When I'm doing the extra thing in Nestopia+OBS recording, my framerate (in game drops to like 57fps, back up to full and just stutters like crazy. Makes precise frame perfect inputs almost impossible to do consistently.

I feel as though, for Nestopia at least, recording full game window with an external input display of sorts (like Roy), should be enough, as the emulator itself has no TASing capabilities.

To respond to AD2's answer (thank you for responding btw) "- Why would it be easier to point a camera at a keyboard than start a movie recording?" It probably wouldn't, but I would rather point a camera at a keyboard than start a movie recording. I think I like the handcam idea and maybe some day I might get a PB and that same day I also forget to start the movie recording and then the PB can't be legit because it doesn't have the input file. But is it ok if I do handcam?

How do we submit the input file/avi video?

One thing I must ask is why do runs done on emulators that do not have tassing capabilities still need an input file? I understand how the rule would be helpful on runs done on emulators like FCEUX, but why must this rule also apply to emulators like nestopia? As long as the runner proves that they are playing on an emulator that doesn't have tassing capabilities, I don't see a reason why they should have to include an input file? If there is a reason, I would just like to know why.

Someone who wants to cheat, can easily make their own input file, and make it look realistic. I could make a 455 TAS, and and make it look (on an input level) like a human, complete with up+right and controller errors like that.

I do like the fact that now all runs require a video. In the case of warpless where times under 20 minutes required a video, a time of Say a 19:57 and a 20:02, the effort needed to acquire those sort of times are so similar to each other that I could never see a reason why a low 20 wouldn't require a video, Now of course something like that could be said about any speedrun game that has rules for needing a video under certain times, but that was something I thought about occasionally when browsing through the warpless leaderboard. Thankfully this new rule fixes that all together.

Do consider changing the terminology in the rules to need a "movie file" and not an "input file". All of the emulators call them movie files. Perhaps go on to clarify that a "movie file" is produced by the emulator itself, and that it merely records what inputs you pressed on what frame and is not an actual video file.

I am bewildered by the claims that this could affect performance, it really shouldn't. The mod team needs to add a very detailed guide on how to record movie files on each of these emulators because one has to be doing something very wrong if this affects your framerate in any way.

BTW the avi file from nestopia is not what they are referring to with "input file" Tecate, as you said, that would be redundant, they mean the nsv file. A more detailed guide is essential to dispel this kind of confusion.

Can I suggest editing AD2's original post with very clear step by step instructions, and clearly labeled something like "INPUT FILE INSTRUCTIONS" for each of the approved emulators

The instructions so far are spread in a few replies, and are in different places for different emulators.

or perhaps also even an abbreviated version of instructions in the list of official "rules" - since several runners capable of getting a sub-5 may very well not frequent the forums - and it's not obvious how to create these input files without specific instructions.

To improve clarity

And I see no instructions have been provided. How hard is it to modify one post?

Input files are required for all emu runs... but GL finding out how to actually get an input file out of your emulator - unless you sort through the comments on this post, and even this it's not for all emulators

Come on mods - you can be better than this. Either drop the requirement or provide a CLEAR explanation. All you have to do is modify ONE post with an explanation

It's not necessarily hard, but it's tedious. Mods have to take time out of their day to edit their post, same with all of the runs on the leaderboard.

But, it's not that tedious, it's just a quick 5 minutes of your time.

Discussions get slowed down a lot when we all try to weigh in because we're spread across three different continents.

However, if you want an update, here's what we've seemingly agreed on:

• Drop Nestopia input/movie file requirement
• Allow OpenEmu, no input/movie file requirement.

I cleared the queue of about 50 runs yesterday. These modifications were taken into consideration and accepted if there wasn't anything wrong.

I also apologize for not being more active during all of this and that I didn't respond to everyone's DMs on Discord. I'm running a side business along with my regular 8-5 job, so things are extremely busy for me right now.

@roopert83 You don't have to apologize, you are already doing a lot of work as a moderator.

I appreciate the discussion and the update.

Thank you!

Yeah, after all, I think it's good to see, that we actually care about these kind of things, and give our opinion about them. It's always good to have active community.

Just in case if ANYONE was to complain about the rule "All Runs Require Videos", think of it this way:

What if there was someone who saw the SMB1 leaderboards without even KNOWING the game and submitted a run IF runs were allowed without films. All that person would do is without playing SMB1 on an Emulator, or a Nintendo console, they would just submit a run with a time slower than the video requirement time with no video AND experience of the game at all.

It would be completely unfair if runs didn't need a video and someone just went and submitted a run without playing the game. So I think that "All Runs Require Videos" is a great change for the SMB1 leaderboards.

BTW, if ANYBODY asks me what to do if they have NO way to record, here's my answer: I DON'T KNOW!!!!!!!!

For players using emulator, recording shouldn't be a major issue. You can local record with OBS or some other recording software and upload it to YouTube.

For console players, if you don't have a capture card, you can record using a webcam or phone as an alternative. Just be advised the quality needs to be pretty good especially if you have high level runs. Upload that to YouTube.

I don't think anyone was complaining about that.

That's why I put "Just in case" at the beginning.

It's actually a good thought (or anology idunno). That's why I deleted or I want to reject my 7:01 run because I feel guilty because I don't have a video or any kind of proof. I didn't actually know how to record a fceux movie back then. And yeah it's really good to have a video proof and this rule is fun to discover more in my emulator. I actually record it on my screen recorder so yeah.

R.i.p My 5:32 i just got :(

Gotta run on emulator now.