This topic is for the purpose of discussing #4481: nymx's SNES Super Metroid "Spore Spawn, RTA timing" in 10:01.64

I don't know whether this is a publishable category by site rules since it doesn't beat the game, but it's certainly interesting to see on the Workbench. I can't run SNEShawk at decent speeds, so waiting on an encode.

This is basically a 'Gruefood Delight' submission

Neat concept, but I'm not sure why you submitted it. The rules of the site state that the game must be beaten. It would have been better suited in the game's forum thread. Still, giving it a Yes because, hey, Super Metroid.

How exactly do you have an RTA TAS? Is that like Quiet Riot?

I'm wondering why the submission file has cpadolf's name in it instead of yours, that should probably be changed to avoid confusion.. But anyway, it doesn't beat the game so this isn't really publishable.

How exactly do you have an RTA TAS? Is that like Quiet Riot?

His submission notes imply that it is tool-assisted; the "RTA" in the branch is probably just because the Spore Spawn Attack™ is traditionally a RTA category.

How exactly do you have an RTA TAS? Is that like Quiet Riot?

His submission notes imply that it is tool-assisted; the "RTA" in the branch is probably just because the Spore Spawn Attack™ is traditionally a RTA category.

That's not implication. And the two are kind of opposites.

Interesting watch - I do have a few questions about some of the choices made after skipping the e-tank though. -I saw afterwards that you mentioned wanting to improve this without the farming before Spore Spawn. Its a little harder for us because we can't manipulate the drops in RTA obviously, but it would be cool to see a new TAS with a little more health conservation and some drop manipulation to cut out farming all together before heading to Spore Spawn. -We've had a few discussions about this, but there are some players that believe a 3% run might be able to beat the 4% by skipping the super missiles and having a 2-round fight with just missiles. A guy named Dessyreqt made a theory-TAS a few years back of the 3% run. I'll link the video and ask that you watch the fight, particularly the 2nd round - when SS opens his mouth on the 2nd round, there is a small window when you can fit in a few missiles without SS closing his mouth. If nothing else, it may be able to help with finding a faster kill if you can get it to work with the first round. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUJOuftf9QU&feature=player_detailpage#t=303 Also I may have misread, but our timing for the end is at the end of the fanfare jingle, not just on the super missile grab.

I can't run SNEShawk at decent speeds, so waiting on an encode.

You can easily create an encode yourself, just

1. install a codec, e.g. Lagarith or ZMBV (included with DOSBox)
2. start BizHawk and load the ROM
3. set frameskipping to zero (and disable throttling if you have a fast CPU)
4. pause emulation
5. load the movie
6. select the "record to AVI" menu item, select file name (on a drive with some free gigabytes) and codec
7. unpause and wait
8. stop AVI recording / close emulator

Can anyone please explain what "Spore Spawn RTA" means for those who don't follow Super Metroid runs? :|

basically in every super metroid speedrun route with the exception of a 100% map completion run, sporespawn is skipped. to bring back the beloved boss, the japanese nico live speedrun community created a a run to defeat sporespawn and get his super missiles as fast as possible. It's not a huge run by any means, but its a known one with it being a huge donation incentive during the AGDQ2014 super metroid race.

Well, it's Super Metroid, so I expect to see this run published alongside the 5 or 6 other extraneous SM runs.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Please note that this is the first time I have every created a TAS. Since I'm a programmer at work and do electrical engineering as a hobbie, I thought this TAS was very close to some of my skills. Even though I know improvements can be made...I'm still trying to discover TAS techniques in order to do it. One this is clear...my skills were definitely improved by the end of this. perhaps a revisit will produce that sub 5:30 that I was originally hoping for.

