Root Race (Compute's Gazette)

In this creatively designed strategy game, each player controls a group of trees, manipulating the root system in an effort to reach water. The player with the most efficient root system wins.
The article for this game can be found on page 44 of Compute's Gazette Issue 54 (December 1987)

Why TAS This Game?

The continuation of TASing games from my all-time favorite magazine, Compute's Gazette. This makes my 47th TAS from this series.
Previous Compute's Gazette submissions include (In order of submission):
1Astro-Panic!2Royal Rescue
3Miami Ice4Chopper 1
5Spike6Heat Seeker
7Omicron8Alien Armada
9Star Dragon10White Water
11Space Gallery12Bagdad
13Race Ace14Quolerus
15Trap16Maze-Mania
17Balloon Blitz18Bowling Champ
19Circuits20Going Up?
21Space Dock22Saloon Shootout
23Sno-Cat24Queens' Quarrel
25Stronghold26Lincoln Green
27Disc Blitz28SuperSprite
29Dunk30Basketball Sam & Ed
31Bee Zone32Q-Bird
33Space Worms34Powerball
35Castle Dungeon36Pool
37Snake Pit38RADs
39Spy Defense40The Forbidden Crypt
41Cosmic Combat42Canyon Cruiser
43Cell Runner44Sky Diver
45Snake Escape46The Viper

Game Difficulty and Ending

There is no difficulty in this, except for how many trees you want to compete with. In this run, I choose the maximum number of nine. Since this game cannot be TASed any faster, I choose to get the "maximum" length of my root system. Unless you want to loose the idea of getting a maximum score, then a faster version can be created, but I think it makes more sense to play it for the highest available root system possible.

Effort In TASing

I played this game a ton, in my youth. So I basically have experienced its weakness in AI. For some odd reason, the AI wants to make its move to the outside of the system. I think it does this because its trying to choke off my tree growth, but it really its kinda dumb. Aside from that, RNG doesn't exist...so I had to test what the computer would do against my move. After seeing it's response, I would go back and adjust for my move. This was not always the case, since it does alter its move from time to time. At the beginning of the second round, the computer was struggling...as you will see that it starts to loose the ability to move. This is a very good situation to have, since it means we are winning. One thing to note, it is not possible to completely cut off the computer, since there will always be a single root traveling down for both players. Because my strategy was so strong, it means that the computer will always have the first move of each round.

Human Comparison

I couldn't find one.

feos: Claiming for judging.
feos: Accepting.
fsvgm777: Processing.


TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #8765: nymx's C64 Root Race "maximum score" in 09:14.47
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15527
Location: 127.0.0.1
This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [5741] C64 Root Race "maximum score" by nymx in 09:14.47