Pokemon Blue/Red (GB)

2014-03-09 03:13:48 pm

Hello everybody,

I'm new to this Forum so I beg you pardon if this is the wrong way to get answers to my questions but I tried the Search-tool and couldn't find a general Pokemon Red/Blue Thread to ask these questions.

I want to start doing casual speedruns of Pokemon Red/Blue and have some questions in regards to that.
1.1. Should I pick Red or Blue? I have heard that Blue is usually the better choice and that the differences are only minor but what is the better choice for a "beginner"?
1.2. Are there version differences (as in different versions of the game) if so which one is the one I should look out for?

2. Is there a reason why I shouldn't practice on an emulator on my phone? I know that for "real" runs Emulators are a no-go, but I simply have a lot of freetime while I'm on the train and playing it on my smartphone is tempting!

3. Are there any general sources for informations on these speedruns? So far I'm reading through the speedrun-wiki page and watching lots of runs on youtube.

Thank you for your help and responses.

Thread title:

Hello everybody,

I'm new to this Forum so I beg you pardon if this is the wrong way to get answers to my questions but I tried the Search-tool and couldn't find a general Pokemon Red/Blue Thread to ask these questions.

I want to start doing casual speedruns of Pokemon Red/Blue and have some questions in regards to that. 
1.1. Should I pick Red or Blue? I have heard that Blue is usually the better choice and that the differences are only minor but what is the better choice for a "beginner"?
1.2. Are there version differences (as in different versions of the game) if so which one is the one I should look out for?

2. Is there a reason why I shouldn't practice on an emulator on my phone? I know that for "real" runs Emulators are a no-go, but I simply have a lot of freetime while I'm on the train and playing it on my smartphone is tempting!

3. Are there any general sources for informations on these speedruns? So far I'm reading through the speedrun-wiki page and watching lots of runs on youtube.

Thank you for your help and responses.

Patashu

2014-03-09 06:15:56 pm

Hello.

1. There are two routes for speedrunning Pokemon Red/Blue:
-The Nidoking route. Finding a nidoran male is more likely on Red than on Blue, so for this route you use Red.
-The Blastoise route. Because the above consideration is no longer valid, you use Blue, because Blue allows Sandshrews to appear after Mt. Moon - now if you don't catch a Paras in Mt. Moon, you can try and catch a Sandshrew as your HM slave.

Currently the Nidoking route is both faster with a perfect run and more consistent overall, so I recommend you use Red and use this route.

2. Emulator is acceptable for speedrunning the game. Reason is, pokemon speedrunners use in game time to time how good your run was, not real time. (For other games it may or may not matter, for Gen 1/2 it doesn't.) You shouldn't have any problems at all speedrunning this game on any console or emulator you want, the only differences will be adjusting to different control schemes and visual/input latency. (Of course, if you are just practicing then use savestates and saves all you want. You only need to do a saveless run when you feel like improving your PB.)

3. I can say that the current WR is 1:51 in game time, Pokemon Red (Nidoking route), by werster. http://www.twitch.tv/werster/c/3835398 You can watch the run and get a feel for everything that's needed in the run, but just by watching and copying the run you'll miss all the backup strategies, contingencies based on different items/stats on the nidoking/attacks hitting or missing/etc.
The skill in Pokemon RB is not so much executional skill but knowing the statistically optimal choice in every situation, which requires taking a lot of notes, which requires MAKING a lot of notes (which is optimally done by taking advantage of turbo to speed through the route in half an hour, using savestates to see all the possible outcomes of critical points, taking note of your nidoking's DVs so you can make notes BASED on what your nidoking's DV is, do X if it's above Y else do Z, etc etc. Werster will even use a gameshark code to catch trainer's pokemon, inspect their stats, use formulas to calculate critical points for speed and other stats to decide when to do X or Y, etc.). The more testing you do, and the more efficiently you can do your testing using emulator tools, the stronger a position you'll be in.
The wiki is also a good resource, and while werster isn't interested in helping new speedrunners, it's worth asking other speedrunners of Pokemon RB, hang out in their chat when they stream and be friendly Smiley

Hello.

1. There are two routes for speedrunning Pokemon Red/Blue:
-The Nidoking route. Finding a nidoran male is more likely on Red than on Blue, so for this route you use Red.
-The Blastoise route. Because the above consideration is no longer valid, you use Blue, because Blue allows Sandshrews to appear after Mt. Moon - now if you don't catch a Paras in Mt. Moon, you can try and catch a Sandshrew as your HM slave.

Currently the Nidoking route is both faster with a perfect run and more consistent overall, so I recommend you use Red and use this route.

2. Emulator is acceptable for speedrunning the game. Reason is, pokemon speedrunners use in game time to time how good your run was, not real time. (For other games it may or may not matter, for Gen 1/2 it doesn't.) You shouldn't have any problems at all speedrunning this game on any console or emulator you want, the only differences will be adjusting to different control schemes and visual/input latency. (Of course, if you are just practicing then use savestates and saves all you want. You only need to do a saveless run when you feel like improving your PB.)

