Marathon Practice

Time

2010-08-05 07:58:22 pm

Are we allowed to volunteer for a game for the marathon, or does the site have to choose?

neskamikaze

2010-08-05 10:10:59 pm

Quote from Time:

Are we allowed to volunteer for a game for the marathon, or does the site have to choose?

Volunteer. If you want to run a game that's been suggested just say so, or if it hasn't been suggested, or if it already has a runner. Just let us know and get prepared.

Time

2010-08-06 12:46:36 am

Quote from neskamikaze:

Quote from Time:

Are we allowed to volunteer for a game for the marathon, or does the site have to choose?

Volunteer. If you want to run a game that's been suggested just say so, or if it hasn't been suggested, or if it already has a runner. Just let us know and get prepared.

K. I'll do so when I'm actually ready for it, haha.

neskamikaze

2010-08-06 07:51:32 am

Well it'd probably be best to say what you are trying to run now to make sure there's room for it.

kareshi

2010-08-09 02:20:24 pm

1 hour, 25 mins for GnG + SGnG. That's over my estimate, but I know where to do better next time.

kareshi

2010-08-12 11:44:07 am

Quote from kareshi:

1 hour, 25 mins for GnG + SGnG. That's over my estimate, but I know where to do better next time.

1 hour, 12 minutes today. Much more like it. I even had a Normal Armor Stage 6 (SGnG) which I passed on my first try.
25 minute GnG
47 minute SGnG.

Molotov

2010-08-13 10:28:28 pm

Since I've been practicing recently, I guess it doesn't hurt to post about it. I recently finished my second single-segment attempt at Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, but it was more like a "real-time attack" thanks to a bunch of dumb things (forcing loads). The previous attempt was complete crap and ended up at 2:21:01.32 according to the stopwatch. That one had at least 43 restarts, which is absurdly bad. The next attempt was only slightly better: 2:02 something with 33 restarts.

Since I separated the restart tally by stage, I've definitely noticed that I need to dedicate some serious practice time to level 5 (first Indonesia level, if anybody cares). Stupidly enough, the trip wire frenzy at the start is not really a problem at all. What IS a problem though is that freaking firing range. Since I can't afford to be Rambo very often in a single-segment, clearing that room quietly is kind of tough. It seems I need to shoot both lights while the enemies are firing at the targets, but I can see myself screwing that up easily enough. (The roof access is not an option either, because it's slower than balls and not even very safe.)

Other than that, a big snag is the final room and those three blasted enemies. It's somewhat ok if I can shoot two of them from near the starting point, but it seems kind of random where they shoot at you from. On top of that, enemy aim varies like crazy and there's a huge ladder to climb that leaves you totally open. It's not fun, to say the least.

For giggles, here's the restart tally:

Stage 1: 5
Stage 2: 2 (+1 intentional load to possibly save time)
Stage 3: 0
Stage 4: 6
Stage 5: 13 (!)
Stage 6: 1
Stage 7: 3
Stage 8: 3

Anyway, I bumped my estimate up to 2 hours (from 1:30) temporarily until I get better at the game. There's honestly so many things that can go wrong super quickly in that game that I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't go lower than 1:45.

Since I've been practicing recently, I guess it doesn't hurt to post about it. I recently finished my second single-segment attempt at Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, but it was more like a "real-time attack" thanks to a bunch of dumb things (forcing loads). The previous attempt was complete crap and ended up at 2:21:01.32 according to the stopwatch. That one had at least 43 restarts, which is absurdly bad. The next attempt was only slightly better: 2:02 something with 33 restarts.

Since I separated the restart tally by stage, I've definitely noticed that I need to dedicate some serious practice time to level 5 (first Indonesia level, if anybody cares). Stupidly enough, the trip wire frenzy at the start is not really a problem at all. What IS a problem though is that freaking firing range. Since I can't afford to be Rambo very often in a single-segment, clearing that room quietly is kind of tough. It seems I need to shoot both lights while the enemies are firing at the targets, but I can see myself screwing that up easily enough. (The roof access is not an option either, because it's slower than balls and not even very safe.)

Other than that, a big snag is the final room and those three blasted enemies. It's somewhat ok if I can shoot two of them from near the starting point, but it seems kind of random where they shoot at you from. On top of that, enemy aim varies like crazy and there's a huge ladder to climb that leaves you totally open. It's not fun, to say the least.

