Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Just watched the update. Looks nice and entertaining, the only thing I could suggest is to not use the zig-zag drive too often. It looks cool but if you repeat it frequently it becomes a bit annoying. It's just me.
Also if you aim for entertainment over speed isn't it a good idea to show at least one planet-switch scenario (where you fly with the rocket). This scene looks really nice IMO. However if you think the last one after Inferno is enough then it doesn't matter of course.
And most Important: The movie desyncs for me at around frame 168000 in the beginning of the race right after you bought new tires. I tested it on Snes9x v6, v7 and v8 with same result. You should check it yourself to not record further until you fixed this desync.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
This site is well known (hopefully) and has really nice tracks.
There is also a awesome Metal-Megamix called "Crystal Flash" of Super Metroid available here:
http://www.vgmix.com/song_view.php?song_id=3412
It's a 21 min long Mix in .mp3 format containing almost all Super Metroid Tracks extremely well remixed.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Simon wrote:
I realize you've comitted to the Maurader, but if you're concerned about repetition, perhaps you could switch cars for the second run through the next two planets? You can still switch back to the Maurader right up until you advance to NHO, and it would be a change of pace to see you play with missiles, turbos and mines for a few races.
I think this is a bad idea. If he switches to a better car he would lose all of his good and expensive features of the Marauder like a better engine, defender, Tires etc. If he switches back to the Marauder later it looks pretty stupid and he must buy all the upgrades again.
But again, it's up to EscapePlan.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
You're welcome Kitsune!
Language-Genius wrote:
I can't wait until this is finished... so that you can start working on a any-% or 100% run. ;) Seriously though, this too looks like it could be an interesting variant.
Not that popular but definitely the most crazy variant you can pull off in this game :-)
If I'm not burned out of the Reverse Boss Order run maybe I will do a any% run next.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
You're right, that's even easier with a PSX controller. However I'm too used to a SNES controller and its more comfortable for me to use it. Activating/deactivating the Turbo on a button is a single click on the keyboard which doesn't really cost any additional time or effort. I could also upload v6 again if you really need it but I guess you solved this prolem yourself with the PSX controller.
And nitsuja, if it doesn't take too much effort or loss of any other feature I would gladly appreciate if you could add this 6 buttons (which as you said are not hardcoded anymore) to the hotkeys in the next version.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
I don't release them to not spoil the surprise of the complete run when its done.
Kitsune:
If you can't deal with Rapidshare try this easy link:
http://www.zeromission.co.uk/tas/Super_Metroid_Speed_Demo2.avi
Thanks alot to Andrew Mills, the owner of one of the biggest Metroid Sites on the net http://www.samus.co.uk/ for this Mirror!
EDIT: Thanks Walker. It takes time to make such a run because the optimizings require much testings. If I do it faster the quality of the run may be lost, but I do my best to progress in the run step by step.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
That was great! I really notice the entertainment value has increased in the last tracks. The overlaping was great and the thing with Rip at the end (I don't want to spoil it) was also very cool. I already had a suspicion you would do it like that. Keep it up EscapePlan, I very much enjoy your project!
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Very nice run, JXQ! It's a bit disappointing that you couldn't do 99 lives on the first levels of World 8 but hey, this is a very entertaining and super fast run. I liked all this close near-death moves in auto-scroller levels and especially the last castle in World 7 right before the final airship-level. Also the redone World 6 was very surprising with beating the Castle Boss with a Star.
A big YES from me and now I'm really looking forward what you can do in your Super Metroid 100% run!
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
nitsuja wrote:
Shift-Delete is on your SNES-Pad? Or do you mean with using another program to convert the input to shift + one of the 6 buttons?
No, Shift+Delete or whatever is on my keyboard, but this command affects my button presses on my SNES-Pad. In simple words I use my Pad for any kind of input I do in the game and the keyboard for any kind of setting (like frame-advance, state-loading/saving, or the auto-fire feature I'm missing in v7). It's just much easier this way and avoids confusion for me.
nitsuja wrote:
Oh, this might be the real problem, since those are the buttons you want to use. How are you trying to use them? In my case I have turbo-toggle set to the W key, and the L button is the A key (that's the key I press normally for L without autofire), so to put L on autofire I hold W and press A.
I use this a lot (in v7) to put individual keys on autofire, so I'm pretty sure it works...
I just tested it and it indeed works but only for a input-button that is set on the keyboard. If I try to use a button on my Pad (hold it and press "TurboTog") then there is absolutely no effect. Just for your information the button "L" is displayed as "(J0)Button6" when I set it through my Pad in Joypad configuration mode. Maybe the emulator can't recognize such kind of input...
