This thread will be used to discuss categories and rules around each of them. Use common sense when submitting ideas. This will define the framework of The Occupation as a speedgame.

I will open this thread myself with a brainstorm around the Any% category of the game. I'm currently in touch with the game developpers (White Paper Games) to learn more about how the game is made and how it works, so I shall update this post once I know more about the inner workings of The Occupation.

As far as we know right now, the fastest way to finish the game is to fail every single investigation and then make a beeline for the end. This is of course because the game runs in real-time within these "investigation" levels and there is no known way to trigger the interviews before the one hour mark.

This Any% run leads to one of the 4 endings possible. You can find this ending in the games' files under the name "Failed Objective". The last cinematic's headlines read: Alex Dubois exonerated, Espionnage! Journalist Harvey Miller on trial, Scarlet Carson on trial, Union Act PASSED

I won't get in the details of the 3 other endings before I talk to the devs. I have some idea of how they each work but I'd like to have confirmation on how everything work before thinking about how to define their Any%/100% runs.

One last thing. And it's quite important. I've discovered a glitch that if used in a certain level leads to some kind of "wrong warp" to the very last after credits level "Harvey Miller's Flat". Before you enter that level, the message "Your investigation is complete. Feel free to exit when you're ready". Without giving too much away, this would make this any% wrong warp category less than 10 minutes long.

As promised, I've talked to one of the devs who shed some light over the different endings the game features. . . There are 3 official ones:

• Ending 1 - Compiled Algorythm: Compile the algorythm in the IPA before inserting the Silhouette floppy disk and getting the cartridge. Retrieve cartridge when you are at the "Return to the Bowman Building" level. Insert both cartridges in Scarlet's computer before sending the press release. Cutscene headlines read: The Miller Report exposes BC group, Scarlet Carson on trial, Alex Dubois exonerated, The Union Act FAILED. . .
• Ending 2 - Scarlet Ending or Deleted Files: Delete Scarlet's data in the IPA. Do not compile the algorythm. Retrieve cartridge when you are at the "Return to the Bowman Building" level. Send the press release on Scarlet's computer in the basement. Cutscene headlines read: The Miller Report exposes BC group, Alex Dubois Sentenced to Life, Union Act FAILED . .
• Ending 3 - Failed Objective or Handed Files: Fail to get the cartridge in the "Return to the Bowman building" level OR Retrieve the cartridge in the same level but hand it over to Bowman in the final sequence at Scarlet's house. Cutscene headlines read: Alex Dubois exonerated, Espionnage! Journalist Harvey Miller on trial, Scarlet Carson on trial, Union Act PASSED OR Alex Dubois exonerated, Scarlet Carson on trial, the Union Act PASSED . . Regarding Ending 3 and its two different variations, Ending 3 is basically "Failed Objective" but there are two different ways of failing. One being slower than the other. There can be a discussion regarding wether or not there should be a difference made between these two categories or not for Occupation as a speedgame. . . Moreover, I've had the chance to ask some more questions regarding the investigations and if completing them fully, partially or not at all had an impact on the endings. And they have no impact, they are just purely narrative tools. There is also no known way to complete one of the two investigation levels other than getting thrown out, conducting the interview, or missing it completely. (I haven't tested that one personally).

I remember my first playthrough of The Occupation, I had missed the first interview, nothing much happens, you just get thrown into the next level abruptly, it'd be horrendously slow though if we're just looking at the endings in a vacuum for this game.

That said this is good information to know, now I just need to figure out how to get the Building 3 Cartridge, because I have been unsuccessful every time I've attempted it. XD

If the runs don't change from one ending to the other except for one or two altering elements, slower at that, then I do agree that there is not much of a point. However, in the case of a 100% run, yet to be defined, it would be interesting to choose the ending that requires the most stuff from the player and make it the default 100% category to run. Because maybe 100% "Failed Objective" isn't very much interesting in terms of things to do (because most of it would be a repetition of Any% strats).

