Catrap is a puzzle game for gameboy. In it you dig paths and push blocks in order to reach and defeat all the enemies on each of the 100 levels.
This is an ~2 minute improvement over the previous run, many levels were improved.
Several levels were improved with small movement optimizations such as going down ladders before falling or pushing blocks in different orders to avoid falling animation.
Other levels had entirely new improvements (some contributed by HandsomeRudy who declined co-authorship.)
Additionally, HandsomeRudy noticed that the boy character climbs faster, so switching characters at the level start screen saves time in some levels.
Finally, a glitch that was present, though apparently unnoticed, in the first run is exploited in several levels. Normally when you defeat an enemy, you have to wait for them to despawn before changing characters. However, if more then one enemy is defeated, or an enemy is defeated and a block collapse is triggered, you have 1 frame when any of these events ends to change characters. You do not need to wait for all of them to complete.
Here is a console verification video:
Special thanks to HandsomeRudy and Jules for time saving suggestions.

feos: Judging...
feos: Replacing the movie with a 15 second improvement.
fsvgm777: Processing. EZGames69 is handling the encodes for this one.
feos: We're back, delaying this per author request.
feos: Another replacement, 4666 frames!
feos: Accepting over [2206] GB Catrap by MattyXB in 59:21.57 once again.
EZGames69: Processing. EZGames69 is...hey wait a minute.

TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #7047: MattyXB & Alyosha's GB Catrap in 57:17.61
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Meh vote. Would this save some time? Round 91, 50:49 in video, kill that bottom level creature first, then stand still below that boulder, switch characters and go kill the other creature.
Alyosha
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HandsomeRudy wrote:
Meh vote. Would this save some time? Round 91, 50:49 in video, kill that bottom level creature first, then stand still below that boulder, switch characters and go kill the other creature.
Yup, that's definitely a time save, good catch, (not sure how I missed that.)
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Wow, long time that I done that TAS, and now see an improvement nice. Also nice to see it in some colors on the GBC.
Last TAS finished: Final Fantasy Adventure (4.0 Warp Glitch Run) WIP in the moment: Tail Gator (GB) Matty
Jules
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Many years ago, I tried to improve the published movie. I made it about a quarter in, but I found the game extremely dull to TAS, so I dropped it. I thought of picking it back up recently, but I had other projects that were more interesting, so I'm glad to see someone else finally knock it out. Anyway, I just checked right now, and my WIP has two rounds faster than this submission: - In level 10, it is a few frames faster to go down the ladder before walking off the edge after pushing the rock down. - In level 17, after you kill the first enemy, it's a bit faster to go down the ladder before walking off the ledge... so basically the same idea as the above. There may be some other improvements like that, but I haven't checked the entire run. Regardless, congrats on saving close to a minute on one of the oldest submissions on the site. Going to do Boomer's world?:)
Alyosha
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Jules wrote:
Anyway, I just checked right now, and my WIP has two rounds faster than this submission: - In level 10, it is a few frames faster to go down the ladder before walking off the edge after pushing the rock down. - In level 17, after you kill the first enemy, it's a bit faster to go down the ladder before walking off the ledge... so basically the same idea as the above. (...) Going to do Boomer's world?:)
Interesting, I didn't notice that before, even though I thought I remembered looking into it. I'll have to go over the run again and look for similar spots. Yes I will try Boomer's world in the near future, as well as the remaining GB\C runs from the 'First 500' thread. I can't really think about BizHawk dev. stuff right now but Lobsterzelda's work on Lethal Enforcers has given me motivation!
Alyosha
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So I didn't notice it before, but in level 36 MattyXB is able to switch characters while an enemy animation is still on screen. This is apparently a glitch where if another enemy is despawning, or a tower of block collapses completes you have 1 frame to switch characters before the game switches to tracking the other defeated enemies. Apparently he didn't realize it either because this glitch can be used in several places throughout the run. I also found a few more ladder optimizations and improved the strategy in level 35. Here is an almost 15 second improvement: http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/70408149362496710
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I tried comparing the 2 video dumps, and it's a nightmare to figure out actual frame numbers that come from VBA, because it dumps the same frame several times on screen transitions and possibly in other situations. So maybe my numbers are messed up, but still worth checking. Levels where your movie takes longer to complete the level: Level 14 - 3 frames. Level 16 - 1 frame. Level 20 - 6 frames. Level 25 - 2 frames. Level 31 - 1 frame. Level 33 - 2 frames. Level 34 - 1 frame. Level 37 - 1 frame. Level 41 - 3 frames. Level 44 - 1 frame. Level 51 - 1 frame. Level 53 - 3 frames. Level 54 - 2 frames. Level 55 - 1 frame. Level 57 - 1 frame. Level 68 - 2 frames. Level 70 - 3 frames. Level 72 - 1 frame. Level 76 - 9 frames. Level 77 - 1 frame. Level 80 - 5 frames. Level 81 - 7 frames. Level 84 - 2 frames. Level 85 - 6 frames. Level 89 - 6 frames. Level 97 - 3 frames.
