Posted: 4/7/2008 3:31 AM
Post subject: Q*bert
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unagi
Player (68)
Joined: 4/7/2008
Posts: 4
I made a Q*bert time attack (Q-bert (U).nes). I tried to post it, but the submission forum complained that "FCM error: Movie does not begin with a reset". Was I supposed to record from "Reset" instead of from "Start"? I'm using FCEU 0.98.15. It's just a rough draft anyway I was positing for comments. Where else can I upload it? thanks.
Posted: 4/7/2008 3:40 AM
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unagi
Player (68)
Joined: 4/7/2008
Posts: 4
Okay, I discovered dehacked. So here's my Q*bert run: http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1381470462/Q-bert%20%28U%29.fcm Q*bert is an old coin-op arcade game that was ported to NES (as well as many other systems). The only glitch I found was that you can jump through enemies if you time it right (usually it's a 1-frame window), which I frequently do in the later levels, especially in the corners. I also make frequent use of luck manipulation by pausing for a few frames at a time. The run involves no deaths, because I couldn't figure out a way to save time by doing so. I used FCEU 0.98.15. This is a rough draft that I'm posting for a comments. I have two main questions. 1) Should the final draft go all 9 levels or stop after 5? The game becomes the same after level 5, just a little faster. The monsters even come in basically the same order, and I complete all the boards in roughly the same way. However, as you can see in my video, you get a little animation sequence after beating level 9, although it does just restart you on level 1-1 (though it's now 1 frame/jump faster than before). 2) How can I make it more entertaining? I realize this is somewhat boring; how can I make it more interesting? I try to maximize near misses with monsters by altering routes, but everything else I can think of would cost time. Is it worth sacrificing speed for entertainment here?
Posted: 4/7/2008 4:12 AM
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Sticky
Joined: 2/26/2007
Posts: 1365
Location: Minnesota
Havent watched this WIP, but yes, you are supposed to record from reset.
unagi wrote:
I realize this is somewhat boring; how can I make it more interesting? I try to maximize near misses with monsters by altering routes, but everything else I can think of would cost time. Is it worth sacrificing speed for entertainment here?
If YOU think it is boring, then it is probably boring to others. I would do the best I could to make near misses and the like as opposed to following a route for every level. Routs are so... linear. There is not much creativity, or, "near misses," thus no entertainment value to those who have never played the game before. I think you should make a decision for fastest time or sacrifices speed for entertainment... I, personally, would probably side with the latter.
adelikat wrote:
I very much agree with this post.
Bobmario511 wrote:
Forget party hats, Christmas tree hats all the way man.
Posted: 4/7/2008 11:16 AM
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Sir_VG
He/Him
Player (40)
Joined: 10/9/2004
Posts: 1913
Location: Floating Tower
I have a better question - does the game even end?
Taking over the world, one game at a time. Currently TASing: Nothing
Posted: 4/7/2008 1:58 PM
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unagi
Player (68)
Joined: 4/7/2008
Posts: 4
>>Havent watched this WIP, but yes, you are supposed to record from reset. Thanks. Anything else I need to know before I start a final draft? >>I have a better question - does the game even end? In the original coin-op version, I believe it goes from 9-4 back to 9-1 and then loops those four rounds forever. In the NES version it goes from 9-4 to 1-1*, with a minute long "ending" animation in between. 1-1* looks and plays the same as the original 1-1 except it is slightly faster, and the same is true for 1-2* and 1-3*. I have no idea what happens when you complete this "second quest", and I also don't know any way of accessing it without finishing the first one. I certainly think ending a TAS after 9 levels is a fine, satisfying conclusion, but I worry about it get boring over the last four levels. I mean, 1 through 5 are all fundamentally different (the rules for flipping tiles), whereas 5 through 9 are all the same. Edit: So how about this idea. I play the first 5 levels as fast as I can (though still being entertaining when it's free), and for the last 4 I sacrifice time for entertainment. Sound good?
Posted: 4/20/2008 7:50 AM
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FractalFusion
Editor, Expert player (2072)
Joined: 6/15/2005
Posts: 3282
Glitchy TAS of 2013 Gameboy TAS of 2013 PSX TASer of 2010
Here, I fixed the previous run so you are able to submit it to this site. http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1680022298/Q-bert%20%28U%29%20fix.fcm You can either submit it now or finish your final draft. Note: You must always "record from start", not "record from reset". Even when using "record from start", there is a bug that causes the movie to be auto-rejected. Also see this topic: http://tasvideos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4122 .