(Link to video)

Blue Max

Tools Used

  • BizHawk 2.9.0

Effort In TASing

Because this was another one of my childhood games, I knew a lot about it already; however, there was one detail that I could never figure out. One thing that would have helped, is reading the manual as a child!!!
Just recently I finally figured out all that I needed to make this game as fast as possible. The big key was learning how to control RNG for the required goals. I'm glad that I spent a lot of time over the past year, figuring out some of these details...because the results are less than 1/3 of the WR's time (skipping the loading). Below are the details that were needed in order to overcome for producing an optimized movie:
  • The game has two different stages.
    • The first stage's goal was to destroy "Marked" or "Flashing" targets. This is the first trigger to enter into the next stage. In order for this to be accomplished, 8 targets were needed to progress.
    • The second stage's goal was to destroy the government complexes in the central city.
  • RNG
    • Forced by movement and shooting
    • Was done completely on one loop from runway to runway. In human efforts, this can occur multiple times...having to land and refuel just to continue.
  • Ending input early
    • Needed to find a particular point where I elevated my aircraft to the highest altitude.
    • Changed inputs before the last input to control the RNG for the next 20 seconds or so.
      • Wind...which can blow you left, right, or hold your altitude.
      • If wind held the aircraft's position too long, the landing would overshoot the runway and be destroyed
      • If there wasn't any wind, the aircraft would fall short of the runway.

Manual

Wiki Details

Human Comparison


Memory: Claiming for judging.

nymx: Uploaded a 314 frame improvement, by ending input earlier.

Memory: verified improvement.
Nice research that led to saving so much time over rta records. Accepting.

despoa: Processing...

TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #8351: nymx's C64 Blue Max in 03:21.42
PLANET
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Ooooh, such a treat. Also a childhood game, looked better on small Atari (65 (XL)/XE), was great shooting away, of course who cared it's war etc. ; ) The only thing that's just plainly stupid (but perhaps explained by the manual?) is destroying the old historical Greek-alike buildings in the center of the town instead of the grimy blocks. The TAS is, as one could guess, perfect. Super intensive, pleasure to watch, immensenly packed with action, 9 (?) blinking targets shot, superb overall. Easy Yes vote, good job man : )
nymx
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PLANET wrote:
The TAS is, as one could guess, perfect. Super intensive, pleasure to watch, immensenly packed with action, 9 (?) blinking targets shot, superb overall. Easy Yes vote, good job man : )
I tend to agree with you. I believe I was given this game by my uncle...so I didn't have the manual. So my brother and I played this for long periods of time and would rarely run across the big city. Now having the internet....I was able to research the strategy's and goals. The only thing left over was to figure a way out to change RNG to get those "Flashing" targets to show up. Because I got the required "Eight" targets before the first "Landing", I knew that I had solved the fastest time. This left me to figuring out how to end input early. Thankfully, the "Start Screen" options had a "Gravity" selection...otherwise this wouldn't have been possible. Thanks for the kind words. Glad to see someone who knew this game and appreciates it. :)
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence. ---- SOYZA: Are you playing a game? NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing. SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real? ---- Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes? Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :) ---- BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
nymx
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Memory, just so that you know...ever since my "Race Ace" submission, I came up with an idea on how to end input earlier with this game. I've ended it 314 frames earlier at this point, but I keep running scenarios over and over, just to be sure. I suppose this could go on forever, but I'm going to have eventually stop it. So if you haven't downloaded the current movie files, I could replace it...if you don't mind.
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence. ---- SOYZA: Are you playing a game? NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing. SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real? ---- Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes? Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :) ---- BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
Memory
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I have downloaded it, but I don't mind the improvement.
[16:36:31] <Mothrayas> I have to say this argument about robot drug usage is a lot more fun than whatever else we have been doing in the past two+ hours
[16:08:10] <BenLubar> a TAS is just the limit of a segmented speedrun as the segment length approaches zero
nymx
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Ok...uploaded. I hope that is it. Thanks!
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence. ---- SOYZA: Are you playing a game? NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing. SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real? ---- Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes? Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :) ---- BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
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This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [5375] C64 Blue Max by nymx in 03:21.42