I think I'd allow the higher resolutions, but I'm not sure how the widescreen mod works. Does it increase the FOV, or just crop the top and bottom? If it's the former, you are increasing how much you can see at one time, which some people see as cheating (we are not allowed to do it in old GTA games with mods, for example). If it does the latter (which is actually what the old GTA games do if you use their in game widescreen option) then I'm more inclined to allow it, but you're limiting how much you can see so might look worse for the runner.

This actually brings up an interesting thing, because doesn't the Xbox version have native widescreen support? How does it work on that? Does that increase the FOV or just crop the top and bottom too?

While downloading the new Donut Mod today, I grabbed the new mod launcher (1.10) along with it. If people didn't know, I already used this because it includes a "hack" (as they call it) to fix the windowed mode stuff and makes it run properly on new computers with multiple cores (most people usually use "compatibility mode" to do this).

But as I found out, the new mod launcher includes a load of new stuff, including a "Frame Limiter" hack. If you guys don't know, the games physics can get a little whacky if you have too high of a frame rate, and a lot of us have been limiting it with Dxtory and such recently to help with that.

But, that's not the best part. The best part is because the frame limiter is a proper "hack" for the game, they've also included an option for it not to limit the loading screens, which is the major issue we had and one reason Cookie didn't want to limit the frame rate before.

The limiter also allows you to change the frame rate cap; by default it's 60 (which is what most of us use).

I haven't fully tested this thing out yet, but it seemed to work fine for me from what I can tell, but maybe someone better than me could do a full run using it and see how they get on? The only issues I had were that (according to Dxtory anyway) the frame rate wasn't exactly 60 (but that might be Dxtory lying, I don't know) but that shouldn't change much, and the game looked like it stuttered every half-second or so, but that might be an issue with my PC? I'm not sure.

The new launcher also has a "hack" that allows you to run the game at any resolution your graphics card supports, which is also nice. It also has a widescreen mod, although I probably won't be allowing this for speedruns right now. Of course, all other mods and hacks that let you cheat are not allowed!

You can find the download for this on this page: http://donutmod.donutteam.com/download.php

I just tested the mod as well and it's super easy to get working and such, so no one should really have any issues, although I can help them if need be.

Seems like Monday is a good date for everyone here, we'll have to figure out a time we can all do. For me, any time is good as long as it's not too late (UK time of course).

The new mod launcher also includes some really interesting hacks; I'm gonna make another thread on that though.

Semi-related question: is it possible to still source the demo version from anywhere? I've always been curious about that "version", but haven't had any luck in finding it.

EDIT: By which I mean the full demo of course, not just the EXE.

I actually use the FairLight EXE for mine (just for No-CD use), and I can confirm that one works for the mod launcher. You can find it on GameCopyWorld if you need it.

I actually use the mod launcher when normally running the game, obviously unticking the "mod" box first. I do this because it fixes the windowed mode and automatically makes the game run on 1 core so the loads actually work correctly.

I would be up for this. Am I right in thinking these mods only need you to use the mod launcher and not actually modify the game files themselves?

Pac told me to write this on the forum, so here goes:

Have some better way to make sure people understand video proof is required if a leaderboard sets it. I get people submitting runs with things such as "N/A" in it which I'm just gonna reject anyway.

Also I noticed on the submit page, things that are required have a star (¤) next to their names but nowhere does it say what this stands for. Of course for some people it might be common sense, but I still think it should be added.

Right now the bot favours hosting people with under 30 viewers and those playing GTA games and some "clones". That's pretty much it for now; it might change at a later date.

Do all unlocked cars go at the beginning of the phone booth list then? If so that's a good idea; it's something I was thinking about but wasn't sure if it was true or not. Feel free to upload the save somewhere if you want to.

Before I say an answer I'm going to point out how bad Jolzi's "Classic% should be starting from zero because that's how the older games worked" point is. It brings up the point I keep going on about; how bad the name "Classic%" is and how it could lead to many arbitrary rules, all because "well, that's the classic way of doing things". It's even worse now that Vice City involves many warping tricks which wouldn't be allowed in a Classic% run anyway. It's a horrible name, but it's stuck now so I guess we have to deal with it.

Also point out Ryedawg's "it's not available in next-gen, therefore it's unfair to those people": he's even proven a lot of small differences in next-gen, does that mean if something is slower in next-gen, last-gen shouldn't do it either (and vice-versa)?

I'm sorry ryedawg that you paid $70 for a version which probably isn't faster right now, but that's your problem, not ours. That's how it feels to me right now, because you also own the last-gen version (well, you used to) so it's not because you only own the "inferior" version.

In regards to the DLC being in an update on PS3 and not on Xbox 360, have a look at this news item on Skullgirls, which had a similar "patch size" issue: http://shoryuken.com/2013/01/08/skullgirls-xbox-360-patch-delayed-due-to-size-limitations-four-to-five-dlc-characters-originally-planned/

On PS3 their update was about 500MB, but on the Xbox 360 they aren't allowed to do this; I guess they have a size limit. I imagine this is the reason why the DLC for GTA5 is separate downloads on the Xbox 360.

