I haven't encountered such a glitch, but it would not only break my route's everything, but it would probably make the 360 version the best for a 100% route, especially if it worked for Turian Insignias, Asari Writings and Salarian Tags. Either way, I'll probably route things out with and without any such glitches because I intend to measure the time needed to collect every resource node, as well as the relative time to collect them along with other points of interest on each world. Hopefully I can get down to running after this... I just finished a major routing project for FFXII and now I'm getting into this, and honestly I'd rather be doint the runs than routing them. 
SDA Forum
Over the course of the past couple weeks I drove the Mako way too much and got what I needed to route resources, writings, insignias and the like. To be honest I was surprised just how easily it came together after I compiled the data. There are only five points that remain in question, and some of them aren't so easy to answer because I did this on 360, which not only has much longer loading times, but offers more control over the Mako (unless you use a gamepad).
1. There are two absolute gimme Asari Writings, one on Altahe (right on the way) and the other on Nonuel (right by one of the faster League Medallions). This choice depends entirely on how close the Writing and Medallion on Nonuel are – and I don’t feel like starting a new game to find out, but iirc they are right next to each other.
2. There are two Light Metals that take about the same amount of time: one on Xawin (slight detour on way to Privateer base) and one on Antibaar (more or less on your way to the Geth outpost). Which one is better depends on the optimal approach to taking out the Geth base, but if I had to guess, I’d say that the one on Antibaar would be faster.
3. The Athens System so useless that it may not even be worth visiting – the only reason is a Turian Insignia because the only other resources there are two gas deposits, and there are plenty of those (you only need 6/10). However there is another Insignia on Ontarom that isn’t far off the optimal path to the Science Facility (I think it takes about 30 extra seconds, but I didn’t test it as extensively as I could have). This one comes down to loading times, which I’m hesitant to test because the run really should be on PC, imo.
4. One more toss-up, and it comes down to the terrain (go figure ). Rayingri has a League Medallion and a Rare Earth very close to each other, but you can save five seconds by getting those from Nepmos and Altahe respectively (one 1.5 minute detour, or 55 and 30 seconds respectively). That said, getting the League Medallion on Nepmos as fast as possible requires a rather difficult drive from the infested mine (may be very hard on PC without a gamepad) while the Rayingri route sets you up for a relatively easy climb up to the Geth base.
5. Only one trick is used (if you can call it that), and only once. If you go far enough off the map, Joker will yank you back to the insertion point - but you keep your progress on the world. It doesn't take very long (about 10 seconds plus the extra driving, even with 360 load times), but long enough that it was only (probably) worth it in one place: Maji. The Insignia and Rare Earth can be replaced easily enough (see above options), and this is another point in favor of the extra stuff on Rayingri because you would definitely get that Rare Earth if you cut down on Maji.
One more major note: collect everything from asteroids and planets you can’t land on except excess gas deposits and (probably) anything in the Athens system in Artemis Tau. I won’t bother listing them here.
1. There are two absolute gimme Asari Writings, one on Altahe (right on the way) and the other on Nonuel (right by one of the faster League Medallions). This choice depends entirely on how close the Writing and Medallion on Nonuel are – and I don’t feel like starting a new game to find out, but iirc they are right next to each other.
2. There are two Light Metals that take about the same amount of time: one on Xawin (slight detour on way to Privateer base) and one on Antibaar (more or less on your way to the Geth outpost). Which one is better depends on the optimal approach to taking out the Geth base, but if I had to guess, I’d say that the one on Antibaar would be faster.
3. The Athens System so useless that it may not even be worth visiting – the only reason is a Turian Insignia because the only other resources there are two gas deposits, and there are plenty of those (you only need 6/10). However there is another Insignia on Ontarom that isn’t far off the optimal path to the Science Facility (I think it takes about 30 extra seconds, but I didn’t test it as extensively as I could have). This one comes down to loading times, which I’m hesitant to test because the run really should be on PC, imo.