I've routed one individual level (Carson's Offices) for some kind of 100% hybrid cat, where you collect every Blue Interview Tape and Vinyl in the game (both of these collectibles have an achievement attached to them). I've intentionally excluded regular tapes for this reason and because routing would just be stupid if you added them and also because there is no achievement for it. In this draft 100% run I've also gone for All Leads completed (because they are an achievement) and I've got to say, routing and running this level with all the previously mentioned collectibles is pretty fun. And since it's now established that completing all leads, going to the interviews or getting kicked out doesn't matter (except in the Return to Bowman building) then anything goes as far as how to define the rules and contours of a 100%-ish category.

Also @Doodletones, if you're interested, I've got some stupid strats for this game ! My any% practice run is down to 54 minutes. spoiler: you know me, there is some game breaking out of bounds involved :D although these ones are much "harder" to pull off compared to Ether One's

ps: I'm not going to lie, I've yet to successfully complete the Building 3 level legitimately. I either get caught, or OoB the fuck out of there xD

pps: one more piece of information, the devs are working on a level selection menu to add at a later date. Next patch or the one after that.

A few things to update people on: . . Runs are currently being routed on patch 1.3.0 . . There is a 5th ending in the works. It's refered to as "Secret Scarlet" ending in the devs' patch notes. It is currently only partly implemented in the game, although still "playable". I found a way to finish the game with this ending and it is currently the fastest Any% category at 5:22 compared to 52:35 for Any% Failed Obj. This run might be different once the devs finish implementing it in the game. I don't know if the complete version will go live with patch 1.4.0, but once it's out, we'll have to check out what's changed and which version remains the more interesting to run. I have saved patch 1.3.0 on my PC so we are still able to run this patch if the devs fix all the good shit in the future. . . One last thing I would like to discuss is how we are going to define the 100% category. I had suggested to include the following collectibles: Blue Interview Tapes, Vinyls and All Leads because they have achievements and exclude the music tapes and ID cards because they don't. Unless someone has something to say about this, it will be how 100% works in the near future. . . I can't wait to share the good stuff I've found, especially the Secret Scarlet ending (but I'll wait until the devs actually release it, because right now the player is not supposed to be able to access it).

Hi, i played around with the idea of running this game 100%. I already have a rough route planned, but i would like to know what exactly is needed for 100%. Is it still All Leads, All Vinyls and All Tapes?

What About All Calls? In the Chapter Selection Screens they count if you have taken the calls from Mira or not.

And what Ending? Also in the Chapter Selection Screen they ask you at the last chapter if you have patched the disc in IPA and if you have the Bowman Cartridge. So i guess thats the 100% Ending?

Hi rapowke ! I'm glad you're thinking about running this game.

To answer your questions:

• 100% hasn't been fully run yet. If you want to take a look at the some of the individual levels I ran in Levels Leaderboard feel free to do so.
• Regarding rules: it is still All Leads, All Vinyls and All Blue Tapes because these are tied to achievements. They also now appear in the level selection screen (new to 1.4.0).
• Regarding phone calls: they are an achievement and they do appear in the level selection screen. BUT, from what I remember, Mina's phone calls are always scheduled to happen at certain times. So sometimes you'd have to wait, doing nothing while waiting for Mina to call you, which doesn't make for a good speedgame. If you don't agree with this or if what I said was wrong (feel free to test this and report here) I'll be happy to discuss it further.

Regarding Endings: Yeah. I'd say the 100% one would have to be the one that requires the most inputs from the player. And this would then be the one where you need to save the cartridge in the IPA (compile the algorythm) and then go collect the Bowman cartridge in the last level. That way you can insert both cartridges in the PC in Scarlet's basement and get Ending 1 (see one of my posts above).

Does that answer all your questions ? Make sure to check out all the runs already submitted here and ask question about tricks and such. Make sure to check the two 100% individual levels records as well, that might give you some ideas or give you a base to work on and improve.