Rank 1 - end of run
2 years ago
Kujawsko-pomorskie, Poland

Hi, If I've ran a couple of attempts already without restarting the game and have a top score above 25000, is the end of the run the first frame after score rises above 25000? Or are consecutive attempts not allowed and I need to reset the game if I get a high score? Thanks, Paszq

Kujawsko-pomorskie, Poland

Also, why aren't fractions of a second visible? The scores are very close to one another.

Poland

As mentioned in rules "Timer ends, when the screen shows rank 1" , so for this category it matters , when you reach rank 1 (first frame when it appears on screen), not top score. However, it is general rule for most of NES leaderboards (with few not nice exceptions, where top runs start from save state, which I don't agree with) to start every new run from reset or power on, since every action from reset or power on may (unwillingly) influence RNG. I would accept run starting from 'game over' from previous attempt instead of reset, however in that case video would need to include everything from last reset instead of just only part from 'game over' (due to e.g. mentioned possible RNG manips), so it is recommended to always reset before new attempt. As for fractions of second, world record was separated by at least full second till now and rank 1 category isn't too popular, so I was not thinking too much about adding them. However, it can be done for times let's say below 0:50 .

Edited by the author 2 years ago
Kujawsko-pomorskie, Poland

Well, the rules are made up and the scores would stay the same when counting the moment of getting above 25000 - it would just prevent pointless disqualifications if someone forgot to reset after getting 25800.

Regarding RNG manipulation - how about a requirement to record the video of 1 test run before starting the actual one?

Poland

I see a problem, that you get rank 1 by getting top score, so if you beat top score and don't reset, it stays and you need to get higher score in order to reach highest rank. However, I would keep category the way it is now. Firstly, since it's more meaningful to reach top rank/score, than just 25K. Some games clearly even have category "Top Score" like Wrecking Crew. Secondly, because, as mentioned, it is recommended for most of NES speedruns to do a reset before every attempt and it can easily get in your habit after speedrunning few games for some time. In most of the NES games, it is even much faster to reset, than wait for 'game over' and this is rare case, when those two approaches are about the same speed depending how you reset. Many moderators would demand you to show at least that reset, if they were not certain it was used (especially for top times). Additionally, that solves unnecessary issue of showing whole video, since last reset/power on. Requirement about 1 test run before actual one could even add a little better proof, but it doesn't give much better view, if it's only 'game over' between those runs instead of a reset. Showing just last few seconds before reset is enough and widely approved ( since then most of the values programmed in game are resetted to its default, which is not true in case of 'game over'). With it , you have better certainty, that everyone has equal chances to get good RNG, when run starts.

Edited by the author 2 years ago
Kujawsko-pomorskie, Poland

Oh, alright, I am pretty new to speedrunning, didn't know that most games are cool with submitting the first run after reset. Although regarding Rank 1 vs 25000 - I still think that it's nitpicking a bit ;) Thanks!

Poland

Exactly, almost no one should have any doubts regarding run, if reset is added and most of moderators are fine even, if reset is not visible (especially if run is average). Different story is, if you get insanely good run out of nowhere as mostly unknown runner. Then you can be asked to provide more evidence like recording of whole session, when run happened etc, but it's fine with this category, where it's very possible to get times around WR quite fast. Keeping Rank 1 as category can be seen as being a little nitpicking for sure :D but it's less about naming and more about last reason I mentioned, that is keeping resets between attempts. If top score was kept after soft reset and going back to default only after hard reset, then I would probably change it, since it would force everyone to do hard reset everytime.

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