If you do not want to know what is being planned, do not read this thread. I've discovered no one outside TASVideos actually reads the forums and GDQ events now require more manpower than before, hence the more open approach to planning. Each GDQ has its own forum thread.
(Original post text)SGDQ events are where I hope to do more "basic" TAS'ing, as in, less overt console trickery and slightly less gimmicks with an emphasis of showing the audience what TASing is all about. At this time it is likely we will again do a race but it is unclear what other things will happen for SGDQ 2016.
I currently have plans to console-verify a particular run on a 386 but there has been some resistance to this idea so I want to work out what that would look like before I post something more solid.
This post will be edited frequently to reflect the current status; I will try my best to include a change history and link to explanatory posts as time progresses.
Update, 2016-04-03: As of today
https://gamesdonequick.com/submission/all (optionally filter on dwangoAC) shows that SML2 memory tour + pause glitch, TASBot multiplay in the category of SMB 1 + 2 + 3, and VVVVVV all trinkets + glitched run made it in. This means that Super Scribblenauts and NES-Pack did not make it in (*sniff*). We'll try again with both of those as I think they are strong contenders, but I'm overall happy that we yet again received a decent chunk of time, around 45 minutes factoring in non-game runtime presentation.
One problem with always pointing people at the
submissions page on the
GamesDoneQuick.com site is it eventually disappears into history as it is wiped at the start of each event cycle. Here's exactly what I pitched for SGDQ 2016 including the categories for historical reference; I'll likely leave this in the top post for the time being while it's still relevant and later link to
Post #430298:
- NES-Pack by Mothrayas - SDA vs. TASVideos: NES-Pack (http://tasvideos.org/GameResources/NES/NESPack.html) is a 2016 game created by Mothrayas and is inspired by the 1993 DOS game Jetpack. With maze-like levels and a fuel-consuming jetpack, NES-Pack is an accessible choice for some healthy SDA/SRL vs. TASVideos competition. The demo above will be expanded with more levels and released during SGDQ with the winner of a speed TAS competition facing off against a realtime runner who has had plenty of time to routeplan and practice.
- Super Mario Land 2 memory tour: Few games have glitches as visceral as Mario literally strolling out-of-bounds right through memory locations with individual bytes conveniently represented as various types of blocks. In this run, dwangoAC will briefly wander through this strange place and show how interacting with these blocks has a direct impact on how the game behaves, culminating in a surprise ending. As a donation incentive, a pause glitch can be demonstrated that ends the game in only 41 seconds.
- TASBot multiplays SMB1, 2, and 3: Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, and 3... simultaneously, using the exact same button presses? That's exactly what this is - as unbelievable as it may sound, TASBot will play two or more games from http://tasvideos.org/2636M.html at the same time using the exact same sequence of button presses. If someone can get an FDS and a copy of Lost Levels to SGDQ we can even make it a quad replay! The SMB1 and SMB3 category video demonstrates a 2:45 setup time and console verification with visualization boards.
- TASBot plays VVVVVV: There are 20 collectable "Shiny Trinkets" hidden throughout the game. There is also a no death mode which cuts off your gameplay if you die once. There are no known unassisted completions with this combination, but this TAS by Masterjun makes it look easy while simultaneously triggering several graphical glitches. Sure to entertain, this run can be followed up with a donation incentive for the very fast game end glitch run.
- Twitch plays Super Scribblenauts: Twitch chat interacting in Pokemon Plays Twitch was one of the most memorable moments of AGDQ 2015 and we want to bring back that fun... for a price. This should be a donation incentive or limited to subscribers and will involve Twitch chat directly solving hilarious puzzles in Super Scribblenauts by interacting with a channel bot and creating objects by popular vote.
Original ideas, here for historical purposes:
- Super Scribblenauts (Twitch Plays) - we've pitched it twice, it was accepted once but dropped for time, but third time's the charm. Requires more work from micro500 and I plus some additional scripting help to complete but is generally "safe".
- Anatomy of an Arbitrary Code Exploit. I am actively working on re-implementing the current Super Mario Land 2 game end glitch and I hope to try for the earlier and much more visually interesting version if possible. If I can get it to work, my plan is to graphically show how memory is manipulated using the TAS itself, probably using a purpose-built TAS that has deliberate pauses so I can talk over it. This will require much work and has some risk as I have not yet proven that it can be console verified.
- A "race", but a very different kind of race than last time. This time around, my plan would be to release a trial version of the game hopefully be the time we submit the runs that will allow people to get used to the game and find some potential glitches and mechanics of the game out ahead of time. This is at medium risk due to the games selection committee potentially rejecting it. (This turned into NES-Pack by Mothrayas, released early as a demo version for people to get used to the physics ahead of the competition.)
- Something else that has been suggested in the thread so far, but I'm not sure which thing yet. It should very preferably be console verifiable as playing back movies was not well received. What's the most realistic and interesting thing that's already been floated? I know DeHackEd suggested Monopoly but I haven't verified that - could be a good choice, though!(I opted to go with [2715] Windows VVVVVV "20 trinkets, no death mode" by Masterjun in 17:33.77 and [2636] NES Super Mario Bros., 2, The Lost Levels & 3 by agwawaf in 08:49.78. I created a console verification video of SMB1 and SMB3 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSO9u5htrQw)
(Pre-submission paragraph, left here for history) Here's the catch -
submissions open on March 6th and close a week later on the 13th. That means, at most, we have 2 weeks from the date of this edit (2-27) to figure all of this out. That's not much time, but on the flipside we'll know for certain what is in by April 3rd and we'll have 3 months to perfect things after that date before SGDQ 2016 starts on July 3rd. Discuss, please.
Status update posts:
- 2016-05-07: I've written a substantial update
covering donation incentives, contacting Terry for VVVVVV commentary, SML2 progress (or lack thereof), and other updates.
- 2016-06-26: I've written a bombshell of an
update post with news about everything from a potential TASBot T-Shirt to media relations, not to mention linking to micro500's new
TASLink project.
Updated 2016-02-27: Heavens, look at the time! (Added deadline note, current suggestions)
Updated 2016-03-12: Added list of games submitted
Updated 2016-03-13: Added exact submission text
Updated 2016-03-13: Announcement of currently accepted runs (updated twice)
Updated 2016-05-07: Status update post link
Updated 2016-06-26: Major status update link posted
