the demo version was rejected with the statement that this os reserved for the full version. Unfortunately, there is no indication that there ever will be a full version. I know of at least one other person who has completed demo version runs and several others who would likely follow suit. The demo is fun, has 3 stages, and is lengthy enough to attract homebrew runners. Id be glad to mod the nes demo version. I think it will bring some energy to this board. Otherwise, i see the board standing as a single run on a single platform. Glad to be involved. Thanks for your time!

Game rules and Category rules have been updated. If anything stands out that should be discussed, feel free to drop it here. Thank you!

Thanks Aborelia. I will add you back as a co-mod since you're back!

I also talked with FriscoPinball, who submitted a run that we had to reject because he basically left "default settings" but those settings weren't correct on the platform he used (I think he used classicreload like me). He submitted a new one with correct settings so we're all set, but I'm thinking to rename the category "Default Mode" to "Normal Mode" and remove "leave the default settings" and instead say "you must have the settings below". That way, everyone is on the same page about the expected settings.

Hi all,

As the new super mod, I plan to update the rules. They will include the items I mentioned above. Until those are updated, this post will count as making the new rule effective, as of 1/1/23, about showing your settings of your run. Thank you!

Hi Arborelia!

I know I have a legacy run and updated run pending, and I was thinking an update to the rules would be very helpful. There may be a few more runners in the future as I ran this as part of a DOSember event.

1) In the game rules, it would be good to add the link to Classicreload, as it's mentioned in the other thread posted here but not in the games rules stating it is eligible.

2) Currently, the rules state that the settings SHOULD be displayed. I'm thinking an update saying "effective 1/1/23, settings MUST be displayed (at the end of the run is acceptable)". That way, we can be sure the settings align with the category.

Thank you for the consideration! -Zarc

What a find. Haha. Nice work.

Hi Overcomplicated and anyone else that is interested,

I consulted with the Mod, Beardstrength, about the points situation in the rankings. I mentioned how there's a Tecmo Super Bowl category that is based upon Rushing Yards. They used the Game Time column that defines the rankings by putting the ranking as "1 min, 0 seconds" for 1st, "2 min, 0 seconds" for 2nd, etc. Then, they use a variable for the Yards and that shows on the surface.

The Tecmo Super Bowl Category, for reference:
https://www.speedrun.com/tecmo_super_bowl?h=Single_Game_Rush_Yds_-_Individual_Player&x=wk6pyjxd

Beard and I think (and Beard has already added them in the Low% categories) that a Time Variable and Points Variable be displayed for context. We submit times correctly in the game time field and Time Variable field, and your points in the points variable field. The mod will then modify the "Game Time" to the rank so that it positions the submission correctly in the rankings. I don't expect a ton of submissions so this shouldn't get too complicated.

If we get to a theoretical lowest points total, or just a tie in general for points between two submitters, then the game time will be the tie breaker that determines rank.

It looks like the Category Rules need to be updated for each to state that rankings are based upon lowest points, then game times in case of a tie breaker. We can mention submitting the time in the two time fields, and the points in the points field.

Does anybody have any concerns or questions?

Thanks @BeardstrengthBeardstrength. With future runners of either category in mind, and the contention of the framecounts with the abovementioned submissions, let alone however many we may see in the future, I reiterate my suggestion that we revert from counting milliseconds to just counting seconds. It reconciles all current submissions and the only questions would really come up with runs that barely break a second barrier, and that would only be a concern at the podium level really. In short, 99% of current runs and future submissions are resolved.

My opinion, which includes trusting the integrity of @RyuHayabusa89RyuHayabusa89 as a runner.

1) Beard and Crit optimized Any% on console at 10.067. Assuming Beard believe that Ryu's run is visibly an optimized run, we update the time to 10.067 to tie WR and make some notes about the frame count for posterity.

2) Regarding the Any% NOOB run, @BeardstrengthBeardstrength has confirmed skipped frames in both my and Ryu's run, though the subset he reviewed appeared to have counterbalancing frame delays. The option is either to invalidate all emulator runs or keep them. I lean toward keeping them. This game will never have runners again if console is required.

There is an alternate option that almost resolves this completely, though it requires consensus.

3) We remove milliseconds, which makes runs tied if within the same second. Not a perfect solution regarding who has the truly fastest run, but it is optimal in that framecounts are less likely to be contested or contentious, should this game pick up steam with more runners.

I use mesen for emulator, streamlabs/obs to capture the video, and Handbrake to cut the video. Like beard said, perhaps a couple frames were skipped but then a frame delay balanced them out. I don't know. But I would scrutinize it more if it were closer to the wr. Do you record each run by itself so it does not need to be edited after the run, or do you record a bunch of runs in one video and then edit down to a single run?

Ryu, what do you use to clip your videos? I used to lose frames until I started using Handbrake. I make sure it clips at 60 fps and I never lose frames anymore.

Note for future runners. Check your fps. I was having trouble getting a good time. I compared my run to others and the music was going much slower and i was leaving the first screen even a 1/2 second behind. Turns out mesen wqs set to default region, which this game translated as PAL (50 fps). Once i set it to ntsc instead of auto, i was all set. So check your emulator and the region setting (should be ntsc) and display your fps (should be 60) and you'll be in a level playing field.

I'm stumped! >D

Locking this thread. I think we're all satisfied with this decision.

And if anyone is able to test, that would be great. I do want to point out that I have save states in between each stage and at least the slorbs will go in different directions from the same save state.

Thanks Beardstrength. For what it's worth, we were chatting with CutterCross in either T1shero's or McFly's stream the other day, and they said there were multiple factors and random algorithms that change the RNG of each stage in real time. That includes any movements on the screens in between stages. T1shero/McFly, can you point CutterCross to this forum to offer some notes on that?

Also for what it's worth from a subjective perspective, if we keep the resets as a requirement, I won't be running it anymore, but if we remove them, I will run it again. The 20 seconds intro screen in between runs gives me too much time to sit in my frustration. If I can just move to the next run, I'll be motivated to get to my final goal. Not sure if others feel the same way, but figured I'd offer my emotional perspective beyond the obvious and appropriate (and more important) technical conversation.

^ meaning any runs submitted between 11:30am EST on 7/1/22 until the decision is finalized can be submitted without resets. The run must show you transitioning out of the last run (i.e. dying) so we can tell it's not a save state. If you complete a run, you are better off resetting because you start the next loop with the same health you left the last run with.

I chatted with McFly in his stream and he said T1hsero is good with it. Let's say at this point that resets are no longer necessary tentatively and I'll change the rules once Beard has weighed in.

thx guys. I'd like beardstrength amd t1ishero to weigh in as they have equal weight in this in my mind.

Hey all,

Recently, I've been playing Balloon Fight, where you don't reset because of bad RNG on the first run post-reset. So you just start over after you die... well... I just found this in UA. I think we reconvene the rules so we SKIP THAT DAMN INTRO!!!!!!