3. I can say that the current WR is 1:51 in game time, Pokemon Red (Nidoking route), by werster. http://www.twitch.tv/werster/c/3835398 You can watch the run and get a feel for everything that's needed in the run, but just by watching and copying the run you'll miss all the backup strategies, contingencies based on different items/stats on the nidoking/attacks hitting or missing/etc.
The skill in Pokemon RB is not so much executional skill but knowing the statistically optimal choice in every situation, which requires taking a lot of notes, which requires MAKING a lot of notes (which is optimally done by taking advantage of turbo to speed through the route in half an hour, using savestates to see all the possible outcomes of critical points, taking note of your nidoking's DVs so you can make notes BASED on what your nidoking's DV is, do X if it's above Y else do Z, etc etc. Werster will even use a gameshark code to catch trainer's pokemon, inspect their stats, use formulas to calculate critical points for speed and other stats to decide when to do X or Y, etc.). The more testing you do, and the more efficiently you can do your testing using emulator tools, the stronger a position you'll be in.
The wiki is also a good resource, and while werster isn't interested in helping new speedrunners, it's worth asking other speedrunners of Pokemon RB, hang out in their chat when they stream and be friendly :)

jetfirexx

Edit history:

jetfirexx: 2014-03-09 11:28:46 pm

2014-03-09 11:28:28 pm

Gotta go fast!

There's a wonderful website called Pokemon Speedruns that is what I use to check for any existing routes. It also has the rules for each category. I'd say start on any% Glitchless. I prefer the Blastoise Route personally but the Nidoking route is a lot easier for beginners and like Patashu said, its easier on Red. Also just a tip for running it on your phone, if its an android phone you can get an app that lets you use a Wii remote to control games through the bluetooth on the phone. But have fun and good luck! Smiley

http://www.pokemonspeedruns.com/index.php/Main_Page

Patashu

2014-03-09 11:57:53 pm

Quote from jetfirexx:

Also just a tip for running it on your phone, if its an android phone you can get an app that lets you use a Wii remote to control games through the bluetooth on the phone. But have fun and good luck! Smiley

http://www.pokemonspeedruns.com/index.php/Main_Page

Out of curiosity, does it add much latency?

Flol

2014-03-10 09:16:00 am

Thank you very much for your responses so far. I will follow your advice.

Are there different versions of the game (like with OoT you have 1.0/1.1/1.2 all with minor changes to the game that can have a big influence on the run)?

Is it a good idea to start learning/doing to Race to misty route to get a feel for the game and to learn the early part?

jetfirexx

2014-03-10 10:51:06 am

Gotta go fast!

Quote from Patashu:

Quote from jetfirexx:

Also just a tip for running it on your phone, if its an android phone you can get an app that lets you use a Wii remote to control games through the bluetooth on the phone. But have fun and good luck! Smiley

http://www.pokemonspeedruns.com/index.php/Main_Page

Out of curiosity, does it add much latency?

Its near enough instant for me and is a lot better than using the touch screen

Quote from Flol:

Thank you very much for your responses so far. I will follow your advice.

Are there different versions of the game (like with OoT you have 1.0/1.1/1.2 all with minor changes to the game that can have a big influence on the run)?

Is it a good idea to start learning/doing to Race to misty route to get a feel for the game and to learn the early part?

I'd say do the run to the end if you can because otherwise, you get really good at the start but not with the rest of the game. I can't think of any version differences either.

Patashu

2014-03-14 03:14:24 pm

Quote from Flol:

Are there different versions of the game (like with OoT you have 1.0/1.1/1.2 all with minor changes to the game that can have a big influence on the run)?

The version of the game you have is 100% described by the name (Red/blue/green/yellow) and what language it is (english/japanese).

kinggazzaman

2014-03-24 06:46:12 pm

Have been playing pokemon games all my life and only came across speed running the other day so I thought I'd give it a go. One category I saw as a race that runners do on speedrunslive.com was Red/Blue Defeat Misty so I gave that a go. I came out with a time of 31min25s which I'm pretty happy with. I know I can shave at least 2 or 3 minutes off that time. I made a huge mistake in Mt Moon and went down the wrong ladder to where the HP Up is and ended up fighting the trainer down there which added crucial couple of minutes and the first time I tried to battle misty she beat me and I beat her on the second attempt after buying a couple of potions. So definite room for improvement but not a bad time I don't think.

I'd never seen this particular category before, do you guys think it's just because it's a shorter time so more people can race it?

Vulajin

2014-03-25 12:35:57 pm

Yes, it's a race-specific category intended to be shorter to allow more players to complete more races, and to allow players with less available time to participate. It's not really intended as a main speedrunning category, but of course, you're always welcome to run the game in any way you want.