4. One more toss-up, and it comes down to the terrain (go figure
5. Only one trick is used (if you can call it that), and only once. If you go far enough off the map, Joker will yank you back to the insertion point - but you keep your progress on the world. It doesn't take very long (about 10 seconds plus the extra driving, even with 360 load times), but long enough that it was only (probably) worth it in one place: Maji. The Insignia and Rare Earth can be replaced easily enough (see above options), and this is another point in favor of the extra stuff on Rayingri because you would definitely get that Rare Earth if you cut down on Maji.
One more major note: collect everything from asteroids and planets you can’t land on except excess gas deposits and (probably) anything in the Athens system in Artemis Tau. I won’t bother listing them here.
Planet by planet:
Arghos Rho
Hydra (Metgos): Thorium on way to transponder
Phoenix (Tuntau): mission only
Armstrong Nebula
Gagarin (Rayingri): possible League Medallion and Polonium (see above)
Grissom (Solcrum): mission only
Hong (Casbin): Uranium before mission (the climb required saves almost 20 seconds)
Tereshkova (Antibaar): Magnesium (probably, see above)
Vamshi (Maji): Thorium and Turian Insignia then go off the map (maybe, see above). After Joker sends you back, Magnesium on way to mission
Artemis Tau
Macedon (Sharjila): mission only
Sparta (Edolus): ID Tag after Mission
Attican Beta
Hercules (Eletania): Gold on way to underground monkey palace
Gemini Sigma
Han (Mavigon): Gold and ID Tag on way to mission
Hades Gamma
Antaeus (Trebin): Plutonium on way to mission, Uranium after
Cacus (Chohe): Polonium after mission
Dis (Klensal): Platinum on way to mission, League Medallion after
Plutus (Nonuel): League Medallion and (probably) Matriarch’s Writings, then Samarium on way to mission
Hawking Eta
Century (Presrop): Gold after mission
Horse Head Nebula
Fortuna (Amaranthine): Iridium and Turian Insignia on way to mission, Thorium after
Strenuus (Xawin): Turian Insignia and (possibly, see above) Cobalt on way to mission
Kepler Verge
Newton (Ontarom): Turian Insignia (possibly, see above) on way to mission
Maroon Sea
Matano (Chasca): mission only (annoying climb on the optimal route – only need to clear Science Facility)
Vostok (Nodacrux): mission only
Styx Theta
Acheron (Altahe): Samarium on way to mission (possibly, see above)
Erebus (Nepmos): Palladium on way to mission, Titanium on way to mine, League Medallion after mine (possibly, see above)
Voyager Cluster
Amazon (Agebinium): Turian Insignia after mission
Columbia (Nepheron): ID Tag on way to mission
Yangtze (Binthu): ideal route here is a counterclockwise run from base to base, grab Uranium and Palladium on the way
Arghos Rho
Hydra (Metgos): Thorium on way to transponder
Phoenix (Tuntau): mission only
Armstrong Nebula
Gagarin (Rayingri): possible League Medallion and Polonium (see above)
Grissom (Solcrum): mission only
Hong (Casbin): Uranium before mission (the climb required saves almost 20 seconds)
Tereshkova (Antibaar): Magnesium (probably, see above)
Vamshi (Maji): Thorium and Turian Insignia then go off the map (maybe, see above). After Joker sends you back, Magnesium on way to mission
Artemis Tau
Macedon (Sharjila): mission only
Sparta (Edolus): ID Tag after Mission
Attican Beta
Hercules (Eletania): Gold on way to underground monkey palace
Gemini Sigma
Han (Mavigon): Gold and ID Tag on way to mission
Hades Gamma
Antaeus (Trebin): Plutonium on way to mission, Uranium after
Cacus (Chohe): Polonium after mission
Dis (Klensal): Platinum on way to mission, League Medallion after
Plutus (Nonuel): League Medallion and (probably) Matriarch’s Writings, then Samarium on way to mission
Hawking Eta
Century (Presrop): Gold after mission
Horse Head Nebula
Fortuna (Amaranthine): Iridium and Turian Insignia on way to mission, Thorium after
Strenuus (Xawin): Turian Insignia and (possibly, see above) Cobalt on way to mission
Kepler Verge
Newton (Ontarom): Turian Insignia (possibly, see above) on way to mission
Maroon Sea
Matano (Chasca): mission only (annoying climb on the optimal route – only need to clear Science Facility)
Vostok (Nodacrux): mission only
Styx Theta
Acheron (Altahe): Samarium on way to mission (possibly, see above)
Erebus (Nepmos): Palladium on way to mission, Titanium on way to mine, League Medallion after mine (possibly, see above)
Voyager Cluster
Amazon (Agebinium): Turian Insignia after mission
Columbia (Nepheron): ID Tag on way to mission
Yangtze (Binthu): ideal route here is a counterclockwise run from base to base, grab Uranium and Palladium on the way
Wow. That's great. There's the hard part out of the way. For #5, how much faster is it than going back to the normandy and landing again? Also, the PC version doesn't support joysticks. It's WASD only.