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.
Alyosha
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feos wrote:
I tried comparing the 2 video dumps, and it's a nightmare to figure out actual frame numbers that come from VBA, because it dumps the same frame several times on screen transitions and possibly in other situations. So maybe my numbers are messed up, but still worth checking. . . .
Slowly making my way through these. Some are false positives (seem to be some frame rules occasionally mess things up.) Others are mistakes, I also found some new improvements.
Alyosha
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http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/70745678207258995 ok here is a replacement file. Another 10 seconds cut so it was definitely good to look over everything again.
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feos wrote:
I tried comparing the 2 video dumps, and it's a nightmare to figure out actual frame numbers that come from VBA, because it dumps the same frame several times on screen transitions and possibly in other situations.
The "frame counter" in VBA is a vblank counter, which doesn't tick during times the LCD is disabled (i.e. screen transitions) since vblank can't happen when the LCD is disabled (and the LCD can be disabled for an arbitrary amount of time). VBA's video dumper doesn't go off this "frame counter" so during "frames" when the LCD is disabled, VBA will actually dump them.
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Alyosha wrote:
http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/70745678207258995 ok here is a replacement file. Another 10 seconds cut so it was definitely good to look over everything again.
Round 78, faster solution: RUUUUUULLLLURRRDDRLLLLLUUUUULLURRRRRRRDRRULLLLLLLLLLLRRRRDDRRLLLLLLLLLRRRRRRUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLDRRRRL
Alyosha
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HandsomeRudy wrote:
Alyosha wrote:
http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/70745678207258995 ok here is a replacement file. Another 10 seconds cut so it was definitely good to look over everything again.
Round 78, faster solution: RUUUUUULLLLURRRDDRLLLLLUUUUULLURRRRRRRDRRULLLLLLLLLLLRRRRDDRRLLLLLLLLLRRRRRRUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLDRRRRL
That's too many letters for me to follow, but I'm guessing you mean push the top block off the left edge before dropping down and moving the bottom block into place. This does save time, I'll get the movie resynced (again) and post a new file. Thanks for the tip. EDIT: New file: http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/70768304310313796
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Alyosha wrote:
That's too many letters for me to follow
You're doing just fine. Screenshot suggestions: 114815, 141713
EZGames69
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Claiming this for encoding
[14:15] <feos> WinDOES what DOSn't 12:33:44 PM <Mothrayas> "I got an oof with my game!" Mothrayas Today at 12:22: <Colin> thank you for supporting noble causes such as my feet MemoryTAS Today at 11:55 AM: you wouldn't know beauty if it slapped you in the face with a giant fish [Today at 4:51 PM] Mothrayas: although if you like your own tweets that's the online equivalent of sniffing your own farts and probably tells a lot about you as a person MemoryTAS Today at 7:01 PM: But I exert big staff energy honestly lol Samsara Today at 1:20 PM: wouldn't ACE in a real life TAS just stand for Actually Cease Existing
Alyosha
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I updated the console verification video to match the current file.
EZGames69
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[14:15] <feos> WinDOES what DOSn't 12:33:44 PM <Mothrayas> "I got an oof with my game!" Mothrayas Today at 12:22: <Colin> thank you for supporting noble causes such as my feet MemoryTAS Today at 11:55 AM: you wouldn't know beauty if it slapped you in the face with a giant fish [Today at 4:51 PM] Mothrayas: although if you like your own tweets that's the online equivalent of sniffing your own farts and probably tells a lot about you as a person MemoryTAS Today at 7:01 PM: But I exert big staff energy honestly lol Samsara Today at 1:20 PM: wouldn't ACE in a real life TAS just stand for Actually Cease Existing
Player (22)
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It's probably too late but: Round 43, faster solution: LRRRRLRRRRRRRUUUUUUULLLLLLLLRRRLLLLRLRRRRR I'm sorry I didn't find this earlier, my own TAS projects are keeping me rather busy. Also, I wasn't expecting to find anything.
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Yes vote!
Alyosha
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HandsomeRudy wrote:
It's probably too late but: Round 43, faster solution: LRRRRLRRRRRRRUUUUUUULLLLLLLLRRRLLLLRLRRRRR I'm sorry I didn't find this earlier, my own TAS projects are keeping me rather busy. Also, I wasn't expecting to find anything.
I'll add you as co-author. I won't be re-syncing this for a while though. So I guess set it to delayed for now, unless HandsomeRudy makes a new bk2. It will be a few weeks before I get to it.
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After some heavy testing, I can tell that at least 9 15 more levels can be improved. I'll keep searching for more.
Alyosha wrote:
I'll add you as co-author.
Player (22)
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I guess it's my turn to fail now. I discovered something that needs further investigation. Keep it delayed.
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HandsomeRudy wrote:
I guess it's my turn to fail now. I discovered something that needs further investigation. Keep it delayed.
Wait this post used to link the new movie that I already used as a replacement, now it just says "keep it delayed". Is the work still being done?
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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Remove my name and carry on.
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But you saved a ton of time!
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.