For giggles, here's the restart tally:

[spoiler]
Stage 1: 5
Stage 2: 2 (+1 intentional load to possibly save time)
Stage 3: 0
Stage 4: 6
Stage 5: 13 (!)
Stage 6: 1
Stage 7: 3
Stage 8: 3[/spoiler]

Anyway, I bumped my estimate up to 2 hours (from 1:30) temporarily until I get better at the game. There's honestly so many things that can go wrong super quickly in that game that I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't go lower than 1:45.

neskamikaze

2010-08-15 12:37:46 pm

I've been working on Tony Hawk 2 almost constantly trying to get a recorded run to submit, but at the same time keeping on going when I make a mistake to prepare for a live run. I think a good estimate would be 5 minutes game time, 8 minutes real time, with the run I'm aiming for to submit being sub-4:25.

mikwuyma

2010-08-17 10:57:06 am

My feelings on The Demon Rush

Okay, I've practiced a couple of games since I last posted.

Katamari Damacy: I tried playing this game for speed and I realized that playing it for speed is way different from playing it for fun. The controls aren't very precise and turboing quickly is a pain. I'm giving up on this game because I don't really enjoy speedrunning it. I might try again sometime later, but I doubt it. Hopefully Arrow will take over for this game.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time: I've played about 1/3 of this game using UCPro's test run as a reference. I still enjoy playing this game (even when I'm stressing out over the rewind trick), and I'm pretty confident I can get this up to marathon level (if not SDA level) within five months. The only problem is that the estimate might have to be bumped up 10 minutes making the estimate 2 hours, because some of Satvara's tricks are definitely segmented only.

Turtles in Time: I need to practice this some more to tighten it up, but I can do this without too much practice (which won't be the case because this is likely my next project after Sunset Riders).

Metal Slug 3: I played this last night because everyone requested it and wow I need to practice. That is all.

Okay, I've practiced a couple of games since I last posted.

Katamari Damacy: I tried playing this game for speed and I realized that playing it for speed is way different from playing it for fun. The controls aren't very precise and turboing quickly is a pain. I'm giving up on this game because I don't really enjoy speedrunning it. I might try again sometime later, but I doubt it. Hopefully Arrow will take over for this game.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time: I've played about 1/3 of this game using UCPro's test run as a reference. I still enjoy playing this game (even when I'm stressing out over the rewind trick), and I'm pretty confident I can get this up to marathon level (if not SDA level) within five months. The only problem is that the estimate might have to be bumped up 10 minutes making the estimate 2 hours, because some of Satvara's tricks are definitely segmented only.

Turtles in Time: I need to practice this some more to tighten it up, but I can do this without too much practice (which won't be the case because this is likely my next project after Sunset Riders).

Metal Slug 3: I played this last night because everyone requested it and wow I need to practice. That is all.

Emptyeye

2010-09-07 08:49:18 pm

Talk to the Hand

I actually practiced something today! Shocked

Final Fight as MIKE HAGGAR: It wasn't pretty, although I was also playing on Hardest difficulty (Mike, what difficulty should I be practicing this on anyway?). I think I used 6 continues, at 3 lives/credit plus five more lives. I should try and cut down on that.

mikwuyma

2010-09-07 09:39:33 pm

My feelings on The Demon Rush

Either arcade default or hardest. I'm not sure atm.

flicky

2010-09-08 09:52:47 am

$15 per rant/allegory

Practicing a lot for Bayonetta. Struggling to not die at many early and still trying to sort out the rest of the strategies. Unsure how I will deal with this stuff. I'm thinking I'll have an adjusted purchase list for this.

Molotov

2010-09-08 10:41:31 pm

Just recently finished single-segment (more like "real-time attack," but you get the point) attempt #13 of Pandora Tomorrow. Stopwatch said 1:19:33:68 as soon as the ending started, so I think this is a big enough improvement to be worth posting about. Restarted 5 times: Stage 4 (3), stage 5 (1), and stage 8 (1).

If this kind of time happens again (previous run was 1:20 something), I'll probably reduce the estimate to 1:25. Smiley

Emptyeye

2010-09-09 09:04:25 pm

Talk to the Hand

Tried some Final Fight as Guy today.

