Hey everyone, I was recently placed the question if the pause buffering done in the following video, is accepted as per the rules currently stand:

(Specifically at 2:35, 6:20 and 10:42)

The runner uses constant pause buffering of which I assume saves IGT time. (the runner does this everytime the character speak in-game)

I reached Zenix, and it was concluded its best to bring everyone's opinion into this.

My opinion, I think pause buffering is commonly used in speedrunning, and as such I'd assume it's ok to use it if proof is shown that it truly saves time.

Though as a con of my opinion, I'd imagine someone bringing this to it's extreme and pause buffer through an entire run, and that idea isn't pleasing.

I'd say it's fine. Thousands of games you pause buffer and I can't think of any game that has it banned off the top of my head.

Doesn't work anymore to my knowledge. Nor does the fire glitch in 3-2. If it did work, I'd still say no because there's another glitch that people can do (patched now for the most part) that only messes with IGT yet you have to play the full chapter. That's how some people get sub hour times, using a checkpoint glitch but still playing the full game.

Just look at his best 1-1 : 8:09. And about if it should be allowed, my answer is no.

Imagine if it was still possible post-patch, we could even mess IGT SS times for full game runs. Totally wrong.

I'd emphasise though that this forum post is to decide wether a run is considered valid or not if it includes pause buffering.

I assume that the use of pause buffering on the newer version of the game is not usefull, though the question is, should a run (NG+, NG, SS, etc.) be rejected if it includes pause buffering?

For example, I noticed the current WR for SS subchapter 3-1 Amateur uses it (6:26 video time)

I don't mean by this that we should go back on the leaderboards and reject all the runs that paused their game even just once or anything of the sorts. I'd rather ask if what is seen on this video is worth rejecting runs from this point onward,

My vote is still no, I don't think pausing the game in such way is worth rejecting a run. But it doesn't compare with the ammount of pause buffering used on the first video I posted.

I'd say that yes, at least full game runs, should be rejected if they use pause buffering. But I don't know how much time IGT can be saved, post patch. If it's not much, maybe we can leave it at that.

We grandfathered in some of the runs due to the people not playing anymore, doing stuff that was allowed back then, ect. It wouldn't be fair to make them redo a run because we changed the rules. And I tried on 360 a while back on vet 1-1 to see if it still worked and it didn't.

I'm 100% in favour of only applying new rules to runs that are submited from this point forward, I only meant to use the video as an example.

As of now we have more people in favour of rejecting runs if pause buffering is used. So at least for now I'll answer the person that asked me about this that pause buffering is not allowed.

Thank you everyone.

doesnt it say in the rules that IGT manipulation is not allowed? wouldnt pause buffering count as IGT manipulation?

I don't have a solid reason why this shouldn't be allowed for technical reasons, but from a preference point of view, if this technique was required in order to get WR, I'd stop running the game. Obnoxious and annoying strat that takes far more of my real life away in order to shave time off the IGT. You'll take a 2 hour run to 2.5 hours for the sake of manipulating the IGT.

You can argue that it's an acceptable method of IGT manipulation in many other games. Maybe even acceptable in this one, and I would agree with you. However, if it becomes required to any extent close to what RaveTuba posted, then it's a gross strat and would make this game far less enjoyable to run.

@Lonne Survivor, that's not a bad observation; if you observe the IGT scrip that can be used on PC runs, when pausing the game the IGT gets paused as well, unpausing resumes the timer without any adition or delay (as far as I know), so I'd say it's not really manipulating IGT

@mackmcd_ sometimes breaking a game to the point of making it unplayable is a consequence of speedrunning, that's why I believe categories exist. If a credit warp would be found in the game, I'm sure a "glitchless" category would be open so that runners can enjoy the game for what it is without breaking it.

Though even if allowed I really don't believe pause buffering will cut WR that significantly. For once it's not even proven that it saves time at all...

It clearly saves time. Nappe is on a PS3. Okay, good console, whatever. A person, segmented, solo can't even get that time. Trance has 8:21 on PC. He could get it a bit lower with some grinding but not 5 seconds lower.