However it works on a button that is set on a keyboard but again not the way I would like: When I activate a button with "TurboTog" it 'stays' on auto-fire as long as I deactivate it again. I would like to only switch it to a potential auto-fire button next time when I press and hold it, I hope you understand what I mean (in v6 there was always a message appearing right above the frame counter like "Turbo L Activated" when I press shift+insert = the combo for toggling "L" on my keyboard).
nitsuja wrote:
About desyncs, there was a desync-causing mistake in v6 that's not in v7, but it only affected certain games and this isn't one of them, so if you don't care about any features new to v7 then it's fine to keep using v6.
Well I fear it is. As I did a skill-based 100% run of Super Metroid, the 1st version desynced on Kraid while playbacking it on v7. After you make him get up to the 2nd part of the room he opens his mouth at a random time you can't affect and in v7 it was a different time causing the movie to screwing up on this version. Graveworm and hero of the day told this to me and I could confirm that. Anyway if the TAS-movie will desync I will just add a link to v6 for download in the comments.
nitsuja wrote:
I would think you want to make use of the auto-hold feature, though - is there ever a reason to let go of the Run button in Super Metroid?
Yes, for example sometimes you have to release it to not hit a door when it opens. There are surely other situations like this.
I would anyway prefer to do everything myself because it's clearer than using tons of different features where I get easily confused.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Thanks for the help nitsuja.
nitsuja wrote:
You can assign turbo hotkeys to the individual keys to make it like it was before (making Delete the turbo A key, etc., or pick something else for them), but I think is the easier and better way is to assign a "Turbo Toggle" key, so you just have to hold that key while pressing any regular button to put that button on autofire.
This is exactly what I want, not to set a turbo-hotkey on the keyboard but use a key to activate/deactivate a regular button I normaly use without turbo (on my Pad) but the problem of your suggestion is that when I hold the toggle-button it activates 'all' buttons at once.
For example in Metroid I need the L button (aiming for faster running speed) all the time as a Turbo but not the other keys, but sometimes I have to deactivate the turbo even for the L button. Improvement6 was very handy here as I could toggle every individual button separately directly on my SNES-Pad and I wonder why this shift + one of the 6 buttons between the regular pause-key and the arrow keys doesn't work on improvement7 anymore.
Also for some reason the other hotkeys for "Togglify" or "TurboTog" don't even seem to work for me in the "Joypad #1 Turbo" option.
I guess I just have to use improvement6 to be able to use this features which I'm used to as long as there is no other solution. At least the Metroid-movie still stays in sync on improvement7 and hopefully it will till the end.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Since nitsuja added more hotkeys in this version of Snes9x I have lost function of some other hotkeys I used on improvement6 all the way for TAS'ing.
I always use the "toggle auto-fire buttons" which I switch by pressing shift and one of the 6 keys right above the arrow keys (left right up down) on the keyboard. However this keys don't work on improvement7 and I haven't found a way to set them in "customize hotkeys" option.
Because of this I am forced to use improvement6 for my Super Metroid TAS currently but I really want to record it on the newest version to prevent desyncs on it.
So I want to ask, is there a way to get this keys (activating/deactivating auto-fire) on improvement7 to work? I would very appreciate any help.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Truncated wrote:
I speak and write English fluently.
それに日本語が話せる。１年間スウェーデンで勉強して、その後１年間日本に住んでたから、何かぺらぺら話せるけど、漢字がまだ書けなくて大嫌いだ。漢字は多分世界の最低の文字だ。
Я тоже чут-чут говорю по-русский. (Ну привет, муузуух.) Потому что у меня была русская девушка.
Ich kann auch ein bisschen Deutch sprechen und schreiben aber ich habe es zum grössten Teil vergesst (correction: vergessen). Lesen ist kein Problem.
Och så svenska, förstås.
-----
To add something to the discussion, I found Japanese a lot easier to learn than Russian, despite Russian being a lot closer to my native language. A lot of the vocabulary (especially nouns) are "for free", but the grammar is horrible. I still can't wrap my head around verb aspects or cases.
Wow, respect that you know so many different languages. Not bad!
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
I also remember a Teaser which was much better than the movie itself. It was "Signs" with Mel Gibson. I thought the movie would be soo stirring with the aliens etc. but it was so boring that I almost slept away in the cinema. I give my best to not let the same happen to my movie.
moozooh:
Thanks, I really try to make the movie frame-perfect and I don't care too much about the sound in the teaser, its just for decoration.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Thank you guys, I'm glad you like it! I know it's a bit crazy to take so much effort but I really want to make a good run. Maybe it will be the last one I do so I want it to be a big one.
Angerfist:
The refills (mostly the 5-pack flying creatures of the Well) were definitely the hardest part. I did tons of variations to manipulate luck for every kill I make there to get as much health as possible. But of course I also have to get/refill as much Missiles as possible for the Ridley fight without refilling in the ship because it will just be too long.
