Emulated runs are currently allowed in a game I moderate, however this leads to it being really easy to TAS. I was thinking that to counteract this, we require something like gamepad viewer ( https://gamepadviewer.com/ ), which without a lot of extra effort wouldn't track inputs from a TAS on an emulator (I don't think). Was wondering if this would be a good idea to require emulated runs to do (with a guide made in order to show them how to do it) and just wanted a quick yes or no. Made a strawpoll to collect the answers, so if yall wouldn't mind a quick yes or no it'd be appreciated.

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/45234122

It's different per game, so post it in the forums for that game. Having said that, inputs don't do anything for validity.

@Komrade this is on dolphin in general (which is why I asked here), and TAS inputs don't show up as controller inputs I don't think (without extra work), so it would make TASing impossible without putting in that time, adding to validity. Furthermore, an input display can help show that someone isn't doing crazy shit like frame-perfect inputs the same exact way every time or something.

Input display is very easy to fake. Make a TAS or segmented run, manually track inputs after. Line em up. Not hard, and people looking to cheat aren't doing so because its easy or the fastest option, they'll take the time to get around something like input reading lmao.

@Komrade fair point ig

Lining up controller inputs in a Wii/Gamecube game, most of which are 3d games with complex physics would be quite challenging. This is infinitely more safe than not requiring it.

I'm not familiar with wii/gamecube shit so I'm not sure what is or isn't available, but I know on NES or anything I can run through Bizhawk its easy. I imagine an external input reader would also be easy. It reminds me of the handcam shit in FPS games to prove one is not cheating. Hand cam is also very easy to fake but w/e

• If you have the technique to 100% mimic the TAS inputs on a handcam, at that point I don't see any reason why you couldn't just do the run normally and flex on the rest of us mortals, as it would actually be easier.
• If that's not the case, you may mimic the TAS inputs to a certain degree, but as long as it's properly scrutinized by the mods it would end up revealing the foul play.

No method of validation will be 100% foolproof to be honest, and in the case of Dolphin a lot of games just straight up ban it to avoid this kind of issue, but adding a handcam as a requirement for Dolphin runs would probably deter the grand majority of wanna-be cheaters.

@MrMonsh don't wanna go to handcam, most people running the game atm don't have the money to spend on a separate camera, many are using dolphin because they can't afford even a $40 capture card like the mirabox

@Komrade Could be, however it'd still make it easier (obviously not guaranteed) to detect TAS-like inputs without having the runner doing some either costly or weird stuff

Also being on the actual wii just makes it a bit harder to cheat (not really that insanely difficult). If you have money to spend it becomes even easier too. That being said dolphin is obviously easier, but not really by that much.

@Sizzyl Don't know if this would help, but I advise you to try dm'ing the mods of a really popular speedgame (that allows dolphin) and ask them how do they verify if the runs are real or fake.

@Output I legit don't know of a popular game that allows dolphin, almost all of them are banned, or are like sunshine where you can't submit a dolphin time above a certain threshold

The only popular game I know that supports dolphin is BFBB, but using it is a disadvantage since gc is one of the slowest consoles which you can play the game on