Joined: 5/20/2004
Posts: 118
Location: Over there!
This movie only plays back correctly if default SRAM is present. This means to ensure proper playback you have to rename or delete any existing savedata, then start a game to generate the required file, then play back the movie.
Better way:
1. Delete or rename .srm
2. Load ROM, hold pause (not ESC) to stop it at frame 0
3. Record New Movie (or Play Movie)
That should record/playback for any game without savedata getting in the way. If savedata is absolutely required (i.e. pretty much never), make the .srm read-only (preferably before you start recording) and provide it with the movie.
Edit: Seems it doesn't reload from the .srm when you reset. Fixed method.
However, I don't know if it's because of character selection or what have you, but your times are in some cases worse than the TSC records. I may endeavour to get gamersince93 here and give you good routes for the remainder of the levels, to save you the trouble of working them out yourself.
My times are worse on Speed Slider 1 and Speed Slider 3. My time is worse in Speed Slider 1 because I waste time going to the top of the level, and falling back down. My time is worse on Speed Slider 3 because I waste time going for the speed shoes, and they don't increase my speed enough to make it back. Also, it seems that characters' top speeds are applicable even when slingshotting in midair, as a result, it may be impossible for me to beat the Speed Slider 1 time with Knuckles.
It would be helpful to get gamersince93 here, not so he can tell me the routes, (I can work those out easily with the level select cheat), but so he can tell me what the best time of day for each level is so I can work out a good level order.
Also, in the "real" run, I suppose you'll attack the thinger that decides your level on the first available frame rather than going through each level separately? (since you'll have all your routes down by then, hopefully)
I'm going for in-game completion time rather than total frame count, and I feel the continuity is worth the loss of a few unimportant frames. I always fast-foward through the level select parts on playback anyway. Plus, it gives me practice for one of the final bosses. Also, because the levels are different at different times, there may be a more efficient route than just letting it go at the first available frame, what I choose to do will depend on how much time the "best" order can save me. And, in some cases, (Amazing Arena) doing a level at a time other than its best will save me time, because I can get hit by an enemy to lose rings rather than using the call button. (I must have less than 30 rings at the goal post if I am to get a negative ring count, which will immensely speed the score tallying)
SprintGod wrote:
This movie only plays back correctly if default SRAM is present. This means to ensure proper playback you have to rename or delete any existing savedata, then start a game to generate the required file, then play back the movie....
I just tested and that does seem to be the issue I was running into, I'll put that info in the first post.
How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.
A non-tas'd IL has (slightly) beaten one of the level times in the current published movie here. 8.13 seconds against 8.20.
Link to video
Like I say not exactly a huge time save, but that is still non TAS'd so thought it worth posting here for future reference.
It also uses a different team which potentially could open a can of worms, but then I'm not really familiar with Chaotix enough to say if anyone could do it.
I should say they have several other Chaotix ILs on their YouTube, no others beat the current TAS yet (Though many come close), so they also may be worth looking at if someone was to ever pick this game up.
Another RTA IL that beats the current TAS for future reference.
Link to video
And actually pretty significantly this time; 3 seconds off an 11 ish second run. Still has the whole 'different team' issue; but feel it's worth documenting here.
One more RTA that improves upon the current TAS.
Link to video
Not quite as large a time save as the last one, about half a second this time. 10.48 vs 11.11.
Once again, uses Mighty rather than Knux.
23/11/20 edit;
Another one.
Link to video
Current TAS gets 9.13, this IL gets 8.63.
Another video, but one that actually uses tools this time, and it's full game to boot! Bit of an odd duck; sub optimal in alot of places, probably due to the fact the author says this is effectvly the first interaction with the game. So isn't faster in quite a few levels compared to the published TAS, but has some significant improvements in others, such as a 14 second time save in a level that previously took 22. Apparently according to the YouTube thread its improvements are significant enough to beat the current publication. (Though to be fair emulation tools have come a long way since that submission.)
Link to video
Mostly comparable to the published TAS, uses the same character combo of Knux and Espio (except does switch to Knux/Heavy for the final boss). Biggest discrepancy is level order, and thus time of day for each stage which can effect placement of objects in stages. Though I believe this is incredibly minor, so might be irrelevant. No input file available I'm aware of, sadly though.
Biggest improvements are at;
Botanic Base 2 3.22
Amazing Arena 2 5.33
Amazing Arena 3 6.35
Botanic Base 3 10.55
Botanic Base 4 12.10
But there are other small other ones.
