I’ve been compelled to create this thread because it’s come to my attention that some runners/mods (who have never ran last gen or even bothered to time the load transitions) are questioning my self proclaimed disadvantage in loading transitions times when compared to ps4 pro. I want to first explain that the way the unrestricted run works on last gen makes a fair playing field and ps4 pro doesn’t have any advantage in this category. This is because the way you skip rooftops and reload slums 2 from the start screen, it completely bypasses waiting for your base PS4s slower processing speeds and you now rely on the identical hard drive that is inside ps4 pro. Before creating this, I timed every glitchless any% last gen run’s load transitions on base ps4 and ps4 pro, to ensure this is not an issue with specifically my console. I found that each large transition between levels takes about 5-7 seconds longer on base ps4 than ps4 pro to load. Specifically in 3 main spots, waiting for momo to open the window to rooftops. Waiting for B12 to unlock the window to slums 2. Waiting for Seamus to open the door to deadend. The base ps4 is also famous for crashing, the fastest way I’ve found to avoid the multiple crash spots is by waiting around for textures to render and a check point reload, which loses 20 seconds, something the ps4 pro doesn’t have to deal with. In the glitchless category, the ps4 pro enjoys a solid 40 second advantage. In the unrestricted category the advantage is too small for me to notice, if there is any at all. I hope this thread helps future Last gen runners and remember, if your going to discredit someone’s hard work, first confirm your suspicions. Feel free to time these transitions to check yourself, I am curious as to the exact difference in time.

First things first:

No one was trying to discredit anything. Timing has been done years ago and as far as we we're aware, it was 100% accurate. We have yet to check your claims in a professional setting.

You also claimed you've experimented with an external SSD; this is disallowed in our rules. This means we've needed to take a more serious approach with everything you have said to us.

We will verify your claims and get back to you. As you wait, please refrain from doing these things: Using an SSD, personal console experimentation (opening it up to clean, etc), and anything that could affect your personal load times or give you an advantage.

Again, we timed everything years ago and you are the first person to complain about this in years.

Like I told Jon neither speedrun.com tos or stray has banned external ssds. It is actually recommended. Can you show me where it says this? I have looked all the rules up and down and this is just false. It is left up for each game to decide if it should be allowed or not based on if it gives any type of advantage. Again if you just looked for yourself you would see that I load the same speed as every other base ps4 run out there and it’s the ps4 pro who has a hardware advantage and faster loads. I timed transitions with and without and external ssd and the results are identical. External ssds are extremely commonly used on consoles as memory space is limited. Because external SSDs offer no differences or advantages, it would be pretty stupid to reject runs that use them. I don’t think you know what your talking about.

Allowed Hardware: Official external hardware features supported natively by the console operating system (like a plug-and-play USB external SSD formatted by the PS4) are fully permitted for console categories.

This modified hardware rule your talking about is for modified ram or game files and 3rd party softwares.

I didn’t see it before but you actually just told me I can’t open my console to clean to inside? It’s a decade old. It doesn’t give any advantage it would take away disadvantages, making my console run like new is in no way an unfair advantage it just restores it to original factory intended speed. Can you show me where these specific rules are stated as I have never seen them, can’t find them and don’t believe they exist

"3rd party tools for any other reason" This would mean external SSD's are banned.

I mentioned opening your console to clean as that could unknowingly damage parts and mess with the game. We want to test your findings in a professional setting with accurate timing.

Please stop spamming the moderators. You are now breaking rules simply by pressing this issue so much.

If any of your PB's utilize an external SSD, they will be removed and if you continue to use/experiment with it you will be banned from the lists, end of story. SSD's might not have a direct advantage, but we will not allow modified consoles on our boards, that's just what we do. As you stated, they don't provide a benefit, so don't use it. We understand your frustration, but you are simply taking it too far.

Understood, I won’t press the matter further. Most games on speedrun.com allow it and if there is any difference in timing they use separate tags like (ps4 HDD) (ps4 SSD)

Messaging other moderators about how one person is making you feel a certain way simply because they are expressing the rules is a bad look. I will end this conversation here as we look into your claims, but as a final reminder, it is SPECIFICALLY stated in the rules: "3rd party tools for any other reason" This would mean external SSD's are banned. I mentioned opening your console because that is the easiest way to break it. This is your final warning.

If I use a Sony brand ssd still not 3rd party, thats how I know this clause doesn’t cover SSDs. If SSDs are being banned all of a sudden the rules need to accurately reflect that. You have not expressed a rule that bans SSDs

NSG. Regardless of what is being said right here, if we was to propose a split for ps4 pro, ps4 slim etc etc, not only would it be diluting the entire boards and making pointless empty boards, it would also discourage competition.

The community also had a vote for this years ago and 90 percent were against it.

There will be no more talk on this, as it’s literally you and only you complaining about it.

My advice, if you care about this game as much as you seem to, you would purchase a more powerful console to compete against the faster times.

3rd party tools are discretionary in games on src, there isn’t a yes it’s allowed or no it’s straight banned, it’s all a case by case basis. We as a mod team decided against the use of SSDs, external and modified hardware. And this has been the same for every single game I run.

I’m running this community and game exactly how I look after other communities. And they run absolutely fine as we make sure the community vote for what’s happening.

You clearly wasn’t present in this discussion regarding a split.

But we WILL NOT be splitting PlayStation models into their own separate category, as we will then need to do it for PS5, Xbox consoles and pcs based on their cpu capabilities etc.

If this conversation continues on. I will be banning you due to constant harassment of my team members.

Louie