Texas, USAHey guys! We are expecting a big news update from Free Rice coming fall 2017: https://tinyurl.com/ycoa8n8q
What does this mean?!
Well! It looks like they are changing the user interface to make the experience nicer on computers and phones at some point. YAY! I will be sure to keep you in the loop when they share the big news.
It's possible that a few of the rules we have set could change based on how they change the interface in the future. The mods will reconsider each rule carefully and ask for community feedback if there are any big changes necessary. For now, let's just see what happens!
Cheers to all of you who have run this game. As a community, we have made a huge difference! I can't wait to see how this channel will grow over the next year. Thank you for your runs for rice!
Sidenote: I'm changing the Free Rice logo to THE NEW ONE!
Nice idea! Can you comment a few links of other channels doing this so we can get more feedback? If others express interest, we could definitely try something!
This is the only example I remember, not sure if its the best model: https://www.speedrun.com/sws/Harbor#Survivor
Edit: Warrior, the fastest one would be basic math.
Hey Dig! Try using one of these:
- The S7's Game Launcher's Game Tools' Recorder (that's a mouthful lol)
- DU Recorder
- Game Screen Recorder
Any of those three should work for recording without lag. However, since LiveSplit is currently a fullscreen mobile application meant for assisting with console or PC runs, I don't think you can run a mobile game with LiveSplit running on mobile as well.
To time, it might be best to use "Floating Timer" or an app like that over the game. Alternatively, you could open LiveSplit on your computer and split as you play.
It might be good to come together as a community and ask LiveSplit to make an app that can be used during mobile speedruns. I submitted this on their idea page -- it would be awesome if we could get it upvoted!
- Go to https://livesplit.github.io/ideas/
- Click on "Recent"
- Find the post titled "LiveSplit for Mobile Games"
- Upvote!
Also, let me know if you would like to moderate! I would love some help cleaning this up.
On one hand, it would be great to have a complete RNG run. On the other hand, its good to save time with tab-switching. Most runs start off with an answer to the first question in mind, anyway, so its not that far of a stretch for category switching. Anyone else have thoughts on this?
PerkiePie, I'm listening to you. I get that its harder to record on consoles and mobile. I don't know about resources for iOS so I've posted a thread in Color Switch: https://www.speedrun.com/Color_Switch/thread/od6sg. There are at least a few runners there who are submitting great videos from iOS devices.
"Setting a standard" is never a reason for any rejection. Was I not clear that better quality reduces errors and prevents cheating? That's the real reason -- the standard is a positive outcome.
Again, I don't mod console games, and I don't think it would be entirely fair to force people to buy hardware for that. However, if we want to move in the direction of good quality runs from all players, this is something all mods need to consider.
On Samsung S7, I use the native recording app, Game Screen Recorder, or DU Recorder to record my games. Each has its perks. However, Game Screen Recorder is the only one that I've seen that can record longer than one hour. For the timer, I use a simple app called floating timer. It can get in the way of your playing, so make sure its in a good spot before you start recording.
On Amazon Kindle, I use SmartPixel to record, upload to Facebook, download, and add a timer in a video editing software called ShotCut.
If you have a different way of recording and timing, please share! I'm particularly interested in what you use for iOS.
I should have mentioned I only moderate PC and mobile games right now. Back when Eira first posted, I did not see any runs on their profile. For console games like Splatoon 2, I can see how it would be harder to record without expensive equipment.
For PC and mobile, this is not the case. I clearly state in each rule section that there are resources in the forum for finding free and easy to use software for recording and timing. I've only rejected one run with an external camera, since only one has been submitted. It was a minute-long non-WR run -- I definitely took into consideration the effort that was put in. Still, I rejected the run and pointed the user in the right direction for good recording software. That way, next time he decides to run any game on PC, he has the right resources for a good quality run. After this, I implemented the rule on all of my channels to ensure that new users can aim for the best quality speedruns. It would have been hypocritical to verify it and then tell everyone else not to do it.