For the rest of the run, it seems that Noveria and Feros will be almost entirely in bounds, with the exception of a new trick where you clip down from the objective of Feros:Data Recovery onto the area where the mako is (I'll make a video), and using the regular feros clip after killing the zombies. None of these actually affect the route any. They just skip walking down some stairs and watching a cutscene.
Noveria would be different if you could do the ceiling clips, though most of that is marginal gains, and too inconsistent for SS. So, for now it seems there's no clipping.
For the rest of the run, it seems that Noveria and Feros will be almost entirely in bounds, with the exception of a new trick where you clip down from the objective of Feros:Data Recovery onto the area where the mako is (I'll make a video), and using the regular feros clip after killing the zombies. None of these actually affect the route any. They just skip walking down some stairs and watching a cutscene.
Noveria would be different if you could do the ceiling clips, though most of that is marginal gains, and too inconsistent for SS. So, for now it seems there's no clipping.
Going off the map on Maji adds about 30 seconds, which makes the Rare Earth and Insignia cost just under 45 seconds each if you average everything out.
But because a quick stop by Pharos in the Athens system only takes 15-20 seconds (even on 360) and the PC version doesn't support joysticks or gamepads, choices 3-5 are a lot clearer.
3. Insignias from Athens and Ontarom, skip Maji.
4. Rayingri wins, but still get the Rare Earth on Altahe.
5. Skip Maji off map stuff, replace with Athens and Altahe.
Also, that clip on Feros sounds interesting. If it is even remotely fast to do it would save a lot of time.
Edit: It's almost too bad about going off the map on Maji... you'd be going right into the suns, and that is one of the coolest sights in ME, imo.
But because a quick stop by Pharos in the Athens system only takes 15-20 seconds (even on 360) and the PC version doesn't support joysticks or gamepads, choices 3-5 are a lot clearer.
3. Insignias from Athens and Ontarom, skip Maji.
4. Rayingri wins, but still get the Rare Earth on Altahe.
5. Skip Maji off map stuff, replace with Athens and Altahe.
Also, that clip on Feros sounds interesting. If it is even remotely fast to do it would save a lot of time.
Edit: It's almost too bad about going off the map on Maji... you'd be going right into the suns, and that is one of the coolest sights in ME, imo.
It doesn't save much time at all. You still need to do all of the other required stuff or else the door to the elevator back to zhu's hope won't open.
If there was a way to get into the elevator, or a way to get into exo-geni without hitting that trigger, then it would save a lot of time.
I included another clip that I had forgotten about which may be useful. In both of them, you have to hold right after the second load.
If there was a way to get into the elevator, or a way to get into exo-geni without hitting that trigger, then it would save a lot of time.
I included another clip that I had forgotten about which may be useful. In both of them, you have to hold right after the second load.
That's annoying. As for the other clip (the first one in the video) it would be really nice if the game allows you to complete the main Feros questline after skipping steps 2-4 (Speak with Fai Dan, Stop Geth in Tower and Inform Fai Dan), which seems to be what that clip would allow. I think it should work, but that would again most likely depend on triggers.