Inzult:
This is the main reason I decided to make a RBO run to make it as entertaining/suspense but still as fast as somehow possible.
Spoony_Bard:
I will definitely show this part in a AVI-Teaser in any case because it's one of the most stunning rooms to pass, this is for sure.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Looks great, JXQ. I first thought it was a desync after you died 2 times in world 2 but the strategy turned out to be much faster. You beat all this hard levels with such a easiness and speed that I was surprised all the way. I honestly haven't seen any errors and look forward to see the last 2 worlds. Keep it up!
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Highness wrote:
Also.. Why aren't you playing shred or something? I recon he has mines or something like that instead of oil. You do get more money from killing people right?
Shred is a computer character who you can't pick to drive yourself just like Rip. They both travel together with you through the Planets (unlike Grinder, Viper etc. who are the hosts of their own planets). In order to have mines instead of Oil you have to buy a new car. The first one that supports it is the "Air Blade" which EscapePlan won't buy though. And yes, for every kill you get 1000$ which is like a Money-Pack.
Escape:
I really wonder how you can manage to overlap everybody and wait for the surprise if you indeed can do it, good luck.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Looks good. You show nice tricks in 3rd track of the new class again and lot of variation between the races. I have no complaints and look forward to see the harder levels and how you will handle them by hopefully still mixing some show in the races.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
I took a near look at the 2 rooms from which you can get the spring ball and without having the Grapple and Ice Beam it just is impossible to get the Spring ball. There are only solid blocks which you can't pass no matter what you do (I tried the kogo-ball and some frame optimized maneuver but no chance). The only way to pass through such blocks is to be in a duck position and touching the solid block with your head. But without the Ice-Beam there is absolutely no way to get such a position.
michael flatley wrote:
We'll see, I haven't planned that far ahead yet.
By reading this I'm to 90% sure Michael forgot about this in the plannings.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Wow, 3rd track was awesome! This is exactly the optimal jump I always wanted to see. 2nd one was also great with the catching up. Of course its better to throw in some absolute flawless and dominating laps where you drive everyone into the ground as a variation.
Changing the planet as soon as possible has not always something to do with a speedrun. As you mentioned it would just be too boring and repetitive. Changing the division or planet always mean switching to a higher class where it becomes more and more faster and more difficult for you and this is exactly where to show action and entertainment together with more variation.
I agree with buying some of the attack-items (Missiles, Jump-Jets and Oil-thrower) first as you can use them more often for more variation in the races. I would buy the new engine in the next class to not lose the speed to the opponents.
Good luck in the further recordings EscapePlan, you do it very well so far.
EDIT: Dromiceius, your one also looks great. Now you can challenge/learn of each other in a competitional way.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
First, a happy new year to all.
IMO it makes much more sense to use the 'best possible' save to make the fastest possible time for a New Game+. Level 99 and absolutely best Equipment including maxed out status are a must to compete in this mode.
Hero's last save has a pretty weak Crono who don't even have the best equipment, he hasn't learned techs like "Luminaire" and he wouldn't even be able to survive Lavos attacks plus the "Chaos" spell would confuse him because of the missing status protection which means a 100% death so it would be definitely impossible to beat Lavos in the earlest point of a New Game+.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
I guess the warp-order is set at the beginning of the battle, not sure though.
hero of the day wrote:
I believe the attack you described is called dreamless and it is the strongest magic attack in the game.
Wrong. The strongest magic attack of the game is "Crying Heavens" which is 2x stronger than Dreamless but it's only a single attack. Luckily Lavos didn't used it on you if I remember right.
Experienced Forum User, Published Author, Player
(209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
The movie looks good so far. Only thing you could use as a change is to sometimes jump over corner-edges to make a nice shortcut. The thing you did in end of lap 2 is also nice. I would recommend you to not keep the lead all the time but intentionally (make it look accidentally though) let the opponents ahead to catch them up in a entertaining way and winning the race just in the last seconds. Keep up the good work and bring action as much as possible there.
Also it's a must to change the planet as early as possible when you get the needed points to not waste time.
Also for perfect menu-handling use "Frame-Advance" insead of slowdowns as you can find the asolute first frame to press the buttons there. It's the most precise feature for slowdowning. Read "Using Emulator Tools" Page to learn more about the features including Frame Advance of Snes9x.
Be sure when you load a state in read-only mode it will only playback the movie from this point (I use it always on the "F1" key as a replay save. To record further you have to make another savestate just before your mistake or whatever (for example on F2-F9 keys), then playback the movie again but WITHOUT read-only and load it before your mistake to record further.