One of those years
2024/2025 has been quite the year for Pod's small community. The slack in this news feed isn't reflecting that at all unfortunately. There's much to tell about the last twelve months but let's stick to the speedrunning related stuff :
New tools :
Ghost and records management :
@Raykoopa has just released an awesome tool to extract all desired ghosts from SRC Pod's leaderboard and generate shiny record sheets for your Pod (Platinum or not) installation. It will also generate .SEQ files to fill your ghost top5 for every tracks with the actual top5 from SRC. It has to be run in command mode and required NET 8.0 installed.
If you don't like running things yourself, Ray did the job for you already and extracted ALL of actual SRC ghosts into some category named archives. These archives are going to be updated regularly to stay up to date with SRC.
All the details and download links are on this ressource page posted by Ray :
https://www.speedrun.com/pod_planet_of_death/resources/9mz7k
Podkit :
Every new Pod Platinum release now comes with the "Podkit" enhancement by @Raykoopa. It allows new fixes and options to be activated through a "Podkit.ini" file.
Amongst the fixes and options brought to the game, these are very interesting for speedrunning :
- Added Ctrl+Q hotkey to toggle showing milliseconds in race times (PodKit setting "AllowMilliseconds").
Allows more accurate timer display. It now became the standard for Pod speedrunning. Any runner should be using this from now on.
- Added Ctrl+S hotkey to toggle showing all track sectors at all times (PodKit setting "AllowInfSectors").
This one is forbidden for speedrunning since it can allow for easier flight navigation when attempting "skip" runs with flying vehicles. Wich is not fair toward the "legit" skip runs. To keep things simple, it's forbidden for ALL categories.
- Added Ctrl+X hotkey to store the current car position to reset to with Ctrl+Z in Time Attack.
This is quite a game changer for speedrunners allowing for quick respawn at a desired spot. Wich means runners will not have to go for the old start procedure all over again every time. They can set a respawn position further back from the start line, allowing for speeding up before starting the timer.
It can also be used to respawn at a specific spot on a track to focus training on the area.
- Ghosts now display their author's name instead of just "Fantome" when using the LABEL cheat in-game.
Wich means you can race versus any ghost and see the original name displayed above them. For some GS1 vibe, racing versus old names !
- Improved LABEL display can now be fine-tuned via PodKit's "FixLabelHide" and "FixLabelSmall" settings.
Makes the visibility better when using the LABEL cheat with several ghosts at a time.
- Exported .GHT files now allow uploading them with any file name to Pod's discord @Pod Bot (note that they still need to be named properly to be imported).
Page update :
New tracks added :
The following fan made tracks have been added to the individual levels list :
- Antipod/dopitnA
- Bender/redneB
- Enneade/edaennE
- Escape/epacsE
- Forest
- Nadir/ridaN
- Slimepit/tipemilS
- Natura/aturaN
More fan made tracks could arrive in the following months since @Raykoopa did a tremendous work on his Blender add-on for cars and tracks exporting. Track exporting is now functionnal with most of the original game features.
Upcoming updates :
Leaderboards updates with the tons of archived runs dug out by @DomiraeSSB should be happening soon.
More tracks should be added too, existing fan made or/and next fan made releases.
New moderator
Coming straight from SWE1R community, @DomiraeSSB has joined the moderation team this month. He's actively digging out old datas on the game. He's come with many propositions concerning the layout and content of the page.
Layout changes :
Categories Renaming :
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Former "AnyMethod" sub-category has been renamed in "Skips" category.
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Former "Glitchless" sub-category has been renamed in "Full Track" category; and set as the default category.
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Former "3 Laps Time Attack" category has been merged with former "3 Laps Ghost" category as they were redundant.
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Former "3 Laps Ghost" category has been renamed in "3 Laps".
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Former "1 Lap Time Attack" category has been renamed in "1 Lap".
