Posted: 2/13/2007 6:39 AM
Post subject: Columns
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Lardarse
Joined: 9/27/2006
Posts: 16
Location: Bristol, UK
I'm considering doing a TAS of this game, but I want to get a bit of a reality check before I start. How TASable to people think that this game is?
  • The traditional thing to do would be to try to max out the score. However, this is extremely non-trivial, due to the fact that the score counter has 8 digits, and the score isn't likely to get much above 1000 for a basic 3 jewel clear before the run will get boring to watch.
  • The only possibilities for runs that would be interesting from start to finish are the 3 minute time trial, and flash mode, which is a race to clear a specific jewel on the bottom row.
  • There are other issues to doing a run of this game: The delay between a piece creating a line and the line disappearing is high, and the delay between one piece appearing and the next feels like it's even longer.
So, is this something worth trying to do?
Posted: 2/13/2007 6:41 AM
Post subject: Re: Columns
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upthorn
He/Him
Emulator Coder, Active player (391)
Joined: 3/24/2006
Posts: 1802
Sega TAS of 2011 Sega TAS of 2010 Sega TAS of 2008 Sega TASer of 2007
Lardarse wrote:
the score isn't likely to get much above 1000 for a basic 3 jewel clear before the run will get boring to watch.
Aren't there any combo bonuses?
How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.
Posted: 2/13/2007 8:35 AM
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Lardarse
Joined: 9/27/2006
Posts: 16
Location: Bristol, UK
Scoring is 30 * combo step * number of lines of three made in this step of the combo * (level+1) A line of 4 counts as two lines of 3, a line of 5 is three lines of 3.
Posted: 2/13/2007 8:42 AM
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upthorn
He/Him
Emulator Coder, Active player (391)
Joined: 3/24/2006
Posts: 1802
Sega TAS of 2011 Sega TAS of 2010 Sega TAS of 2008 Sega TASer of 2007
Lardarse wrote:
Scoring is 30 * combo step * number of lines of three made in this step of the combo * (level+1) A line of 4 counts as two lines of 3, a line of 5 is three lines of 3.
Let's see a test vid of the best combo you can set up in level 1, using luck manipulation as best you can.
How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.
Posted: 2/13/2007 9:43 AM
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Mukki
Skilled player (1099)
Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1139
Location: United Kingdom
GBA TASer of 2012 GBA TAS of 2012 Lucky TAS of 2011 Gameboy TAS of 2011 N64 TASer of 2007
I used to play this all the time when I was younger, however, I am sceptical as to how good a movie it would make. You'd best make a test run first before committing yourself to it.
http://tasvideos.org/Mukki.html
Posted: 2/13/2007 12:16 PM
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Lardarse
Joined: 9/27/2006
Posts: 16
Location: Bristol, UK
Right now, I'm sceptical as well. I'm struggling to work out exactly what everything in memory is, and how the randomizer works. What typically affects the RNG in these games? What doesn't help is that the display is always at least 1 frame behind the actual numbers as seen in memory. One thing I did learn is that the score you get when you force a piece downwards is (level+1) per half-block moved down, and that forcing a piece down moves it one block every 2 frames. Forcing the piece down is slower if the natural falling speed is faster than that, but will always award you points. One thing I forgot to mention earlier is that the level advances every 50 jewels cleared, and that you can start at any level upto 9. And I might as well mention this now: The ROM I'm planning to use is "Columns (W) (REV 01) [!].bin". Any input as to why I shouldn't use that ROM is welcome.
Posted: 2/14/2007 12:48 AM
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xebra
Joined: 5/3/2004
Posts: 1203
I once maxed out the score on this game and it took me like 3 weeks of straight playing, around, oh, 3-4 hours a day, I'd guess. Even if you were 100 times faster than I was when I was a kid, that would be a like 40 minutes long! I'd probably still watch it, though. Strangely, the score maxes out at 99,999,999,990. (You should make a TAS just to see if I'm making this up!)
Posted: 3/27/2007 5:58 AM
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Randyman101
Joined: 3/27/2007
Posts: 1
Location: Pennsylvania
I've played Columns and whenever this video gets posted I'll watch it I the hang on the chain reaction thing I'm a beginner though I've been practicing on some of the easy games.
Posted: 3/28/2007 3:24 AM
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Highness
Player (71)
Joined: 8/24/2004
Posts: 2562
Location: Sweden
Hehe. I have Columns on my Mega Game 6 cartridge. It's awesome. Go for it I say.
Posted: 3/28/2007 8:24 AM
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Mr._Kelly_R._Flewin
Joined: 5/29/2004
Posts: 757
I honestly don't know why someone would TAS this.... believe me, I watched an INP that hit 47 Million points... it WAS interesting, don't get me wrong... but only because of the insane speed and it wasn't a TAS. And I did use Fast Forward after 5 mins of max speed... and even then it took what seemed to be forever... If this game had a finite goal way easier to achieve, I'd say go for it... but since it doesn't :( Mr. Kelly R. Flewin
Mr. Kelly R. Flewin Just another random gamer ---- <OmnipotentEntity> How do you people get bored in the span of 10 seconds? Worst ADD ever.
Posted: 3/28/2007 2:55 PM
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bkDJ
Joined: 7/26/2006
Posts: 1215
maybe it could be a TAS-only challenge of how to get to 10 million points the fastest.
Posted: 4/1/2007 9:27 AM
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Xkeeper
Banned User
Joined: 12/23/2004
Posts: 1850
I'd rather see Columns 3 done; that game has a bit more intersting-ness in it and better reward for combos (namely, killing your opponent) and since they all use a somewhat different strategy... Using super speed, you could probably off the final boss in Hard without a sweat, hehe.
Perma-banned
Posted: 8/31/2008 9:57 AM
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satan
Joined: 8/31/2008
Posts: 56
bkDJ wrote:
maybe it could be a TAS-only challenge of how to get to 10 million points the fastest.
I like this, and its the only possible way you could make a movie out of this. The game has an infinite game mode normally, and if there is no set goal, you cannot make a timerun. Flash Columns would be pointless to make movies of, since you can just luck manipulate them so they start up with a 1-hit-win situation.
Posted: 8/31/2008 11:27 PM
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alden
Player (121)
Joined: 2/11/2007
Posts: 1522
satan wrote:
Flash Columns would be pointless to make movies of, since you can just luck manipulate them so they start up with a 1-hit-win situation.
Actually, that would be pretty cool... it it's possible. X number of points is kind of arbitrary and repetitive, unless you could do it in 5 minutes or something. Have you seen http://tasvideos.org/2005S.html? Not great but it's a Columns TAS...
I make a comic with no image files and you should read it. While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free. -Eugene Debs
Posted: 9/6/2010 3:46 AM
(Edited: 10/23/2010 5:30 AM)
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mmarks
Banned User
Joined: 8/30/2010
Posts: 500
Location: Argentina Bs. As.
I'm doing a TAS of Full Columns. A I mean, to do it with all levels I will show here and in video if you want Link to video
[18:51] <scrimpy> Oh, nothing [18:51] <mmarks> oh [18:51] <Nach> I think scrimpy is just jealous of you mmarks
Posted: 9/7/2010 8:29 PM
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Highness
Player (71)
Joined: 8/24/2004
Posts: 2562
Location: Sweden
I like this idea, but is it possible to create longer chains, and combos? Would be more awesome than to see a couple of row-by-row terminations. Good luck with the full production. Looking forward to see it.