Where/when is frame rule applied?
8 years ago
New Jersey, USA

Does anyone know where the framerule gets applied? Like, suppose you have 2 runs on 1-1, the first of which is a frame perfect 370 and the second of which is, say 6 or so frames behind and misses the frame rule (not sure if that's true but it feels about right). In theory there must be some point before the "Mario x 3" screen where the game actually "waits" for the remaining frames (approx 12-16 frames). It would have to be before that screen because otherwise splitting at that screen wouldn't be a good way to detect frame rule misses (and since Darbian and others split at that screen I imagine that's a good screen to do it). I have a feeling the game waitsi when the flag goes up, but I'm unsure... Any help appreciated. cheers, JWILD p.s. If I don't get any answers I'll post a follow up after checking frame-by-frame in imovie. Just wanted to see if anyone had a quick answer.

New Jersey, USA

update... A quick and easy way to find out whether you made certain frame rules (without splits). I am now 99% certain the frame rule (on flag levels) is applied in the time between mario entering the castle and the "Mario x 3" screen coming up. For instance if Mario enters the castle in 1-1 with a fast 369 and 8.4 seconds lapse between his entering and the "Mario x 3" screen, then Mario has made the fastest frame rule. If something like 8.7 seconds or 8.8 seconds (8.75 really) lapse then Mario has missed the fastest frame rule.

California, USA

Yes, the time gets added somewhere between when the timer stops counting down and when the screen goes blank. I'm pretty sure it is at the very end of this time period, so the frames are being added just before the screen goes blank, though I've never needed to know for sure.

It's a perfect place for the game to add a small amount of time, because nothing is happening (aside from the coin flash at the top of the screen, which is why we use that to help determine which frame rule we got when the screen goes black).

However, if you finish the level via a warp pipe (such as in 1-2 or 4-2), then the time actually gets added during the title screen for the next level, which is why the only accurate way to split those levels is when Mario appears at the beginning of the next level. (However, I personally don't do this because it would interfere with my runs too much. I just split when I enter the pipe and accept the inaccuracy, especially since the splits at the end of 4-1 and 8-1 will be accurate again anyway.)

JWILD likes this
New Jersey, USA

Cool. That explains it. Thanks Muhahahahaz!

Muhahahahaz likes this
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