Just one more thing. I heard that you rejected the co-op run because they opened the door with dying. But in my knowledge seriously, this game opens the secret door if only one of the player didn't die until 50 stage. This is all version same and i think it is also challenge to make at least one player to be lived until 50 stage. i want to know if the version you have doesn't open that secret door if one of the player died at co-op.
It seems like the one you are using is bubble bobble (US with mode select) but i think we should use more popular and basic version. Maybe your purpose of the category might be start timer at mode select but usually we don't have that verion. I suggest to use the normal verion of the game (which rom's name is bublbobl) and to start timer when you start the game(not at selecting the mode cause normal and popular rom doesn't have selecting mode.) If you are concerning about if the secret door opens even if you die, you don't have to worry about it cause every version can't open it except you don't die until stage 50 or cheat code.
Play the Game as one player until the end. Time Starts when selecting the Normal Mode. Time ends when kicking the Endboss in Level 100 when he is captured in a bubble (he flies out of the screen). Secret Door Appears only when you play until Level 50 without dying Version.
This is the original rule. But in my knowledge and in most of the game play videos in youtube, it seems like there is no screen that can choose between normal game and super game. So i searched from https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/583720-bubble-bobble/cheats this page. it says you need super mode cheat code to open the screen which is seen in berlindude's run. I want to know if he used this kind of code and whether i need to use this cheat code or not to run the category.
(Actually i heard some things from the 2 runner who did 2 players any% recently and after that mod changed the rules. BUT honestly, i think it needs to be changed not to use cheat code or hidden code instead of "Secret Door Appears only when you play until Level 50 without dying Version". This might can confuse some new runners and it can cause to use other cheat codes like power up code or some other thing.)
About the igt, is it ipossible to make timer that only excludes loading time? Becauase some of the people wants to rental voids in some stages like infinite 3. In that case, that would have to play game by online and they will have sos missions. I think it would be unfair for them. Also, in final judgement, as you know there's a glitch that can end the game faster than usual by pausing. And as cyd said it would be uncomfortable for some people who wants to use burst or lightening in other stage if we ban switching wispon. This is NG+ category. It should not ban people to change their avatar. I think these would be problem. These can be settled if we use timer that excludes loading time.
Zeroswordmaster's 100%pc run is ng+ game play not a 100% run.
So recently, we put it as subcategory 'other' which can put anthology runs. because metal slug anthology is just set of metal slug 1 to 6, we thought this is more reasonable than making it as a new game. Is it ok?
ask google... there is a lot of roms for metal slug. or change your emulator. For metal slug, I recommend winkawaks 1.62. It is typically used emultor between speedrunners I know.
Do you thinks it is necessary? because most of the good runs are no continue. And theoretically, no continue is the fastest
if you are playing with real NES hard ware, by killing 3rd red crab really fast(before the fourth crab comes out) It is skipped
When you are zombie, if you have a bomb than using the bomb at the proper timing is faster than taking a death. See some videos.