A 676-frame improvement over the previous submission, using new routes, a speed trick, and a newly-discovered glitch. In Dodge 'Em, you play as a speed-endowed parasect who tries to evade Disney ant clones while gathering all 64 livers in each particle accelerator. You travel at 1 PPF (pixels per frame), or 2 if you hold down B. You can move 1-2 lanes over at any gap (located above, below, left, and right). Using a glitch, you can also move 3 lanes over (see "Triple Lane Switch" below). Clones can switch lanes (only one lane at a time) in 4 frames in the top and bottom gaps, or 8 frames in the left or right gaps.

Game objectives

  • Emulator used: BizHawk 1.6.1
  • Ends input early
  • Manipulates AI
  • Abuses programming errors

Comments

There's a varying degree of difficulty in each accelerator. Every 5 accelerators, the AI loops and you lose 1 life out of 3 (e.g., accelerator 6 and 11 are the same as accelerator 1, but with 2 lives at accelerator 6 and 1 at accelerator 11). At the end of accelerator 15, you have no life and the game presents you with a consolatory teal screen, which is miles different from the game over screen. Because accelerator 6-15 uses the exact same input as 1-5, the submission ends after accelerator 5.

Going Fast

The fastest way to play is to hold down B at all times. This is not possible when moving 2 lanes over. However, if you release B for the first frame of the lane change, and hold B for the remainder of the lane changes, you will have maximum speed while succeeding in the double lane change.

Triple Lane Switch

The game was intended to only allow the player to move 2 lanes at most over each gap, and without changing directions during the lane switch. However, we found that under some frame-precise circumstances, the player can move 3 lanes over, can switch into a lane and back in a single gap, and can even change lanes once (e.g., left), change back, then change lanes on the other side (e.g., right).
When Address 02 divided by 4 has a remainder of 1, and if the car has the correct coordinates at this frame, you can perform this glitch. We used it in accelerator 2 to trick the clone into thinking we were in a different lane than we actually were. Edit: The glitch is no longer used in accelerator 2.
In practice, satisfying (02h) % 4 = 1 may require slowing down for a few frames, so the triple lane switch becomes less practical if you need to slow down for many frames.

Fast Lane Switches

Watching (26h), single lane switches on top and bottom can take at minimum 9 frames, while single lane switches on the left and right can take 13. The first half of double lane switches are also this long. Watching Address 26 is useful, because you can count the length of the lane switch by the number of frames. Also, you can usually predict the length of the lane switch by looking at (02h). When (02h) % 4 = 3, the lane switch will be optimal.

Improvement Summary

Unless otherwise indicated, a lane change number is assumed to count the number of single lane changes. A "d" after the number denotes a double lane change. For example, "4 + d" is 4 single lane changes and a double lane change. Also, "tls" stands for "triple lane switch", and "w" stands for "wait".
AcceleratorLane changes nowLane changes beforeFrames nowFrames beforeFrames saved
14 + d756257816
23 + 2d9 + 2d575721146
34 + d + w10577713136
44 + d + w6 + 3d582781199
54 + d + w4 + 4d482660178

Stage by stage comments

First Accelerator

Clone speed is 1 PPF. Clones can only switch lanes in the top and bottom gaps (not left and right).

Second Accelerator

The clone can switch lanes at all 4 gaps. This is the only accelerator that uses the new glitch. Edit: A better route makes use of the glitch unnecessary.

Third Accelerator

Parasect is now pitted against 2 Disney ant clones. The clones' regular and lane change speeds are halved, though both clones can still switch lanes at any of the 4 gaps. At frame 1710, we release B for 12 frames before changing from lane 2 (inner) to lane 3 (outer) to manipulate Clone 1 into moving into lane 2. Edit: Got the "B release" down to 7 frames, it is now at frame 1750.

Fourth Accelerator

Clones' speed is now 1 PPF, but lane change speeds are still halved. At frame 2370, we release B for 45 frames (plus the B released directly afterward for a double lane change) to manipulate Clone 1 into staying in lane 3, rather than following us to lane 4. Edit: By replanning the route, we got the B release down to 14 frames. It starts at frame 2404.

