Bad Game Marathon: Preliminary Planning Thread

2013-09-19 03:43:08 pm

No pain, no gain

Right! This is going to be an online marathon. I think we've learned some lessons about what does and does not work for these recently, and that's why it's going to be helpful to have this much time.

Also, I'm thinking this is going to be a just-for-fun marathon. It probably won't be lengthy, either--two or three days, at most. No charity. If we want, we could have a fund for SDA's marathons to help them grow; this wouldn't be heavily plugged, but it would be an option for people watching.

I'm glad that we have interest in this! I'm glad that we have a lot of good suggestions, even if some games aren't completely "bad" (Give Up, Robot, for example). Suggestions are still open, but I'm thinking we're getting a lot of good games for this.

RedArremer

2013-09-19 05:12:17 pm

"Good games"? Brossentia, please. Tongue

I don't know if I'll be able to do CVHD (or something else I can't do on emulator) by the time the marathon comes around, because the dazzle I had was broken and I have yet to get a replacement.

__sdfg

2013-09-20 07:07:33 pm

D:

Well, now that I know I wouldn't be discouraging donations to charity...

Mario is Missing! (SNES): 25 minutes (video). One of the best-known abuses of a Nintendo license. People who haven't played it will ask themselves what the fuss is. People who have played it will ask themselves how it can be speedrun. The downside is it goes on about 20 minutes longer than it needs to, so if you can't tolerate watching the whole video, I won't sweat it if you say, "No, thanks." Tongue

SCXCR

Edit history:

SCXCR: 2013-10-07 05:38:44 am

SCXCR: 2013-09-20 07:46:58 pm

2013-09-20 07:29:41 pm

No, the OTHER Marvel!

I don't have a video for this just yet as I'm still planning out a couple stages/bosses, but I can at least toss the idea out there:

Escape from Bug Island (WII)
Estimated Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

The back of the box proclaims it as "the creepiest survival horror game for the Wii." At the time of its release it was the ONLY survival horror game for the Wii, so I guess they were right at the time. Combining the visuals of the average Dreamcast game and the storytelling approach of the average Syfy original movie, Bug Island was a notorious early example of how not to implement motion controls. Attacking, dodging, balancing on narrow bridges and getting out of insta-kill QTEs all being motion-based, on top of a low draw distance with a protagonist whose top speed is slower than almost every enemy in the game made it a frustrating experience. On the plus side, the 3 voice actors portraying the 6 characters in the game turned in the kind of performance that would make Michigan: Report from Hell sound acceptable.

(For an idea of what it's like, here's part of a semi-completionist playthrough I did.)

I don't have a video for this just yet as I'm still planning out a couple stages/bosses, but I can at least toss the idea out there:

[b]Escape from Bug Island (WII)[/b]
Estimated Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

The back of the box proclaims it as "the creepiest survival horror game for the Wii."  At the time of its release it was the ONLY survival horror game for the Wii, so I guess they were right at the time.  Combining the visuals of the average Dreamcast game and the storytelling approach of the average Syfy original movie, Bug Island was a notorious early example of how not to implement motion controls.  Attacking, dodging, balancing on narrow bridges and getting out of insta-kill QTEs all being motion-based, on top of a low draw distance with a protagonist whose top speed is slower than almost every enemy in the game made it a frustrating experience.  On the plus side, the 3 voice actors portraying the 6 characters in the game turned in the kind of performance that would make Michigan: Report from Hell sound acceptable.

(For an idea of what it's like, here's part of a semi-completionist playthrough I did.)
[hidden]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8fDHlbjFiM[/hidden]

ZachSK

2013-09-21 10:19:59 pm

Feudal Family Lord

Not good enough for good.....not bad enough for bad

CBenni

Edit history:

CBenni: 2013-09-22 06:46:57 am

CBenni: 2013-09-22 06:45:18 am

2013-09-22 06:43:24 am

Who is in for a 5v0 League of Legends run? It definitely hits the "horrible" category, doesnt it?

Also, I have been running a german hobbyist game, called Xrodon (My PB/WR is 5:55 minutes http://www.twitch.tv/cbenni/c/2769160, estimate should be around 6:30), want that for the marathon?

Chiron97

2013-09-22 07:58:43 am

Terrible at games

I know how great 5v0 DotA is, so why not.

Xrodon is just..

what...

Chiron97

2013-09-25 05:16:55 am

Terrible at games

I am determined to have the absolute worst games ever in this marathon.

This literally can't be speedrun, as the game is entirely (unskippable) cutscenes, but it may be worth it due to just how terrible it really is. But literally, it's entirely unskippable cutscenes. I won't even commentate so you can hear how damn bad this is.

...

Plumbers Don't Wear Ties (3DO) [Estimate: 30:00] [40:00 with skippable intro story, but it's so terrible that it could easily be a donation incentive]

Why do I do this to myself?

