Here's the most I could get out of why he thinks it's a pride movie back a few weeks ago. I post this because I don't expect him to answer the question himself.
<JXQ> Hey, is there a reason you don't want to answer the question in my PM?
<AKA> Hi JXQ, I'm surprised to see you here.
<JXQ> well I don't really know how else to have a conversation with you
<AKA> You seem to be impatient because I haven't replied to you within the first hours.
<AKA> Have you ever seen DeepBlueVibes Shinobi 3 run?
<JXQ> Well, I figured that this wouldn't be something you'd have to think about. I figured you would have a reason for saying what you did and would just be able to reply with it at that time
<JXQ> I don't think I have, no
<AKA> It on YouTube somewhere I think, although I might find it within the GENS threads.
<JXQ> Does it relate to the RCR run somehow or your comments of it being done for pride?
<JXQ> I'm not quite following
<AKA>
http://tasvideos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3997
<JXQ> I'm still not sure how this relates
<AKA> Basically the run wasn't very objective and has no real goals.
<JXQ> so you're saying it's similar to the run adelikat and I submitted?
<AKA> It reminds me of that run in certain ways.
<JXQ> I see your post here that says you liked the run and would vote yes to an optimized version of it
<JXQ> so which parts of our run were not similar and made you think we were doing it for pride/ego?
<AKA> Thats becuase the amount of time he sacrifices is overly excessive for very minor entertainment trade offs.
<AKA> Which makes the movie not very objective.
<JXQ> right, it's entertainment-based which can create a wide variety of opinions, etc.
<JXQ> ok so
<AKA> a subjective run requires a subjective vote.
<JXQ> I agree
<JXQ> I'm not questioning your vote or your opinion of not liking the movie or agreeing with its goals or anything like that
<AKA> Beating each other up worked well in Double Dragon 2 but not in RCR.
<JXQ> I'm just wondering, what made you think we did this movie for pride/ego?
<AKA> The movie wasn't objective and instead was just a playthrough which is more commonly seen on superpl
<AKA> *superplays
<JXQ> So just to be clear.. because our movie did not aim for speed (or any other objective goal) and instead aimed for entertainment (a subjective goal), you think we did this movie for pride/ego?
<AKA> I don't mind if the movie is primerly entertainment as long as its objective. I thinking about doing a Streets of Rage 1 run which sacrifices time to show different ways to defeat enemies on screen.
<JXQ> Just want to make sure I understand.. since our entertainment goals were not objective, you inferred that we did this movie for pride/ego?
<AKA> The run was more like watching a playthrough.
<JXQ> Is that what makes you think we did it for pride/ego?
<JXQ> I feel like you're avoiding the question directly. I'm just trying to understand your point of view
<AKA> Runs like this make it very hard to have any future obseletion.
<JXQ> So of these things you've listed, which of them made you think that we played for pride/ego?
<AKA> Are you asking if you think the movie was more based on pride or ego?
<JXQ> No, I'm asking what specifically made you think it was either
<JXQ> I say "pride/ego" because you mentioned both in your post
<AKA> I'm pretty sure you once said a movie should play for entertainment and not ego. Although I can't remember who you said it to or what context.
<JXQ> I agree with that statement
<AKA> Or if it was you said it.
<JXQ> I probably quoted it from the Guidelines or Rules or wherever it is
<JXQ> Why do you think we played this movie for ego?
<JXQ> What would you have said in your post if you said "This movie is a pride movie played for ego, *BECAUSE* ....." ?
<AKA> I have not specifically stated what I think a pride movie is in the forum becuase I don't want to get into a war over discrediting.
<JXQ> You dont' have to tell me what you think a pride movie is. I'm just wondering what made you think that ours was one
<JXQ> If you don't have a reason, then just say so
<AKA> It'll force a argument of your points are weaker than mine rather that what I prefer of my point is stronger than yours.
<JXQ> I'm not going to argue about whether its a pride movie or not
<JXQ> I'm just trying to understand why you think it is, so maybe I can work on it in the future
<JXQ> Obviously you said those comments with some thoughts behind them; why do you seem afraid to tell me those thoughts?
<AKA> Basically, my view of a pride movie is either a series of confused goals that strictly apply to the game like "only uses missiles in SM when absolutley neccsary" or a series of confused goals.
<JXQ> Ok, that helps me understand your point of view better, thank you
<JXQ> If I called that same type of movie something like, umm.. "unstructured", would that seem to fit your definition as well?
<AKA> Yes, much like the Shinobi 3 run I linked.
<JXQ> okay
<JXQ> I understand now, I think
<JXQ> Thanks for discussing this with me
<AKA> Although a one very simple restriction like no blj's or small mario only can work.
<JXQ> right
<AKA> While still aiming for the fastest time.
<AKA> As in relation to ego...
<AKA> The movie fails to be objective and often takes time out inexcusably like hitting the other player for no good, reason. I.e. hitting your ally for no good reason just for the sake of surprise.
<JXQ> So this time that's spent doing things like the 2player fights with each other, that makes you think the movie is done for ego instead of entertainment?
<AKA> Its mentioned in the guidelines somewhere along the lines of don't surprise the player for no good reason like jumping into a pit.
<AKA> *Sry I meant viewer
<JXQ> I understand that you did not agree with the premise or goals of this run. There are many others who also did not agree
<JXQ> I'm understanding that movies with these type of goals give you the impression of a pride movie or movie done for ego, am I understanding this correct?
<AKA> I don't mind if you show a glitch or a trick, but not unneccessary interaction like trashing everything on the screen.
<AKA> The later does not show tool-assistance.
<JXQ> Yes, but am I understanding your thought process correctly?
<AKA> Although unneccasary interaction is OK as long as the overall sacrifice is minimal.
<JXQ> So movies with goals such as this RCR run which take pretty extreme deviances from speed to do things, give you the impression of a pride movie, or movie played for ego? Is this understanding correct?
<AKA> In relation to Zurreco, I'm really not into directly arguing with him since he tends to use negative arguing strategies.
<JXQ> The comment toward Zurreco is water under the bridge, I'm not at all worried about that
<JXQ> I'm just wondering if my understanding is correct
<AKA> What you said just above me is more or less correct.
<JXQ> ok
<JXQ> Well again, thank you for discussing this with me
<JXQ> I do appreciate it
<AKA> np
[edit: fixed small part that was double-pasted]
-Edit-
To weigh in with my opinion on "hard mode", I think that it was a mistake to use in the first place, even if it ends up being faster due to skipped conversations.
It could be argued that I am obsessing over a technicality, but I feel this is a good technicality that gives an even measuring point to start from for this game.
I also find normal mode slightly more entertaining than hard mode for this game, because the concept of hard mode was so lazily done.
