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  • Aims for the fastest time
  • Manipulates luck
A black victory in 9 turns is the fastest possible game of Othello/Reversi. I accidentally discovered this route in a casual run. Manipulating opponent moves is simply a matter of waiting an extra frame or two.

Nach: All of us who have played Othello often have been in one of those games with a new player, where the game was completed in just a few moves like this. There's nothing particularly interesting or novel about what happens in this run, and the move list used in the run can be found on many Othello websites. There's not much to be said regarding mastery over an intentionally crippled AI player either.
In order for a TAS to become publish-worthy, it must stand out from normal play. What is happening in this run isn't particularly different from a normal player playing against a particularly poor (or tired) player, nor necessarily any different to a player playing this port without TAS tools.
Board games which are inherently random, like Monopoly, which has dice roles, it's easy to see how luck is manipulated for a perfect game, thus differentiating from typical play. However, there is no inherent randomness in Othello, and any randomness used in a video game port is to choose between some limited moves. In this run, the moves chosen are particularly awful, and can happen to a regular player playing this game on such an easy difficulty setting.
Since there is nothing here occurring which supplies true entertainment value, or even anything out of the ordinary, this is not a run which portrays TASing mastery over regular game playing, rejecting.

Banned User, Former player
Joined: 3/10/2004
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It's just that it somehow feels against the spirit of TASing to play on the easiest difficulty level, ie. deliberately using the weakest possible opponent, because that shows absolutely no challenge. Of course this is a conundrum because the alternative would be to use the highest difficulty level, ie. play against the strongest opponent possible and beat it to a pulp... but making the run a lot longer in the process, with most of the time nothing happening. I suppose my next question would be: How much longer would this run be if it were on the highest difficulty level?
Personman
Other
Joined: 4/20/2008
Posts: 465
I like TASes like this, and would very much like for them to be included in the vault. I wouldn't like it less if it played on the harder difficulty, but I think this category is fine too.
A warb degombs the brangy. Your gitch zanks and leils the warb.
Joined: 12/10/2006
Posts: 118
Well, suppose you go for level 4? Would you change the time limit? Because, when given 40 instead of 20 minutes thinking time, the CPU surely finds better moves. There is even a "no limit" time limit :-). I don't know how the game works, but i'd assume the CPU would probably take it's time time. So the tas would be 20 minutes long. Unless there is a force move button, but when using that it does not matter what level you play anyway, because you would restrict the Level 4 to a Level 1 basically anyway. The AI might also use a fixed depth seach.
Post subject: Re: Console verified!
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Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
dwangoAC wrote:
I had a (somewhat depressing) conversation on IRC in #tasvideos where everyone seemed to be of the opinion that, because this is a board game, it is somehow ineligible to be published regardless of the tier.
The only tier that specifically rules out board games is the vault.
dwangoAC wrote:
To not publish this run on the basis of prejudiced rules that pre-date the creation of the Vault tier strikes me as wrong at every level.
No, the rules are specifically vault rules.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
TASVideosGrue
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om, nom, nom... minty!
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Nach: could you address the very possibility to get an Othello run published (if there is one, and why)?
Warning: When making decisions, I try to collect as much data as possible before actually deciding. I try to abstract away and see the principles behind real world events and people's opinions. I try to generalize them and turn into something clear and reusable. I hate depending on unpredictable and having to make lottery guesses. Any problem can be solved by systems thinking and acting.
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Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
feos wrote:
Nach: could you address the very possibility to get an Othello run published (if there is one, and why)?
I already addressed in my rejection that it probably isn't possible. However, if someone does something *entertaining* which differentiates it from a typical Othello play, by perhaps exploiting some bug in the engine, then it could be acceptable.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
Site Admin, Skilled player (1236)
Joined: 4/17/2010
Posts: 11274
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Warning: When making decisions, I try to collect as much data as possible before actually deciding. I try to abstract away and see the principles behind real world events and people's opinions. I try to generalize them and turn into something clear and reusable. I hate depending on unpredictable and having to make lottery guesses. Any problem can be solved by systems thinking and acting.
ALAKTORN
He/Him
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Joined: 10/19/2009
Posts: 2527
Location: Italy
I agree with the judgment.