I mean, it qualifies as more of a playthrough than a speedrun (the only fast thing will be me picking the choices immediately and not picking a wrong one. (You get a looooong cutscene if you pick a wrong choice)

(Again, feel free to deny this, it's cringeworthy enough to make everyone leave.)
(Also, I'm leaving censor bars on, don't worry.)
(fuck)

Softman25

2013-09-25 06:05:18 am

Alright, another pitch because I just got back into this game.

Mission Impossible (N64)

~ 1:20 as an estimate

It's not really that glitchy, but it's got horrible lines, horrible controls and just makes you want to watch the movie instead of playing the game.

http://www.twitch.tv/softman25/c/2532175 - That's a video with the game freezing/crashing at the very end of the game. Full video of the game though.

lillbrorsan

2013-09-25 08:55:02 am

Truljin @ Twitch

Family Guy Back to the Multiverse (PC)
Estimate: 1:30:00
There are many games based on Family Guy but this one is just bad in a good way (if that makes sense?), you play as either Stewie or Brian through some (often) weird missions killing Santa Claus, don't forget to use your diaper grenades while killing space chickens!
I had a pretty good run of it but i did not save it as i wanted to improve upon my time so for now you can check this Youtube video to see what it's like.

RoboSparkle

2013-09-25 01:36:36 pm

Magical. Flying. Bathtub

If Adam, Rayas, or mbisonfute are up for it, we could have a Dragon Crystal race.

We are all actually pretty close in terms of skill but as it is a rogue-like there is a significant RNG element. A few days ago I had a race with mbisonfute that had both extremes of good and bad luck. Although it showed that even good luck isn't THAT good and can still screw you over late-game... unless you are more fortunate later.

Overall we have a pretty good finish rate and can reliably do so within 45 minutes. But for some reason races tend to either be close call things or absolute slaughters, but either way they are always entertaining. Will that last mystery scroll be the hallowed Shift Scroll? And if so is it going to save me or dump me in the middle of 8 hungry dragons? Do you test your mystery items by using them or play it safe and chuck it at an enemy to see what it does?

This is the most extreme it's ever gotten by a long way http://www.twitch.tv/robo_sparkle/c/2989640

Master System Master Race

If Adam, Rayas, or mbisonfute are up for it, we could have a Dragon Crystal race.

We are all actually pretty close in terms of skill but as it is a rogue-like there is a significant RNG element.  A few days ago I had a race with mbisonfute that had both extremes of good and bad luck.  Although it showed that even good luck isn't THAT good and can still screw you over late-game... unless you are more fortunate later.

Overall we have a pretty good finish rate and can reliably do so within 45 minutes.  But for some reason races tend to either be close call things or absolute slaughters, but either way they are always entertaining.  Will that last mystery scroll be the hallowed Shift Scroll?  And if so is it going to save me or dump me in the middle of 8 hungry dragons?  Do you test your mystery items by using them or play it safe and chuck it at an enemy to see what it does?

This is the most extreme it's ever gotten by a long way http://www.twitch.tv/robo_sparkle/c/2989640

Master System Master Race

PJ

2013-09-25 01:56:36 pm

Is PJ

I suppose I'll throw in a few suggestions.

1. Lagoon: 1:45 estimate. This is most known for having a ridiculously short weapon and no other means of damaging bosses. This is riddled with....interesting design choices. While this isn't a really bad game, it definitely is seen as such by many people.

2. Mohawk & Headphone Jack: 40 min (warps) or 55 min (warpless). This speaks for itself. If you're brave enough to allow it to be streamed, it's a pretty strong option.

3. The Lawnmower Man (SNES): 30 minutes. A game based on a movie based on a Stephen King novel. (Un)surpringly, the three have very very little to do with each other. In fact, movie content ends about 40% through the game. This is an incredibly buggy game full of supremely difficult skips that look completely ordinary, and it features no fewer than 5 different genres.

4. Rad Raygun: 15 minutes. Run should really only take ~9 minutes, but I'm assuming there will be some setup time needed as usual. This game is totally busted. In the first second of the game, I stage select to stage 3. I spend a majority of the game either out of bounds or flying through the sky (neither of which are intentional). Silly character, silly plot, Game Boy throwback, short. Good fit.

I suppose I'll throw in a few suggestions.

1. [b]Lagoon:[/b]  1:45 estimate.  This is most known for having a ridiculously short weapon and no other means of damaging bosses.  This is riddled with....interesting design choices.  While this isn't a really bad game, it definitely is seen as such by many people.

2. [b]Mohawk & Headphone Jack:[/b]  40 min (warps) or 55 min (warpless).  This speaks for itself.  If you're brave enough to allow it to be streamed, it's a pretty strong option.

3. [b]The Lawnmower Man (SNES):[/b]  30 minutes.  A game based on a movie based on a Stephen King novel.  (Un)surpringly, the three have very very little to do with each other.  In fact, movie content ends about 40% through the game.  This is an incredibly buggy game full of supremely difficult skips that look completely ordinary, and it features no fewer than 5 different genres.

4. [b]Rad Raygun:[/b] 15 minutes.  Run should really only take ~9 minutes, but I'm assuming there will be some setup time needed as usual.  This game is totally busted.  In the first second of the game, I stage select to stage 3.  I spend a majority of the game either out of bounds or flying through the sky (neither of which are intentional).  Silly character, silly plot, Game Boy throwback, short.  Good fit.

