nfq
Player (93)
Joined: 5/10/2005
Posts: 1204
Derakon wrote:
For what it's worth, I find many Sonic TASes to be exhausting to watch, and pretty quickly my brain just starts tuning stuff out. I can't keep up with what's going on, and that actually makes it less entertaining for me.
That's true. That's why I said that you also have to be able to understand what's going on, so that the CPU in your brain doesn't become overheated. Maybe you're not familiar with the game, or it's just too fast. While speed is entertaining, there's a limit where things can happen so fast that it becomes exhausting or even boring, for example if someone would beat Sonic in 10 seconds. Zero is the perfection we all aim for, but absolute perfection is boring and lacking of any information to appreciate, just like imperfection is. So the best is to be somewhere in the middle, at the border towards perfection.
Joined: 7/11/2010
Posts: 98
I haven't read through the whole thread, so I may repeat things, but here's what I think: 1. It needs to be different than an unassisted run. 2. It needs to do unexpected things. Like near impossible things, or glitches. 3. Never be idle. While waiting, do a little dance or something. I do this while playing games normally. 4. It needs to move fast. While I see some people say some can be too fast, it shouldn't be slow.
Banned User, Former player
Joined: 3/10/2004
Posts: 7698
Location: Finland
sudgy wrote:
1. It needs to be different than an unassisted run.
I wouldn't say that's a requirement for entertainment. A TAS can be pretty similar to an unassisted run and still be entertaining. (Rather amusingly your sentence can be interpreted to mean that unassisted runs are not entertaining, which is why TASes need to be different from them in order to be entertaining. I don't think that's what you tried to imply... :P )
3. Never be idle. While waiting, do a little dance or something.
To be fair, that can sometimes be more annoying than entertaining.
Editor
Joined: 3/10/2010
Posts: 899
Location: Sweden
I can only speak for myself, but here is what I personally like:
  • A high action/time ratio
  • Doing such stuff that I am taken by surprise
  • Doing things that rightfully shouldn't be possible
  • Interesting visuals and audio in the game
  • Showcasing just how badly things are programmed
  • Performing stunts
The end goal here is to show that you have mastered the game to such a degree that the impossible looks easy. And a few laughs at the expense of the game is good too.