Former layout was flawed. It was difficult to read through it properly if you wanted to know what tracks had "glitches" or "skips". As the most common way to run Pod is the "Full track" way, it makes sense for it to be the default category.
A car annotation has been added to let the car selection show into the leaderboards.
Old entries from the past :
Under the new moderation motivation, we've decided to allow all the old datas we could gather from past archives into our leaderboards. The work is still in progress, but several tracks have been fully updated with these datas already.
At the end of the process, each tracks leaderboards should feature the following datas from the past :
- top 5 ghosts for ranks 1 to 5
- in between 20 and 80 entries without ghosts but directly imported from old Qball's leaderboards, where datas were thoroughly verified.
Things should look like this for each track :
Upcoming changes :
Discussing some fan made tracks addition to the track list : https://www.speedrun.com/pod_planet_of_death/forums/mdj4c
Game News
On Pod's Discord, Ray has released a new version of Pod Platinum. Here's the description of the changes :
ꓣay — Aujourd’hui à 21:11
@everyone Pod Platinum has been updated, here's the changelog:
- Extended the Aztec (Azthec Beta) track conversion to allow playing it in reverse (with or without AI).
- Default to 640x480 resolution to prevent unnecessary switches to the (inaccurate) 800x600 resolution.
- Default to normal stereo to not reverse left and right channel.
Download it as usual from Pod Discord server : https://pod.syroot.com/discord
New track :
Ray having fixed the old Aztec beta track, it's now added into the Individual Levels list and open to all TA modes and categories. Have fun grinding this one !
OEM Tracks :
It had been announced for a while, here they are ! All OEM tracks have been added to the Individual Levels list. They are now open for all TA mode entries, in any categories.
OEM track list and in-game name for normal and reverse :
- Pompeii OEM : PompOEM and MEOpmoP
- Canyon OEM : CanyOEM and MEOynaC
- Plant21 OEM : PlantOEM and MEOtnalP
- City OEM : CityOEM and MEOytiC
- Galleria OEM : GalOEM and MEOlaG
- Alderon OEM : AlderOEM and MEOredlA
- Sewer OEM : SewerOEM and MEOreweS
Upcoming changes
Nothing right now :)
Page activity
Midiman keeps on finding new ways, new glitches to shorten lap times on many tracks.
On the classic driving side, I'm still at work on Algor's WR's. The last ones are the toughest :)
New Ressource
Important ressources has been added here
Ray's ghost analyser is more accurate than old Skubidou's tool. So from now on it's going to be the tool to use for ghost validation on Speedrun.com.
Leaderboards
Midiman's Art of Flight
Midiman has been posting more and more 1 lap WR's. The man has a gift to find ways no one had seen before him. He's mostly hacking through the tracks, finding agressive shortcuts. Often using the flying abilities of the Deuch car. He's found a new technique to open new doors in term of speedrunning, the "respawn glitch". Allowing fast teleportation, respawning back to a position after flying through a checkpoint. Amazing creativity from him.
His latest piece of art is here : https://www.speedrun.com/pod_planet_of_death/runs/y2k9o67y
Original 8 Contests
The thing kinda launched itself on Discord one evening. Why not an O8 contest on Nuke ? I put my old collector Pod shirt on the table I said ! And it was on.
The heist lasted for a week with a crazy energy around it. In the end rulerit aka Azureus won the contest and the shirt !
Another contest, on Bank this time is running up until the 18 of september. Go for it !
Hunt for Algor38
Algor has been true to his words posting ALL his ghost collection. Most of these have been recorded quite late, between 2001 and 2003, after Vienna's heist on Qball Ghost gallery. In the end, Algor managed to become the "SOLE SURVIVOR" on Qball's.
I've begun a hunt for some of his ghosts, slowly extending it to ALL of his ghosts. Some masterpieces like Cocoon/noocoC, Alderon/noredlA will probably remain his for a while though. The challenge being completely crazy on those tracks.
