I am currently trying to figure out what the prefered console would be to run on.

I tried to find example videos with load times of Oklahoma and came to these findings:

1. Xbox (NTSC) ~4s (faster than xbox360)
2. Xbox360 (NTSC) ~4s
3. Wii ?? probably faster than GCN
4. Gamecube (NTSC) ~12s
5. PS2 ~12-15s
6. PS3 ?? probably slower
7. Dolphin (NTSC) ~22s
8. PCSX2 is out since it runs the game above fullspeed

To keep the game as accessible as possible, its best to not allow modifications that go past the original hardware. Softmodding is often allowed as it allows for region unlocks. In that sense the Xbox that already has a built-in HDD can play games from them, which possibly lowers the load times even further.

Tho loading times are not everything. I have the feeling that the dolphin emulator has some quirks that are hopefully not found on consoles (e.g. dropping inputs and such). Also I currently don't know if the NTSC version on PS2 runs at 60fps or 30fps.

If anyone has information, opinions or whatever. Feel free to share it

Greetings,

I’m wondering when we start and stop the timer, specifically for Levels and for All Objectives + Fight.

Levels: Does the timer start on the first in-game frame (not the menu) of the Amateur Challenges and end upon completing the last Pro objective? It’s probably a good idea to require either "Mastered the Level" (via Restart) or "All Completed Pro Challenges" (showing the objective list) in the video, but these shouldn’t be part of the timed segment.

All Objectives + Fight: I strongly suggest stopping the timer when the post-boss cutscene begins. I’ve tested extensively and don’t believe there’s any way to interact during that cutscene. Most games exclude the final cutscenes from timing since exiting the game would skip them anyway, making their inclusion kinda irrelevant.

perfect, have nothing to add

I wouldn't restrict the difficulties, since they may be beatable with higher lap counts or other optimizations

maybe just say a run can not be started from a previous run. Or a arcade mode run needs to be started from main menu (no clue if that makes more sense)

One is faster with increased difficulty.

Upon winning Arcade Mode, one can go again on higher diff., a certain amount of money is kept for the next run, and one can upgrade one's kart before starting the run. Moreover, when beating it on hardest, one keeps even the upgrades during the previous run.

I think this is the intended way to beat the harder difficulties. I don't think it's possible to make it through Germany on hardest diff. without any upgrades.

My question now: should this even be allowed? Since the setup for a run becomes a great hassle (beat game on easy -> normal -> hard -> (repeatedly beat hard until all upgrades unlocked and enough money to buy boosts) -> start run.

for all the dual courses Best Race = Best Lap since the courses are only a singular lap.

maybe just consolidate both categories

iLs Best Race category should be time attack, this way the category is a bit more standardized and not some are run with bots (grand prix courses) and some arent.

Best Lap might also be time attack only? for the same reason

where does one enter the codes ? player name CHIPPIE and WOODSTOCK dont work for me somehow

I don't know how often you tried it, but I noticed that sometimes the AI fires like some bunch of maniacs regardless of the frame rate. In some of my runs I died on Kollers mission and other times I didn't even took a single hit. I would argue it's because either not dashed properly or just random AI behavior.

Recording I get about 20-30 fps, without recording 50-55 fps and there is no difference for me.

Glitchless seems more like a kinda faster Playthrough, I just don't see the competitive aspect of that and the need to keep track of it.

Difficulty and ghost should absolutely not be a thing. The categories would be exactly the same, because essentially you can use ghost regardless of the "category" (Ghost/No Ghost). We are in no need to create 10 categories of the same run^^