GermanyIf you want to verify you can use this Test Case: https://files.catbox.moe/xdgbqe.7z
Playing as Toad should result in 11.746 seconds on the newest X2 and TXT Versions.
Only problem with option two tho is verifiers will never actually know what version of the thextech ur using and i cant really think of a way to fix this particular issue :/
1.3.6.1 introduces an Animation for the Keyhole Exit that is not present in 1.3.6 and older:
That makes it easy to distinguish.
Two years ago, when we worked to make TheXTech IGT-viable, it was discovered that SMBX increases the Framerate from 65 to 100 during Keyhole exits, artificially inflating the counted time by ~1.685 seconds. Wohlstand added a fix for TheXTech immediately, but to maintain consistency with X2, the fix was disabled for Mode 2 + 3.
An X2 Dev did state that he wants to fix this issue on his side as well, but said he can't make any promises regarding when. In the meanwhile, TheXTech continued to mature, in some cases gaining better backwards-compatibility than X2. [#401] [#539]
The X-Tech Team made the following conclusions:
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We are obligated to maintain accuracy to 1.3. It's a top priority for us and we hold ourselves to the highest standards.
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We don't care about consistency with X2. That is beyond our scope.
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We have planned features in our roadmap that aim to make TXT the most attractive program for speedrunning SMBX64 episodes following version 1.3.7. We don't want unrelated projects to artificially hold back our progress.
For these reasons, we have decided to enable the fixed framerate in Mode 2 and 3 from 1.3.6.1 onward:
https://github.com/Wohlstand/TheXTech/pull/550
Additionally, Mode 2 will enable critical bugfixes like #50 and #284.
1.3.6 is the last version where Mode 2 aims to mimic X2. Mode 2 will continue to represent an authentic SMBX 1.3 experience with only the most essential bugfixes in place.
What does this imply for the SMBX Speedrunning Community?
The SMBX Speedrunning Community will have to decide where to go from here. Possible Options akin to what other Speedrun Communities do include:
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Split Leaderboards between TXT, X2 and 1.3, giving each their own different set of rules.
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Make 1.3.5.3 and 1.3.6 the only allowed TXT Versions on the Boards. (If X2 fixes the Keyhole Exit issue, this needs to be revisited.)
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Don't adjust rules and accept that some versions are inherently advantageous over others. This would mean that:
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TXT is the best Version for Full Game runs, followed by X2, followed by 1.3.
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1.3, if allowed, is the best Version for Level Runs as RTA doesn't track Frameskips. TXT and X2 stay equal.
If you have any questions or feedback, you can contact me or Wohlstand here, or join the Moondust Discord/Matrix:
First Frame of the Credits Level in each Category.
EDIT: This should probably be clarified on the Game/Category Rules.
Do you have a Link for people without Discord?
EDIT: At https://www.speedrun.com/ctr/resources would be good.
In my setup I have replaced the default Toad with the Blue SMB3 Toad (that's also used in STTB). I have made a few Runs with it.
My take: If custom Character Sprites have an identical shape to the ones included in any of the permitted SMBX Versions and you can proof it, it should be allowed.
This is the Toad I am using now: Toad.zip
I verified that the shapes are identical by creating Mask-GIFs with the Moondust PNG2GIFs tool, and comparing their MD5 Checksums:
For character sprites that are shaped differently, that should be up to the Mod's discretion.
Old TheXTech versions have the following issues:
- #148 Speedrun Timer stops when meeting Birdo in Mushroom Pass
- #160 Modified NPC-247 falls apart on TheXTech
1.3.5.2 is the earliest release to fix them.
The information may be updated in the future.
Separate Emu categories is a good idea. ePSXe runs could just stay in the console list like on the CTR boards.
2021-10: TheXTech 1.3.5.2 was released today. It is now the minimum version that's viable for Speedruns. For more details, see below. ————————————————————————————
Ubuntu:
RetroArch appears to have shorter loads and faster gamespeed.
Since no one objected to Ahvena's proposal, can it be added now? It's been two months and no real reasons against it. Concerns that there wouldn't be much competition have been disproved by recent 101% Warpless races. I want to return to the Category at some point and would like to see how my times compare to others.
Heyo. Can you add Android, Linux and MacOS to the list of platforms?
Also, can you add the SMB1 Remake by Sapphire Bullet Bill?
https://www.supermariobrosx.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17413
https://archive.wohlsoft.ru/SMBX%20Episodes/Super%20Mario%20Bros.%20SMBX%20Edition/
I'd suggest the following categories:
- Any%
- Warpless
- New Quest
- New Quest Warpless
Cool =)
Also, since Eclipsed approved TheXTech, I think you can officially release 1.3.4 and then link your GitHub/WohlSoft page with the builds.
@Eclipsed: Also for >2, I can just say that they need to add the time they spend outside if they accidentally unfocus the window. That's what we've been doing
That would be fine, too.
@Wohlstand: Btw, for speed-run modes, I can automatically enable the FPS showing and the disabling of the on-focus-lost pause, should I do that? this makes it very very easy by adding the little startup condition.
Yes, that would be very convenient =)
I made a KeyHoleTest world and GIFs:
https://files.catbox.moe/7jdpn4.zip
@Eclipsed In both cases, the time was 30.342 seconds.
Also, since XTech and X2 use In-Game timing, two rules should apply to them.
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They shouldn't spend more than 5-10 Seconds in the Menu (we already discussed this).
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They should force the game to keep running even when the window is unfocused.
I wrote here how to do the latter for TheXTech. SMBX2 Users can do it by starting it with the following Command:
LunaLoader.exe --runWhenUnfocused