Asking users to submit videos with quality recording and timing is not irresponsible moderation. Had I verified that user's run, I would have allowed for future users to do the same. I do not want to leave room for error. With quality standardization, there is much less room for error on both the runner and moderators part. Mistakes in recording, editing, and timing are less likely to occur. For most runs on PC, the software I recommend also prevents cheating -- such as automating the mouse and keyboard, playing a prerecorded run on your screen, and much more. Splicing, well of course that's harder to detect, especially in runs without sound... it's perhaps one of the downfalls of quality screenrecording. Not a bad argument, HDK :)
Little Timmy can speedrun -- but hey, let's show him how to properly record and time! Not many people are going to watch or share a bad quality run. Maybe you would, and that's great. However, I'm trying to make an effort to standardize so that potential speedrunners can come into a community that looks and functions as nicely as its portrayed at SGDQ. Since we have the proper tools to make that happen, then rules should be in place to direct players accordingly.
I have 43 players on games I mod following quality rules. Some of them were completely new. All of them now use the correct tools and have gone on to run many games with them. Perhaps to some my rules are limiting; for others, my rules explain what a good speedrun should look like.
Again, maybe its not appropriate to moderate this way for console games quite yet, but hopefully you see that those playing on PC and mobile have the resources to do so. Accessibility is not an issue, and if it ever is, I will not blindly reject the run without considering the player's situation first.
It would be better to record with the best quality, so it can be easier for mods to verify your run, and more fun to watch! Personally, I don't allow anyone running the games I moderate to record with an external camera. I do this because I'm trying to create a standard for new runners to follow -- I believe more people will enjoy the sport of speedrunning if everyone strives for great quality in their video and audio ;)
If you have questions about resources for recording on a certain device, I would ask in the forum specific to each game.
Every game I moderate is free of charge, so check 'em out in my profile! I have a ton more recommendations if you want webgames or mobile.
Here's a webgame with a WR not beaten for 3 months: https://www.speedrun.com/Im_Still_Here (~2 minutes) Here's another that hasnt been beaten for 6 months: https://www.speedrun.com/Snow_Line (~12 minutes)
If you find any glitches or time saves, useful or not, post 'em here!
Glitches:
Gliding: As you are running, you can glide down off a platform by pressing back and forward near a ledge. You will maintain good speed and control. If you double tap as you're gliding, you will break into a sprint when you hit the ground.
4-6 Air Stream Glitch #1: The first air stream glitch can be done right below the bonus level. You just let the airstream hit you against the roof next to the icicle. There are two entry points, and the one closer to the icicle is great for 100% because you can get the bell and the bonus level without buying a fire bird. The entry point farther away is not as useful, but can be good if you want to use Amy to collect the first bell.
4-6 Air Stream Glitch #2: This is by the second bell. Let the air stream take you into the wall next to Amy's tunnel and you can walk around in there. Haven't found any uses for it yet.
4-8 Wall Glitch: Using Shinji to fight the boss, you can get trapped between some of the stones blocking your path of entry. Use this to line up a one cycle kill. You should stay on the wall and slide along it.
Golden Bat Speed Glitch: If the golden bat is trying to collect moving coins, it may not be able to catch them and will follow them around in a circle. This causes the game to run much faster. The only level I've seen this in is 5-3. Haven't found any uses for this yet.
Water Jumping: I'm pretty sure the developers intended for Shinji to be the only cat that can jump off of water while holding down sprint. Haven't found any uses for this yet.
Opposite Ledge Jump: On an ice platform, if you are dazed by an enemy and are sliding towards another without control, a well timed sprint can have you jump off the ledge in the opposite direction.
Lava Jump: If you aren't dazed already, there's a chance that you can jump out of lava dazed and land on all fours somewhere safe. I'm not certain how to ensure this save every time.
Time Saves:
5-4 Butterfly Glide: Playing as any character, you can collect the butterflies and grab a bell right before the lava geyser blocks your path. Just quickly collect blue, green, pink, yellow. Then sprint and glide from yellow to white and begin a sprint on the way down. You should make it past the geyser in time!
6-7 Lever Jump: Playing as Kuro in the room with two levers, you can jump over the levers by sliding down the adjacent wall and jumping at the right moment. Thus, you can avoid flipping one while quickly getting to the other lever.
Lava Pause: Right before taking a death from lava, you can pause and exit to the menu.
On Samsung S7, I use the native recording app, Game Screen Recorder, or DU Recorder to record my games. Each has its perks. However, Game Screen Recorder is the only one that I've seen that can record longer than one hour. For the timer, I use a simple app called floating timer. It can get in the way of your playing, so make sure its in a good spot before you start recording.
