Posts for Sastopher

Do I even need to vote here? The question of publication seems pretty clear. Yes vote, star vote, ninja vote, vote vote. Good job JXQ. Nice run and a nice innovation on speedrunning.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 3/16/2007 12:34 AM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Oh! Well pardons for forsaking credit to those deserving of it. I'm amused at the idea of 3 parallel runners who combine to make the best of the three situations. While I think it's fine you'll be changing the way you cooperate, I think it's a remarkably good idea to have done the first course this way. Where in a number of games it's possible to predict the optimal solution, given the maximum speed of the character or by figuring out how fast a boss can take damage, MK64 has no easily determined solution, as evidenced by comicalflops comment that he really has no idea how fast he expects to finish the game. As such, it's by exhausting all reasonable possibilities and trial and error (along with a strong background knowledge of game mechanics) that the best run is made. Good job guys, and keep up the good work. I'll stay posted for further updates.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 3/15/2007 1:18 PM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Wow wow wow. I laughed out loud when Comicalflop proved his name by launching off Wario. Too good. Also, thanks for Dehacked for burning some extra bandwidth getting these classy videos up. We appreciate it, truly. In other news, I think you guys are obsessing too much over which display to use. Trust the author to make the run entertaining. Now that the interest in different displays has been pointed out, I doubt he's going to miss an opportunity to show off something interesting. In any case, I'd like to think this is in a similar vein to stylistic choices in other games that don't effect time, where different people might have different preferences over what's better, but ultimately the author's decision is the one that gets used. Comicalflop, your goal is a star? Keep up the amazing work and I'm certain you'll get it.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 3/15/2007 11:53 AM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

I'm not sure what you mean by "sped up", but assuming you mean manually tweak the game/playback to run faster, this unfortunately isn't really an option. I know sometimes there is a PAL/NTSC conversion error caused by the author choosing the wrong emulation settings which causes the game to run somewhat faster, but I'm not sure of the site's policy on intentional misuse here. More importantly, I don't think there would be a real place for a 1 player run. The 2 player run is faster, more complex, and thus generally in all ways the perferred run here. If you really want to work on a run for this game, I'd suggest you find some means of improving the old run. However, I really would like to welcome you to the community, and wish you luck on any speedrunning endevors you choose to follow.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 12/11/2006 1:56 AM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

I voted yes, though I had some reservations about it. I read through the thread first and I agreed with a lot of complaints about the run, namely the somewhat flimsy goal and the repetitiveness of the movie. To that, I'd like to add how the run doesn't showcase what makes the game so fun and entertaining. Despite its lack of goals or guidelines, I would much, much rather watch the 3v1 linked on youtube posted earlier in the thread. I mean, if the focus of the site is to provide entertainment, these kinds of videos would have a shot at being published. However, this is not the case. This site celebrates entertainment, but does so in a typically rigid way that can be measured and compared against other standards that set up a form of competition amonst various players (and even within their selves). Likewise, the point by BoltR who said, "The more time spent thinking up the 'rules' which are to be accepted for a game, the less acceptable the run will be," is very true, and applies to more than just this one video. Thus, I feel that although there are more entertaining movies possible out of this game, they are not necessarily more likely to be published, and as a result the choice made by comicalflop was entirely reasonable. The choice of goals succeeds in contrast to the alternatives. Additionally, the game succeeds at its execution as well. Despite some repetition, I was entertained sufficiently throughout the movie, and I would not hesitate to show the movie to those I know who have love for the game. This is typically my biggest criteria for voting yes in a movie: if I can show it to someone not a part of the TAS community and have them be wowed and impressed by what they've seen, I know the movie is a success. To those that know this game well enough (and I might be unique in this case that I know all the right people) this is impressive. That's enough for me.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 10/10/2006 8:22 AM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Yay, a WIP! That was great. I'm with hopper: Rematch was really well done. I also really liked the 5 secret places star--though I don't remember the star appearing out in the middle of nowhere like that. How are you normally supposed to get there? Via cannon?