While I'm at it, I may as well put some more information here. So here is how many of each collectible you can get on the main galaxy map:
8/13 Turian Insignias
9/10 Matriarch's Writings
0/4 ID Tags
7/10 League Medallions
7/7 Prothean Data Discs
16/20 Light Metal
12/20 Heavy Metal
11/20 Rare Earth
10/6 Gas
While I'm at it, I may as well put some more information here. So here is how many of each collectible you can get on the main galaxy map:
8/13 Turian Insignias
9/10 Matriarch's Writings
0/4 ID Tags
7/10 League Medallions
7/7 Prothean Data Discs
16/20 Light Metal
12/20 Heavy Metal
11/20 Rare Earth
10/6 Gas
True, but none of those depend on Fai Dan, so it may not matter. I'll see if I can test it out sometime today.
Also, I just got the double discovery glitch about a minute ago. In the casual playthrough I'm doing now I'll see how consistent it is, but the premise is mash whichever key/button you use to select the mineral deposit after completing the survey the first time. Early returns show that either it's far too inconsistent for SS, or you can't do it on a planet with an environmental hazard. I also have no idea whether or not it works on PC - my google results were surprisingly dry (only one thing of any use outside the wiki, which hardly mentions it at all).
Also, I just got the double discovery glitch about a minute ago. In the casual playthrough I'm doing now I'll see how consistent it is, but the premise is mash whichever key/button you use to select the mineral deposit after completing the survey the first time. Early returns show that either it's far too inconsistent for SS, or you can't do it on a planet with an environmental hazard. I also have no idea whether or not it works on PC - my google results were surprisingly dry (only one thing of any use outside the wiki, which hardly mentions it at all).
Well that first clip works differently on 360, it seems. Instead of putting me on top of the elevator door, it just puts me in the aether and I fall through the floor (unless I start below it to begin with - it's hard to tell) into what the game recognizes as the Normandy Command Deck, but so far all I've been able to do is fall uselessly. Altering my position has only made the clip fail entirely, and saving as soon as I can yielded no results in any direction (other than telling me that I was apparently back on the Normandy as far as the game is concerned).
Yeah, that seems to happen every time on console. And, it's different than when I fail the zip on PC. Here, I get the zip, but then I fall through the ground. It seems the game waits a little longer after loading before loading the map and letting you collide with things.
e: also just found a way from port hanshann mezzanine to sythetic insights. I'm not even sure if it saves time, because it requires a very long fall from the top of the map. will make video tomorrow.
e: also just found a way from port hanshann mezzanine to sythetic insights. I'm not even sure if it saves time, because it requires a very long fall from the top of the map. will make video tomorrow.
Without using grenades it takes about two minutes to get to synthetic insights with the stop to disable security (I think that's necessary, but don't have a convenient save file to double check it - disabling security takes about 1 min.), so it looks like that clip saves some time on PC (loading times would basically eliminate the savings on 360). But I also ran into an issue getting to the second clip: for whatever reason I couldn't get the game to shunt me down to the lower level right before passing over the door. It's more or less irrelevant if it doesn't work on console, but it makes me wonder about some of the other clips. I was already thinking of doing a test run of the any% route (probably ng+) anyway, so I'll let you know how that goes once I get around to it.
Yeah, I used that technique but it didn't seem to work there. I messed around with different timing to no avail. Same results again now.
And I'm guessing that you need to be right by the elevator to get synthetic insights to load, because I was able to get through nearby but nothing loaded down below.
Edit: In getting the skip to Fist to work on console I may have found a workaround for that issue when you have a reasonable distance to fall. When stuck like that you can just save and reload (not crouching) and hold down on the load (not sure whether it's a 360 thing or loading a save rather than a quicksave, but the perspective always seems to have the camera facing the opposite direction Shepard is). In the case of the skip to get into SI you don't have enough room to fall.
As for getting to Fist, I have a system that gets you there with one or two additional save/loads - ideally one, but I only managed to get all the way out over the elevator shaft on the second clip once in about 12 attempts or so.
Edit 2: It seems that presenting the evidence without going through the first council hearing is too strong for the 360. The game tries really hard to run both cutscenes simultaneously, then softlocks.