Good news: This run only took me 5 credits, and was quite a bit quicker (Due mainly to my being able to flip past a lot of stuff that I have to at least partially fight as Haggar).

Bad news: I found out this (And the previous playthrough) was on Normal, not Hardest. Still mystified as to what the difficulty settings actually do--what they definitely DON'T affect is how much life you lose after executing a special attack.

Trekhaak

2010-09-14 01:35:33 pm

Everybody's favorite monster

Practicing for Banjo-Kazooie. Its been a while since i last played the game but i still know the game pretty well. I will most likely copy the current run on SDA.
Sub-3 shouldnt be no problem at all but there is so much pressure'! Wink

dballin

2010-09-14 07:58:51 pm

Balls jerky

you could always try for an any% instead. Look around the BK topic for the list of jiggies and notes to cut... or just copy the current run. Either way it's sure to be fun!

neskamikaze

2010-09-14 09:32:44 pm

You might as well do the 100%. The difference between the two is very small and the current run already has a set route. The list of what to cut is there, but the way to route it is not. 4 months is tough enough to learn an existing route, nevertheless create a new one.

Plus, watch packattack's more recent run over the one on the site right now, it's 4 minutes faster. I don't think the routes are very different, but a little faster is always good.

mike89

2010-09-15 04:44:26 am

SEGA Junkie

I disagree, I'd rather see an any%. Three reasons:

1) It's shorter (even if only by 10-20 minutes, it's something)
2) It's something different for those who are familiar with the speedrun already
3) Most importantly, it gives you a bit of leeway as the player, because if you're going for 100% you have to play the whole level again if you die without all 100 notes. While you obviously won't plan for that to happen, the strangest things can, and do, happen when thousands of people are watching.

neskamikaze

2010-09-15 09:14:20 am

Quote from mike89:

I disagree, I'd rather see an any%. Three reasons:

1) It's shorter (even if only by 10-20 minutes, it's something)
2) It's something different for those who are familiar with the speedrun already
3) Most importantly, it gives you a bit of leeway as the player, because if you're going for 100% you have to play the whole level again if you die without all 100 notes. While you obviously won't plan for that to happen, the strangest things can, and do, happen when thousands of people are watching.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the prospect of dying, especially in RBB.

Trekhaak

2010-09-15 01:37:11 pm

Everybody's favorite monster

It appears most people really want to see an any% run over the 100% run. So ive decided to do an any% run. Because its faster and its something different then the current run that most people have seen as mike89 pointed out. Flip suggested that i should still practice the 100% in case someone donates to see it;)
So for the first month(s) i will begin with 100% and then looking for things to cut. You can finish the game with 810 notes and 94 jiggies. This gets you to the final fight with Grunty. However, it would be wise to get some more notes(nothing more then 882 tho) so you can fill up feathers and eggs to the maximum and you can double your health just in case. One thing is sure; if it turns out i can skip the Mr. Vile game its skipped!

dballin

Edit history:

dballin: 2010-09-15 07:54:22 pm

2010-09-15 07:50:14 pm

Balls jerky

mr vile is only 1 jiggie. you can pick which ones you skip. It is one of the more time consuming ones so I wouldn't get mad at you for skipping it. that and tiptup's choir... BGS in general just annoys me lol

edit: doubling your health is the final 4 jiggie puzzle which you won't be completing if you leave out 6 jiggies so your final note count should be 864 if you get the gold feathers or less if you dont

neskamikaze

2010-09-15 08:36:51 pm

Also, if you're going with the any%, health conservation is going to be a new issue for you because you won't have nearly as much health near the end of the game, assuming you won't be picking up any honeycomb pieces. You might need to work in stopping at a beehive or two.

packattack

2010-09-15 08:44:07 pm

I think that for me, an any% run would be slightly more frustrating to do because of all the re-planning and lower health. However, with practice that route should be a little easier and would definitely have less luck than a 100% run. I wish I could run this game at the marathon, but I won't be able to attend it.

mike89

2010-09-16 04:28:30 am

SEGA Junkie

You shouldn't need more than 828 notes, you only need four red feathers in the final fight and golds are not strictly necessary since the boss drops health every so often. If you put some practice in on the fight it's not hard at all.

dballin

2010-09-16 03:42:22 pm

Balls jerky

and you could always use that super cool invincibility from the backflip to avoid homing spell damage like the tas does thumbsup