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 10/8/2006 11:01 AM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

There are smashers everywhere these days.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 9/11/2006 11:47 AM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Any ongoing plans to release the cam-hack avi? Eager audiences await.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 9/4/2006 10:16 PM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Sastopher wrote:

This is almost my field of expertise. If you guys need help concerning ANYTHING about this game, send me an e-mail. I'm friends with a guy who's been playing this practically non-stop since it first came out, and he's classically known as the best SSB player in the world. I'm pretty sure he knows just about everything there is to know about the game. Yeah, he's that good.

I posted this a long time ago, but I don't think anyone followed up on it. Malva, aka Isai, mentioned earlier for having a record or two, is recognized by many as being the best player in the world at this game. I happen to know him through my competitive play of SSB:M, and as luck would have it he's going to be staying with me for 10 days here in September. If anybody had any kind of questions regarding the game, it would be an excelent opportunity to ask.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 8/1/2006 6:31 AM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Although not an official vote, I give this a hearty thumbs up. I've watched this run from the beginning half a dozen times as it was being created, and shown it to at least as many friends--friends not usually interested in speedrunning. They all found the run highly entertaining. The mere fact he does the spirit temple first puts people off guard. "Wait, isn't that like one of the last temples?" Yes, there is room for optimization, but personally I'm impressed with Guano for making it this far. He had to put up with so much. Any normal person would have given up long before completion, and yet, he only gets more precise over time. My main point though is that even though there could be improvements, most people will not notice through a casual walk-through, and future runs will likely be different enough to merit additional watchings without feeling repetitive. Like I said, a thumbs up. How long until I can vote anyway? I guess I need to post more. -.- Edit: lol, I was able to vote after posting this. Yes it is!

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 7/1/2006 12:59 PM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

I've been following this run for a while now. I'm impressed with the amount of work that's gone in so far, and the overall quality. Guano, it must have been painful redoing those sections multiple times, but I'm glad you did. On another note, the run has gotten a big longer and I'm having difficulty loading savestates while retaining the movie playback. Whenever I load a savestate, it seems to go into rerecord mode, even when I've turned on read-only mode. Sorry to ask this, but could someone explain how do load save states in mupen? How am I failing?

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 4/30/2006 8:30 AM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

This is almost my field of expertise. If you guys need help concerning ANYTHING about this game, send me an e-mail. I'm friends with a guy who's been playing this practically non-stop since it first came out, and he's classically known as the best SSB player in the world. I'm pretty sure he knows just about everything there is to know about the game. Yeah, he's that good.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 4/18/2006 12:02 AM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

I just watched the most recent WIP and wanted to say how happy I am you are taking time sacrifices for entertainment/glitch value. Despite being a TAS, it seems to me people don't really watch the longer RPG/Speedruns for time--they watch it in order to see battle/tactical optimization, crazy glitches, and to indulge in some nostalgia without actually playing the game. I also appreciate your write-ups, describing what you are doing. It leads to a much greater appreciation of what you are doing and how difficult it is. I'm highly impressed by the Kutan glitch. I was so confused at first. "Wait, weren't you supposed to pick up Celes? Ha! She's supposed to be talking there. And when did he get Mog? Did I miss that? Why is his name different? Wait--Kutan is changing into a girl?! Ooooohhhhhh..." It's always fun to witness crazy glitches you had no idea about. Also, I can't wait for you to start manipulating the sketch glitch. Keep up the good work! You've got one more fan watching.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 6/16/2005 1:27 AM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

On my first watch, it desynced after the first runaway dog, but after reloading the rom, letting it run for several seconds, and then replaying the movie, it ran fine through to completion. The movie might just be sensitive, and the rom may need to be warmed up first (as recommended... usually it's an unnecessay precaution for me, but I guess it's necessary for this one).

