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> TASes break every rule and are pretty cool. There's still rules in TASing, just a different set of rules! Specifically, you have to submit a file containing
by NobodyNada 2y ago
> TASes break every rule and are pretty cool.
There's still rules in TASing, just a different set of rules! Specifically, you have to submit a file containing a sequence of controller inputs that completes the game when played back in an accurate emulator (or a replay device connected to the controller port of an original console running the original game).
I co-authored the current fastest TAS of Super Metroid: https://youtu.be/m-Gt57ur7OA?t=2m30s https://youtu.be/m-Gt57ur7OA?t=2m30s We completed the game in under 2 minutes of gameplay by exploiting a race condition in the game's sprite animation system to start an exploit chain leading to full arbitrary code execution (full writeup: https://tasvideos.org/8214S https://tasvideos.org/8214S ).
We used all kinds of tooling to create the run: a recording emulator with savestates, slowdown, and frame-by-frame input editing, scripting tools, debuggers, disassemblers, and memory viewers. We used memory editing tools during development to test different scenarios without having to set them up in-game first, but the actual run you submitted is completely "pure"; just an input file that beats the original, unmodified game.
And just like real-time speedruns, TASes are split into categories too. Here's the world record TAS with major glitches disallowed, by Sniq: https://youtu.be/Rr9gdQ-VkO4 https://youtu.be/Rr9gdQ-VkO4 Whereas our ACE TAS is more like a CTF challenge than anything else, Sniq's run is a masterpiece of gameplay that shows how far the game can be pushed beyond the current human limits. But again, it's still a true run of the game; the only difference is that you submit an input file instead of a realtime performance of the run.
- snibsnib 2y agoA bit outdated now, but Saturn TAS made a very good TAS. It optimized door transitions to get the best in-game time. Unfortunately this was right as the rules changed between tracking in-game time and real-time, so the run never made it into the leaderboard. It made him stop making TASes for Super Metroid altogether. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3THRhCgCO4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3THRhCgCO4
- AJenbo 2y agoHere is the TAS we produced for Diablo (the original goal before we got side tracked by the issue found in what as supposed to be the baseline): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiwoqd4arI0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiwoqd4arI0
- tetha 2y ago> There's still rules in TASing, just a different set of rules! Specifically, you have to submit a file containing a sequence of controller inputs that completes the game when played back in an accurate emulator (or a replay device connected to the controller port of an original console running the original game). Enter TASBot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rha61Y3_Voc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rha61Y3_Voc It's a really cool project. In case "just" running a TAS on a real console through some wired up controller... Nintendo DS is also supported: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHQCJX0RzS8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHQCJX0RzS8 It's such a funny and rewarding escalation of the really impressive world of TAS.