Fifth Accelerator

Same AI and input as the 4th accelerator, but input ends early.

Other comments

The game actually only displays 1 clone per frame and alternates the sprite's location each frame so it looks like there's 2.

Noxxa: Judging.
morningpee: Optimized accelerators 3 and 5, saving 3 frames. The video and comments have been edited to reflect this.
Noxxa: Updated submission file with the improvements.
morningpee: Saved an additional 87 frames and discovered the "triple lane switch" bug.
Noxxa: Updated again.
Noxxa: And again.
morningpee: 24 more frames saved in levels 3-5. Video and comments updated
morningpee: 19 frames saved in 1, 2, and 5 using a new route in accelerator 2, and by optimizing lane switches.
Noxxa: Updated with the fourth improvement and accepting to Moons as an improvement to the published movie. Viewer feedback has improved quite a bit since the first publication.
Guga: Processing...


TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15460
Location: 127.0.0.1
This topic is for the purpose of discussing #4281: yep2yel & morningpee's A2600 Dodge 'Em in 00:52.93
Editor, Experienced player (569)
Joined: 11/8/2010
Posts: 4030
I don't think I'm in the majority, but I thought this was entertaining (and even moreso than the old run since it's faster). Some cleaner and more visually pleasing routes, and even a little close call there at the end. Yes vote.
mklip2001
He/Him
Editor
Joined: 6/23/2009
Posts: 2227
Location: Georgia, USA
I still can't say this is an entertaining enough game for me to vote Yes, but I'm glad to see the technical improvement. You look like you jump around lanes a lot more than desired in the last couple rounds, but I don't know the game well enough to tell. I'm sure you did what you could. I went with Meh. Nice input ending though. It took me by surprise.
Used to be a frequent submissions commenter. My new computer has had some issues running emulators, so I've been here more sporadically. Still haven't gotten around to actually TASing yet... I was going to improve Kid Dracula for GB. It seems I was beaten to it, though, with a recent awesome run by Hetfield90 and StarvinStruthers. (http://tasvideos.org/2928M.html.) Thanks to goofydylan8 for running Gargoyle's Quest 2 because I mentioned the game! (http://tasvideos.org/2001M.html) Thanks to feos and MESHUGGAH for taking up runs of Duck Tales 2 because of my old signature! Thanks also to Samsara for finishing a Treasure Master run. From the submission comments:
Shoutouts and thanks to mklip2001 for arguably being the nicest and most supportive person on the forums.
Spikestuff
They/Them
Editor, Publisher, Expert player (2610)
Joined: 10/12/2011
Posts: 6424
Location: The land down under.
Well screw you too YouTube. downloads watches I like this one more than the other. I was a bit more entertained but pushing an A2600 TAS to a Moon is hard. I will give this a weak YES Seriously. Dropping the input at the end, nicely played. Also: YOU SO SHOULD'VE DIED! :P
WebNations/Sabih wrote:
+fsvgm777 never censoring anything.
Disables Comments and Ratings for the YouTube account. Something better for yourself and also others.
morningpee
They/Them
Player (55)
Joined: 11/28/2013
Posts: 119
Improved by 3 frames. The submission now reflects the improvements. Mothrayas, would you please replace the current movie file with this? Edit: Mothrayas updated the submission file in the OP.
mklip2001 wrote:
You look like you jump around lanes a lot more than desired in the last couple rounds
The clones in accelerators 4 and 5 move more quickly, so you're faced with the decision of taking an extra lap or moving 2 lanes over in order to throw them off. Of the combinations we tried, we went with the most efficient.
mklip2001 wrote:
I still can't say this is an entertaining enough game for me to vote Yes
Spikestuff wrote:
I was a bit more entertained but pushing an A2600 TAS to a Moon is hard.
Luckily, the vault goes like this.