On Amazon Kindle, I use SmartPixel to record, upload to Facebook, download, and add a timer in a video editing software called ShotCut. I'm not sure if this specific game is on that device, though.
If you have a different way of recording and timing, please share!
On Samsung S7, I use the native recording app, Game Screen Recorder, or DU Recorder to record my games. Each has its perks. For the timer, I use a simple app called floating timer. It can get in the way of your playing, so make sure its in a good spot before you start recording.
On Amazon Kindle, I use SmartPixel to record, upload to Facebook, download, and add a timer in a video editing software called ShotCut. I'm not sure if this specific game is on that device, though.
On PC, I would use Fraps for recording and LiveSplit for timing.
If you have a different way of recording and timing, please share!
Yo, Mopsi! Thanks for the feedback.
Two questions: Are all levels on mobile also available on the PC version? I might separate device categories if they are different. Also, what do you think about All Levels including Field of Dreams?
I had a 1 hour run of Ground Hog Day that went well first the first half. However, something was off. Whenever I beat each level, there was no fanfare for crossing the finish line or collecting stars. So I thought, funny? Yes, funny indeed -- little did I know, when I would start using cars with engines, the game would run at a severely low framerate and carts would move much slower (only when the engines were turned on). So please, if you plan on running the game, watch out for this funny behavior and make sure you restart the app before going any farther!
Nice find, Warrior! This works a lot like the method I posted in Discord. In my method, you can answer the same question on ten tabs, thus getting to 100 grains. Your method would take more time (to paste the URL), but it overall does the same thing.
My immediate thought is that we ban URL manipulation of the same question. However, for category changing, THAT'S BRILLIANT! Currently tab-switching is tough because it can change your subject. This could really help.
However, your method is not the best! Upon your discovery, I have thought of an even better way to implement URL manipulation. Category links in a separate document! Normal copy-paste only allows for one subject. But what if you load in 21 URLs, each navigating to a different subject. Boom! You've got yourself an All-Subject run, without the downfalls of tab-switching.
What we need to decide is whether or not we should allow users to navigate to a specific seed when they change categories. Imagine this case. You are running English, All Subjects and head over to English Vocab. You could either have a preprepared question, or generate a random seed. Here's what I mean:
http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/ -- randomizes the question http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1379 -- goes directly to a question about "bag"
As far as future uses, it can be good to know how many seeds are in each category, but that's a separate topic. For now, I really like the idea of players playing with complete question RNG, whether they are using tab-switching or URL manipulation. Thoughts?
Contribute with any passionate discussion about new glitches, rule changes, new categories, or anything!
I'm considering everything that's been said -- we have heard of options to create a 50% right category rule, separate categories for fast-clicks and no fast-clicks, and even mentions of No Mistake runs.
On one hand, fast-clicking may be the fastest way to earn rice. Speedrun.com is home to all of the fastest records for every game, and so using every exploit possible should be favorable.
That being said, I've considered what Free Rice, the nonprofit, would think about all of this. I think they would be happy about us running the game, but not too fond of us exploiting it like robots, clicking on one answer over and over. If our morals are in check -- and I believe the very fact that we run this game shows that we are moral people -- I believe it will be best to ban fast-clicking. And, as mentioned by a few of you, it would be a lot more rewarding to get a world record the "right" way instead of fast clicking. Equally so, it would be annoying to lose a record to someone who fast-clicks. I will officially change the rules and ban fast-clicking. That means the three runs using this method will be taken down. I will also create a clear definition fast-clicking within the rules so that it can be avoided at all costs.
To conclude, why not create another category? Many of you had good ideas for categories, however, we would like the leaderboards to stay clean and to have clear winners for each subject. Mainly though, we want to be moral citizens so we can feel good telling the creators of Free Rice, friends, and family just how far we've come. I want to thank you all again for devoting time and speed to the runs for rice!
Beaten by WarriorTYS, with a run time of 11:45.73!
WarriorTYS wins the challenge! :D Join us at speedrun.com/Free_Rice!
![Cursor *10 [2nd Session]](/static/game/369om06l/cover.png?v=6746646)
