Posted: 3/27/2016 1:05 AM
(Edited: 3/27/2016 10:41 AM)
Post subject: The Sims 2
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SuperFlomm
Joined: 2/10/2014
Posts: 12
Location: Germany
The Sims 2 is the third Sims game on the GBA. The gameplay is similar to the previous games, but this time the game is divided into episodes. I have been working on a TAS for a few days until I got stuck in the second episode, because I needed more money than I had. (I really need to plan this better) I could have done an additional minigame to get more money, but of course this would mean a massive amout of wasted frames. Link to video And I believe I can save enough money without wasting too many frames. So I decided to start from the beginning again and use my new knowledge. Let me list the transactions:
    - You get §499 from Daddy Bigbucks. Total: §499 - You have to buy a piece of furniture in the intro episode (I call it episode 0), so I grabbed the first thing I could get, a couch for §150.Later I sell it, for §75 in episode 1. So I lost §75 by doing so. If I buy the shower instead for §90 I will only lose §45. So in the end I save §30. (Same amount of frames) Total: §454 - Unlike other minigames "King Chug Chug" does not have a timer, the minigame just ends when you lose, the fastest way to lose is to do absolutely nothing (or to do a glitched jump over and over again). But you don't get any money if you do so. - You have to buy the Paddelball for §250. Total: §204 - If you have seen the video above, then you know I didn't do the Car Commercial. At this point I knew that I needed money, I just didn't know how much. I thought I could just come back and do the minigame as soon as I know how much I need. It turns out you can't get enough money in this minigame alone. In my testing I got about §300, I'm sure it's possible to get more though. Total: §504 - You can get §190 in the Chop Shop minigame. (Maybe §200) Total: §694 - Now we need to spend a total of §750 to get the items required to complete episode 2. Total: §-56
As you can see I am still missing money. But don't worry, I have a plan, or multiple. 1. I am sure I can squeeze more than §300 out of the Car Commercial minigame. Is it enough? We will see. Does not waste frames as the minigame is on a timer. (Best option) 2. Do the King Chug Chug minigame properly. Trade frames for money. 3. Sell the toilet for §60. Also wastes frames, and I don't have a toilet anymore... 4. Do another episode and come back later. Now that we talked about my first attempt at a TAS, let's continue to my second and current attempt: Link to video The first noticeable difference is when I create the sim. You can use L/R to switch between the tabs. Doing so saved 22 frames while changing the way the sim looks. By choosing a shorter name I want to find out if it saves any frames. It's not the case so far. The second and so far last improvement is in the shop. Using better movement saved 7 frames. Notice how Dusty does not have enough time to turn around. I also bought the shower instead of the couch this time. So here you have it, this is my current progress. Thanks for reading and leave feedback and questions if you like.
Posted: 3/27/2016 1:53 AM
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Spikestuff
They/Them
Editor, Publisher, Expert player (2655)
Joined: 10/12/2011
Posts: 6446
Location: The land down under.
Flash TASer of 2022 PSX TASer of 2016
SuperFlorian12 wrote:
The Sims 2 is the third and last Sims game on the GBA.
Sims 2 Pets, is the last fourth and last Sims game on the GBA. The only thing I can go off is the First Attempt, which is technically not much, since you already mentioned the things that require change.
WebNations/Sabih wrote:
+fsvgm777 never censoring anything.
Disables Comments and Ratings for the YouTube account. Something better for yourself and also others.
Posted: 3/27/2016 10:36 AM
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SuperFlomm
Joined: 2/10/2014
Posts: 12
Location: Germany
Oh right, I forgot about pets. Probably because it is quite different from the rest.
Posted: 3/28/2016 7:37 AM
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Bobo_the_King
Player (80)
Joined: 8/5/2007
Posts: 865
The last episode can only be unlocked by linking GBAs. Is that in your long term plans?
Posted: 3/28/2016 8:44 AM
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SuperFlomm
Joined: 2/10/2014
Posts: 12
Location: Germany
The last episode is completely optional and wouldn't be done in an any% run, but I do plan to do an "all episodes, highest ratings" run eventually. Which would require a link cable connection. (Is that possible in BizHawk?)
Posted: 3/28/2016 1:09 PM
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Spikestuff
They/Them
Editor, Publisher, Expert player (2655)
Joined: 10/12/2011
Posts: 6446
Location: The land down under.
Flash TASer of 2022 PSX TASer of 2016
mGBA does infact have linking, but that hasn't been implemented in BizHawk yet.
WebNations/Sabih wrote:
+fsvgm777 never censoring anything.
Disables Comments and Ratings for the YouTube account. Something better for yourself and also others.
Posted: 4/11/2016 2:36 PM
Quote
SuperFlomm
Joined: 2/10/2014
Posts: 12
Location: Germany
I finally have something to show again. The run was almost completely redone to factor in the need for money. However, I ran into another brick wall just before the end of episode 2. And his name is John Cena Tank Grunt. I can not finish the conversation with him without running out of Performance Meter or wasting a lot of frames. Here is the movie file: http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/30167440337685182 and the movie of the first attempt, because why not: http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/30167379247067687 Alright, let's talk about what I did differently compared to the first attempt. - I collect Alien Ship Parts and Fuel Rods to sell them. The price for them changes a lot, so I can't say how much I will get out of them, but it doesn't take long to pick them up. Even if I only get §50 per rod it will be faster than a minigame. - I bought "Threaten" instead of "Rude Gesture", because it was faster in episode 1. - I do the optional minigame "Bigfoot Loves Chickens" because I can complete it almost instantly and it gives a decent amount of money. The alternative would be the minigame "Keelhaulin' Cards", but I found it is slower and it gives less money. - I buy skill books which are required to reach a higher level in minigames. Higher levels give more money. - There is a glitch that skips the pop-up when using a skill book by using the book as you go into a loading zone. (I also found a softlock by using a book when your sim is about to enter a cutsceen.) - I chose a different 2nd episode. This episode is essentially a way to get a lot of rating points very quickly. I need rating points to buy the motorcycle. It is faster than running. So, I guess it is time to redo episode 1 again. It's a shame, the RNG was so good. The fact that I bought "Threaten" instead of "Rude Gesture" screwed me over when I got to Tank Grunt. Oh well, I can probably reuse most of the inputs. Edit: I slightly changed the route in episode 0 (not collecting the first fuel rod). The result is very good RNG in the 1st episode and I am at the Car Commercial again. Let's hope the RNG stays as good when I get to the 2nd episode again.