Projects: Tetris DS Genesis Toys: Let the Toy Wars Begin
Reviewer, Player (198)
Joined: 3/2/2014
Posts: 71
Location: Colorado, USA
More improvements found, and updated submission details with new glitch information. Asking that Mothrayas, once again, replace the submission file with this
No game is perfect, Everything can be broken. - Whoever was on the couch with dwangoAC and Weatherton at AGDQ 2014.
morningpee
They/Them
Player (55)
Joined: 11/28/2013
Posts: 119
yep2yel wrote:
More improvements found, and updated submission details with new glitch information.
The routes for accelerators 2, 4, and 5 have been replanned. The run looks significantly different from before, especially with the glitch usage.
Projects: Tetris DS Genesis Toys: Let the Toy Wars Begin
Skilled player (1735)
Joined: 9/17/2009
Posts: 4974
Location: ̶C̶a̶n̶a̶d̶a̶ "Kanatah"
scahfy wrote:
yep2yel wrote:
More improvements found, and updated submission details with new glitch information.
The routes for accelerators 2, 4, and 5 have been replanned. The run looks significantly different from before, especially with the glitch usage.
Why is the time mentioned in the encode 3 seconds shorter than the title? :o Edit: Yes vote btw.
Reviewer, Player (198)
Joined: 3/2/2014
Posts: 71
Location: Colorado, USA
Most likely because Mothrayas hasn't changed the movie file yet, but Scahfy had made the encode of it.
No game is perfect, Everything can be broken. - Whoever was on the couch with dwangoAC and Weatherton at AGDQ 2014.
morningpee
They/Them
Player (55)
Joined: 11/28/2013
Posts: 119
No one has yet replaced the submission file with our latest improvements. I calculated the time in as Math.round(3215 * 100 / 60) / 100 = 53.58. Now that you mention it, it looks like the time is 1.5 seconds off, however. Fixed.
Projects: Tetris DS Genesis Toys: Let the Toy Wars Begin
Noxxa
They/Them
Moderator, Expert player (4104)
Joined: 8/14/2009
Posts: 4089
Location: The Netherlands
Done so now. (I have sleep times too, y'know)
scahfy wrote:
I calculated the time in as Math.round(3215 * 100 / 60) / 100 = 53.58. Now that you mention it, it looks like the time is 1.5 seconds off, however. Fixed.
The exact framerate of Atari 2600 is 59.9227510135505. That number is used for timing by the site, instead of simply 60. Calculating with that number leads to a time of 00:53.65.
http://www.youtube.com/Noxxa <dwangoAC> This is a TAS (...). Not suitable for all audiences. May cause undesirable side-effects. May contain emulator abuse. Emulator may be abusive. This product contains glitches known to the state of California to cause egg defects. <Masterjun> I'm just a guy arranging bits in a sequence which could potentially amuse other people looking at these bits <adelikat> In Oregon Trail, I sacrificed my own family to save time. In Star trek, I killed helpless comrades in escape pods to save time. Here, I kill my allies to save time. I think I need help.
morningpee
They/Them
Player (55)
Joined: 11/28/2013
Posts: 119
Here's a final 19-frame improvement. Video/comments updated.
mklip2001 wrote:
You look like you jump around lanes a lot more than desired in the last couple rounds, but I don't know the game well enough to tell.
You were definitely right.
Mothrayas wrote:
Done so now. (I have sleep times too, y'know)
scahfy wrote:
I calculated the time in as Math.round(3215 * 100 / 60) / 100 = 53.58. Now that you mention it, it looks like the time is 1.5 seconds off, however. Fixed.
The exact framerate of Atari 2600 is 59.9227510135505. That number is used for timing by the site, instead of simply 60. Calculating with that number leads to a time of 00:53.65.
Sleep is good. My mistake with the timings, thanks for letting me know.
Projects: Tetris DS Genesis Toys: Let the Toy Wars Begin
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15460
Location: 127.0.0.1
This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [2585] A2600 Dodge 'Em by yep2yel & morningpee in 00:52.93