I'm now streaming ghost hunts on a regular basis on twitch. Mostly to record ghost session on video, so I can post videos of the winning runs here.
Biggest achievment this month was probably Nuke : https://www.speedrun.com/pod_planet_of_death/runs/zx3ejnez
Upcoming changes
New individual levels
OEM tracks will be added soon. Feel free to come and discuss it on the forum : https://www.speedrun.com/posts/lb9t9
New sub category ideas and discussion
Discussing about a new sub category to open the competition to Gold Cars too. Discussion thread here : https://www.speedrun.com/posts/w2ga5
Rules changes
Time Attack 1 Lap
No longer requires to be recorded in "Free Mode". Any video showing a WR lap recorded in any time attack mode (Free Mode, Three laps, Ghost mode) will be validated.
Original 8 cars
"O8" runs must be glitchless. Runner must drive the track the intended way, passing through each CP without any U-turn, flying or driving backwards.
New Individual Levels layout
** New layout effective ! **
The new layout is effective. Runners can now post entries in the sub-categories described in the previous news post.
- Any Method : Default one, used for most runs.
- Glitchless : Only if you want to post a classic run on a track where "glitched" runs are thrusting the leaderboard (CP exploit, Deuch fly exploits, etc)
- Original 8 cars : For the fun, go back to those 1997 8 original cars and see if you can score some crazy world record in this old timer category !
Page activity
** Old things from the past ! **
With Algor38 and myself posting our old ghost files in the 3 laps ghost category, the page has daily activity. getting richer everyday with amazing entries on every tracks. Those old ghosts are all available for download in the WR's descriptions. Will some newcomer or old Podhead challenge those oldies anytime soon ? ;)
Upcoming changes
** New individual levels : **
More track will be added soon. Only official tracks for now, so next on the list are :
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Beach
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Iceberg
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Hellway
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Aztec
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Fallen
Upcoming changes for Individual Levels Leaderboards :
New layout with three new subcategories :
-
Any Method : No restrictions other than those listed in Game Rules
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Glitchless : Restrictions :
- Runner must respect the track and go through the checkpoints in the right order.
- Turning back 180° or rear shifting to drive reverse and shortcut between misplaced checkpoints is forbidden.
- Flying the Deuch through the track to shortcut checkpoints is forbidden. A complete list of the "glitched" tracks is coming.
- Original 8 cars : Runner must use one of the original 8 cars.
By default, "Any Method" will be selected for all entries. Glitchless will be used ONLY if some glitched runs appear on a track.
Those changes are already effective on Beltane leaderboards for testing.
Cosmetics :
- Pod SRC page is now wearing rusted colors, just like the game !
- Background image, page logo, trophies icons and page icon have been updated.
Full game Leaderboards layout has been modified :
- Categories are now "16 Retail Tracks Champ" and "16 Gold Tracks Champ". Leaving room open for some other options, who knows.
- Former categories are now variables/sub-categories. I kept the former Easy/Normal/Hard/Crash layout.
I've resubmited the existing records to keep the rankings intact.
Time settings are now on IGT by default. It make more sense than RT. IGT is used in Pod for lap times, race times, and even total championship times.
I will start a discussion in the forum over the use of RT for the full game runs.
Recent changes :
- New Individual Levels Leaderboard : "3 Laps Ghost"
Validation through exported ghost files. Old ghost accepted without full run video to allow "Legacy" entries.
- New Full Game Leaderboard : "%Crash"
Allow the use of the "crash" cheat code to speedrun full championships. Aiming for true time attack championships ! Other rules remain the same.
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Reverse tracks added.
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Individual Levels/Time Attack rules precision : Crash code is allowed to avoid collision with movable objects.
2024/2025 has been quite the year for Pod's small community. The slack in this news feed isn't reflecting that at all unfortunately. There's much to tell about the last twelve months but let's stick to the speedrunning related stuff :