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 5/9/2005 7:34 AM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Can someone explain some of the basics of the game to me? I don't understand why your character navagates up to some dead-end, jumps, and in mid-air the game flashes and you reappear somewhere else entirely. Is this some sort of invisible teleporter, some natural ability of the character to move between world environments, an exploitation of some glitch, or back-to-start reset like in metroid? And while I don't want to give away the secret for those who haven't seen the movie, is there some place we could put a more detailed explanation of the glitches abused in this game? There seems to be so much going on here that I don't understand.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 5/2/2005 6:19 PM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

It's awesome and I'm glad you made it, but I have to go with the others who say it's not all that interesting. When I watch these movies, I want to see crazy shortcuts, mind-bending bug abuse, and frame-perfect gameplay. Your movie does the third one as well as possible, but seeing as how it lacks the first two it doesn't really inspire me. Part of my vote may be because I was never really into the game. I played it as a kid, but I never tried for fastest times or anything.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 4/18/2005 12:59 PM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Erm, sorry. I kind of got behind on the discussion for a bit. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, short for the International Baccalaureate Program. It's a highly rigorous, intensive high school program meant to do two things: push high school education to the fullest extent possible, and standardize (to an international level) the material, testing, and grading of the participants. Unlike AP (Advanced Placement) classes, IB aims for a fully rounded education, requiring one take 7 IB courses: 3 standard level, 3 higher level, and ToK (Theory of Knowledge) which is metaphored as the "hub" which binds the whole thinking process together. It's basically an epistemology class that introduces and briefly covers all your standard philosophy subjects (aesthetics, ethics, parts of linguistics, etc.). The 6 other classes are your regular HS subjects: Math, Sciences (Phys., Chem., etc.), Primary Language, Secondary Language, Hisory, and an elective (such as Music Theory/Composition or Psychology). To put the whole thing another, much simpler way, it's the toughest academic program you can take in a public American high school. It's also worth its weight in intellectual gold.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 4/15/2005 1:32 PM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

How cool! Never even knew these kind of hacks existed. Opens up a whole new world of gaming potential... wow. I have to say, I'm EXTREMELY curious as to what all those text/voice-boxes that you encounter throughout the game actually say. Especially the ones at the end of gigantic secret passages or near-impossible to perform stage navagation. I may have to play this game all the way through just to find out, or barring that, turn off "read only" and just make a few pit-stops in your run. Just a question: in that one castle (believe the end of the "cave stages") that has the falling spike ceiling you have to keep raising... why do you die in it? is that how you HAVE to beat the level, after getting the progress bar? Seems like there is more stuff to the right. Or is it just faster that way? This game was very cruel to the player. I'll have to share it with all my friends. ^^

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 4/8/2005 9:12 AM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Not to mention you can always play it back in slow motion, either with your video player (when it gets published) or with frame advance in the emulator. BTW, run looks great. This one snuck up on me, I'll be looking forward to it now. Grr... now I have to wait =p.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 4/7/2005 11:44 PM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

From the way you phased your whole discussion post, it sounds like you're taking ToK/IB. Is this correct?

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 4/1/2005 9:24 PM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Interesting. This is the kind of bug-enhanced gameplay that makes watching these videos so interesting. It's seeing something completely different, or done in a strange way. Doing the semi-impossible. Yes vote.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 4/1/2005 9:15 PM

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Sastopher

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Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

I've never played the game before, but I watched the movie and was left somewhat underwhelmed. I mostly agree with what's been said already: decent enough timeattack, but the game doesn't lend itself to watchability. Is this something I'm going to want to keep on my harddrive for later viewings? Was it interesting enough to watch once, but not enough to keep? Sorry, but I'm voting no.

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.

Posted: 3/28/2005 3:27 PM

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Sastopher

Experienced Forum User

Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

I watched the new segment last night and was highly impressed. This is one of my most eagerly awaited games to see timeattacked, and you're doing a terrific job. I think I need to go read up on some bugs though to understand exactly what you are doing. I assume waiting outside the market somehow gets you the 99 spice/rice, and running out half-way through and dying glitches the atlas spell to stick around longer. That's it more or less, right?

I ought not to tie the knot too taught.