And I'm guessing that you need to be right by the elevator to get synthetic insights to load, because I was able to get through nearby but nothing loaded down below.
Edit: In getting the skip to Fist to work on console I may have found a workaround for that issue when you have a reasonable distance to fall. When stuck like that you can just save and reload (not crouching) and hold down on the load (not sure whether it's a 360 thing or loading a save rather than a quicksave, but the perspective always seems to have the camera facing the opposite direction Shepard is). In the case of the skip to get into SI you don't have enough room to fall.
As for getting to Fist, I have a system that gets you there with one or two additional save/loads - ideally one, but I only managed to get all the way out over the elevator shaft on the second clip once in about 12 attempts or so.
Edit 2: It seems that presenting the evidence without going through the first council hearing is too strong for the 360. The game tries really hard to run both cutscenes simultaneously, then softlocks.
I haven't needed to be right by the elevator in order to get it to load. I just need to be by the elevator in order for me to get in bounds. Otherwise, I just land on the roof, and can't get in. This might actually be different on 360, and you might be able to fall straight in. In any case, are you sure that you're getting the zip? If you are, are you aiming for the right area as you fall? It's a deceptively small target to hit.
The camera is always facing north whenever you load. Doesn't matter what kind of save it is. Though, that may be different on 360.
The game softlocks when you do both cutscenes on PC, too. That's why you need to save/load before that happens. For whatever reason, the game lets you use the menu when you collide cutscenes like that. The game will consider the first cutscene to have played, and it will play the second one as normal when you go up there again.
The camera is always facing north whenever you load. Doesn't matter what kind of save it is. Though, that may be different on 360.
The game softlocks when you do both cutscenes on PC, too. That's why you need to save/load before that happens. For whatever reason, the game lets you use the menu when you collide cutscenes like that. The game will consider the first cutscene to have played, and it will play the second one as normal when you go up there again.
I actually got through after the initial save/load by saving and loading where I got stuck, which let me fall below the floor before the room loaded (still on the garage side of the door), but I haven't really messed with it since.
As for other stuff, the skip to the tram on Noveria doesn't seem SS viable on 360 purely because the crouch/uncrouch method isn't working for me. The only way I've managed to get it to work is to land precisely in the gap in the middle of the ceiling so that by the time the game loads the area you are below the ceiling and you end up on top of the tram. If you're off by even a little you end up on top of the ceiling and can't get down without saving and loading (which puts you below the tram), zipped back up into the gap (I think this happens when your hitbox is mostly in the gap, but just barely touching one of the pieces of the ceiling), or sometimes stuck in the ceiling (which is amusing, admittedly). I also tried to get somewhere else beyond the door to the trams with no success, although it would be pretty easy if crouch/uncrouch worked.
I'll probably get around to trying some more clips on 360 in a few days.
As for other stuff, the skip to the tram on Noveria doesn't seem SS viable on 360 purely because the crouch/uncrouch method isn't working for me. The only way I've managed to get it to work is to land precisely in the gap in the middle of the ceiling so that by the time the game loads the area you are below the ceiling and you end up on top of the tram. If you're off by even a little you end up on top of the ceiling and can't get down without saving and loading (which puts you below the tram), zipped back up into the gap (I think this happens when your hitbox is mostly in the gap, but just barely touching one of the pieces of the ceiling), or sometimes stuck in the ceiling (which is amusing, admittedly). I also tried to get somewhere else beyond the door to the trams with no success, although it would be pretty easy if crouch/uncrouch worked.
I'll probably get around to trying some more clips on 360 in a few days.
No new news on what is and isn't possible on 360, but I do have a question. Does anybody know if any of the glitches used in the ME1 run are patched on the Steam version? It's half off right now, as is ME2, and I have interest in running both games for PC. The patches I found when I googled it don't seem to fix the clips, but I want to be sure. And frankly I would be shocked if any more patches are released, so I'm not worried about that.
Edit: They went on a flash sale earlier today, so I just got them anyway.
Edit: They went on a flash sale earlier today, so I just got them anyway.