Interesting watch - I do have a few questions about some of the choices made after skipping the e-tank though. -I saw afterwards that you mentioned wanting to improve this without the farming before Spore Spawn. Its a little harder for us because we can't manipulate the drops in RTA obviously, but it would be cool to see a new TAS with a little more health conservation and some drop manipulation to cut out farming all together before heading to Spore Spawn. -We've had a few discussions about this, but there are some players that believe a 3% run might be able to beat the 4% by skipping the super missiles and having a 2-round fight with just missiles. A guy named Dessyreqt made a theory-TAS a few years back of the 3% run. I'll link the video and ask that you watch the fight, particularly the 2nd round - when SS opens his mouth on the 2nd round, there is a small window when you can fit in a few missiles without SS closing his mouth. If nothing else, it may be able to help with finding a faster kill if you can get it to work with the first round. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUJOuftf9QU&feature=player_detailpage#t=303 Also I may have misread, but our timing for the end is at the end of the fanfare jingle, not just on the super missile grab.

Ivan...I saw this and it seems pretty effective. I too believe that a 3% run is faster...but I'm going to have to get better at creating this TAS before I can attempt another version. It took me about 4 weeks to create this (about 1 week was learning).

Can anyone please explain what "Spore Spawn RTA" means for those who don't follow Super Metroid runs? :|

Spore spawn is a boss in the game that is very easily skippable (even in 100% runs), so is never fought in speedruns. A spore spawn run kills it and is then 'over' once it's dead (specifically when the item it was supposed to guard is collected). RTA stands for real time attack, meaning that it's done in real time and not tool assisted. It's not a "spore spawn RTA", it's just a spore spawn run.

This was definitely an entertaining watch. I can't help but think that it's missing something, however - like the ending. :) (Not that I have much room to speak, I seem to consistently make submissions that don't meet completion criteria, but I digress.) I don't think this can be published in its current form but it is certainly worthy of Gruefood Delight, and I hope that this movie can be the base of a 3% run as others have suggested may be possible (although I reserve the right to be wrong and to have completely misunderstood the conversation). Keep up the good work!

Looks to me like Spore Spawn could use a Long distance Dedication. This one's for you, pal. Link to video

The submission text simply assumes that the reader knows what "Super Metroid Spore Spawn RTA" means. Sure, one could try googling it, but I think it would be good form to briefly explain what it means in the submission text. This way the reader will understand what the goal of the run is and what to expect.

Thanks, creatothecann, for the encode! I'd been unable to run BizHawk stuff lately, so that was a huge help. The run is a neat idea. However, to echo the crowd, I don't think it can qualify for publication when it doesn't finish the game. It could make a good link from a current publication, though. For a first-timer, it seems like your optimization is pretty good. My first comment was the approach to the Torizo door. You unleash all five missiles pretty close to the door. Can you get one or two off in the air before the door is visible and save some time that way? At the moment, you have to hang out still for a little bit for your five missiles to hit the door. I was a little concerned about your visit to the Super Missiles you pick up. I know most TASes I've seen for that manage to go through the top area without having the screen scroll up to that level; I don't know if this despawns enemies or anything, but it seems like it could be looked into. You do take a fairly large awkward jump over a flying enemy just before those super missiles. When you go down the shaft after those missiles, it seems like you should be able to veer left some and get closer to the door. I'd certainly like to see if there's any more room for strategy improvement with Spore Spawn itself. It feels that the window for dealing damage is open a little longer than you were able to use, but I can't tell for sure. Good (partially-complete) run! P.S. This doesn't have to do with anything, but I see you live in Athens, GA. So do I :-) Good job picking up TAS skills that I haven't had a chance to cultivate after years of following this site. P.P.S. Do you have any interest in trying to join in on a TAS project? There's probably room for improvement in the current real-time TAS by Taco and Kriole, given all the major discoveries that have come out since then.

This feels like an "All bosses" run in which you got bored half-way, and fits too nicely the description of arbitrary goal, so I vote NO.

The question is did you find it entertaining, not is it going to get published :P

Thanks everyone for your comments. I do realize that this was not a submission, according to the rules...but since it was an overlooked Super Metroid category, I figured it would be received well. For me, I have been trying to discover a TAS version for the SS RTA. Well, I finally did it myself and found out the time savings that can occur. I plan on doing a second version, which would be a 3% run. Thanks to Ivan, I've got some details that I can go with. Even though it might not get published here...I know that there are people out there, like me, who wants to see every category of this great game.

om, nom, nom... *burp*!