This is all just me taking a guess here, but it makes sense.

NOTE: I will use the phrase "DLC" like everyone else, but I don't like calling it that because many people assume this means "you are paying to save time". Also, on the PS3, the new guns/weapons are forced on you through the updates, you don't download them separately. I do not classify game updates as "DLC" (although technically they are content you download!)

First, before I reply to what ryedawg said, I would like to point out his Classic% runs he has been doing on the Xbox One have $500,000 added to Franklin's account from the start because he pre-ordered (which you can no longer do of course) and he was also trying out the rail gun, which according to the GTA Wiki "is exclusively available to those returning to GTA V from the original PS3 or Xbox 360 versions" which I don't know if this is true or not (ryedawg wouldn't give me a good answer to "have you linked your Social Club account up?").

If the last statement is true, then both of these things are unfair to do, because they either require you to have bought the game before a certain date, or own more than one version. I'm not sure if it's possible for ryedawg to remove the $500,000 getting added automatically though.

"it would be unfair to run on next gen or pc" We could also say that using replays on Vice City is unfair to people running on consoles because they don't have access to them, but we don't. These are things that allow you to skip major portions of the game; DLC isn't nearly that extreme. Cars have also been proven to be slightly slower in next-gen, does that mean last-gen should drive slower? The same with the patched glitches, should we not do them?

"leave classic with out dlc for the reason of every other gta game doesn't have DLC" We've already discussed that the name is arbitrary already. For this reason we shouldn't use checkpoints either. If I was feeling even more silly I could say "we can't use a certain car because it wasn't in the old GTA games" as well.

I understand people are like "why the hell are you allowing DLC in a speedrun" when they hear we allow "DLC", but these tend to be people that don't run the game, don't know the game and/or don't know the run (Joshimuz for example, seeing as he seemed to kick this off again). They also immediately think that this would be paid for.

I would be against the "DLC" if it was an unofficial mod (which it is not) or you were gaining an advantage because you paid (which, again, you are not). The only other argument I can think of is "they might not have an internet connection" but that's not something that is directly linked to this game.

There's probably more I can write in relation to this, but that's all I could think of right now. I really don't like arguing like this. :/

Added some stuff about where to start the timer to the original post.

If you came here to find a NG+ save, use this one: https://www.speedrun.com/saves/Save8_jdrbV.7z

ORIGINAL POST:

LINK TO SAVE: http://www.speedrun.com/saves/Simpsons_HAR_NGPlus_Save_FTnMt.zip

Seeing as a few people were discussing about running NG+ recently (mainly for the "All Story Missions" category) I decided to write a thread about it and upload a save we can all use that is optimised for NG+, so we all have a level playing field. Most of the ideas for this came from some of us runners talking in Cookie's chat the other day; if you have any other inputs or suggestions, feel free to reply to this thread!

The save we decided to use can have anything unlocked, so I just chose to use a 100% save. This means all cars/costumes and all FMVs have been watched, which means they are skippable without needing to pause-buffer or anything. Of course naturally, we cannot do the tutorial mission, so that isn't part of a NG+ run.

The idea of this save is to have everything all set up to make the run as fast as possible; here is a small list of things I did:

100% (all cars/clothes/FMVs). Saved on L1M1. Correct clothes already selected on levels that need them. (For Marge: Inmate) All cars from phone booths have 0% damage. Level 1 Homer is wearing the Muumuu (by request of runners).

In regards to where to start the timer: I think we should start it when you hit "resume game" from the menu after you have loaded said save. It's either that, or start it when you load the save originally.

I'm not sure if I forgot about anything; knowing me I probably did. If there's anything else you can think about that could be default in the save that would make a run quicker, please do tell me.

In relation to the "patching" that was done recently, they did remove the music from it from what I've read, but the game still has the v1.01 on it. I have no idea if that's correct or not though, I don't have OSX to check myself.

I agree on the front page stuff people have brought up. Ages ago it used to have nothing on it though, and you had to get to the games through the menu at the top. It does need some sorting out though (some games don't even have icons which is a pain).

@Yagamoth: All the games you can see by looking at the games menu are different series (as in they have more than one game) while the "other" category is for games that are single. I don't mind this but it can be hard to find games as the site gets bigger. We really need a search function; Pac could even just botch something together using Google for a start.

I was just trying stuff out and I was able to slide without shooting, if you hold down the left trigger to aim while in free aiming mode it works. But to make it work, you have to crouch manually, just pressing sprint doesn't do it.

Nah, we all clearly have to play on the Xbox 360 version they're releasing on Sunday, duh ;)

Maybe make a section for old "legacy" runs so people can still see them or something? I dunno really.

Does anyone know how laws work in this regard? Kappa

@RunnerHAWORTH: Or, you know, keep them as a legacy run as we always have done? It's not like people who run when the rules were different can go back into the past and change what they did. :P