Zephyrz

2013-09-25 04:16:38 pm

I could do A Boy and His Blob: Trouble in Blobolonia. (Est. 10 minutes including setup)

If you haven't seen a run of this game you don't really understand how whack it is. Most runs clock in around 2m10s with a crazy out-of-bounds to walk through the credits.

Chiron97

2013-09-25 08:42:46 pm

Terrible at games

Also, for the other parts of the OP.

Dates: I'd go for either the last week of February or first week of March. I'm on vacation from February 15-22, so I can't do that.

Charity: It'd obviously be awesome if we could raise a solid bit of money. I like Doctors Without Borders, and since every marathon either does that or PCF, so maybe Project CURE. Similar to DWB, good track record.

I suck at names
Have a nice day

karavalenge

Edit history:

karavalenge: 2013-09-30 10:09:59 am

2013-09-27 07:04:44 am

Blaster Master: Blasting Again
Hyped by OPM as "looks poor and plays just as bad". And given an amazing 3/10 on PSM. Nobody else even bothered reviewing it!

I've never even got through the first dungeon, so I have no idea how long this game is. If interested, I'll start running it to figure it out, or hand it off to someone else who wants it.

EDIT:
Oh, and I can play Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII in 3 hours est. Might be able to get it down to 2:40 by the marathon.

Judgy

Edit history:

Judgy: 2013-10-02 03:33:26 pm

Judgy: 2013-09-29 08:03:27 am

Judgy: 2013-09-29 08:02:17 am

2013-09-28 05:00:12 pm

Borderlands 2 Glitch Hunter/ router.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior: Estimate 50 mins (as far as I remember my RTA is around 45 mins but I will double check tomorrow) This game is completely broken it was a bad game before i started with it once i was done ... hahaha

dates: Whenever for me really but a Weekend would be better.

EDIT## RTA was 43:49 With mistakes during the run so i'd say 45mins is good for including a safety margin.

Gameplay -->

Saint Connor

2013-10-05 11:15:19 am

Screw it, I'll go ahead and post it up...

Blasto

Any % (warpless) - 0:30:00 estimate - first few levels kind of suck, but once it gets into the heavy skips, it's pretty interesting. New developments have been made for episode 7 which shaved off a little over 2 minutes of time, which is huge as this was the most difficult part of the run. Plus you get to hear Phil Hartman's lovely one liners. Who wouldn't want that?

Any % (warp) - 0:20:00 estimate - this route comes from lesser known warps that were left in the game by the Blasto dev team to reach the Hub of stage 9. Skips major portions of the game and has some fun requirements to meet to get the warps.

theseawolf1

2013-10-06 08:28:53 pm

SGL Scrublord

Wow, I found there's an actually a bid war we can do in Rambo, we can save or kill Co. My mind is blown.

Chiron97

2013-10-25 06:38:52 pm

Terrible at games

I decided to make a "Suggestion Compendium" to keep track of all the suggestions in a spreadsheet right over here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aib7FlXBmsgidExjdDdwWGlobS1iV1hFRVB2TVAweEE&usp=sharing

PM me if something should be changed, added, or removed.

AniMeowzerz

Edit history:

AniMeowzerz: 2013-11-01 12:41:10 pm

AniMeowzerz: 2013-10-27 08:18:18 am

2013-10-27 08:15:52 am

~~Meow~~

ZenicReverie

2013-11-04 12:04:49 am

Waiting hurts my soul...

Hey Chiron97, you missed me. To err on the side of caution an estimate of 30 minutes for Mysterium is best, but if all goes well it'll be well under 20 minutes.

Chiron97

2013-11-08 07:01:13 pm

Terrible at games

With SCPG in February, CGDR in March, and C4L in May, I'm gonna say that April would be the best time for this marathon.

There are no marathons at all scheduled to take place in April so far, I don't think.

Any input?

JackintheBox333

2013-11-09 12:23:23 am

Professional Shaq Fu Speedrunner

April seems like the best time, with those being scheduled for when they are.

Saint Connor

2013-11-11 11:38:02 am

I'm certainly good for whatever, but yeah, deconflicting with other marathons should take precedence if we want any sort of viewer count.

Is this thing for sure a go though? Haven't really heard anything from the OP in a while, lol.

ButtersBB

2013-11-14 05:30:34 am

Meh, may as well put some games down. Hopefully I can suggest other stuff later.

1. Lifeline (PS2): 3:30 estimate. Groundbreaking adventure thriller controlled completely by voice. I really don't think I need to elaborate any further.

2. Zool (SNES): 45 minute estimate. Move over Sonic, Zool is a ninja with attitude! A horrible port for the Amiga's washed up mascot. They couldn't even be bothered to include Zool's trademark Chupa Chup product placement.

3. Trio the Punch: Never Forget Me (PS2), WFist%: 35 minute estimate. No ninja. Brawler only. Final destination.