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31
Competition Central / MOVED: TSC Extended Magic Tourny!
« on: December 03, 2007, 01:36:32 am »
This topic has been moved to Gaming and Grazing.
http://www.soniccenter.org/forum/index.php?topic=2755.0
http://www.soniccenter.org/forum/index.php?topic=2755.0
32
Information Kiosk / Suggestion: TASvideos-style encoders
« on: December 03, 2007, 01:31:29 am »
So basically having people encode their own videos is well and good. Except when the vids look like crap and are far too big. Or on Youtube.
Having a few specific encoders (at least, for the older games where you can pass around giz files or equivalents at leisure) would ensure a consistent standard of video quality. I know MK has already volunteered to do this but it probably doesn't make sense without at least three.
So in this topic you can nominate to be an encoder or discuss the video standards. I personally am a fan of SDA's LQ standard - 30fps 192kbps Xvid (or x264) in an AVI container - but that's subject to change.
Thoughts?
Having a few specific encoders (at least, for the older games where you can pass around giz files or equivalents at leisure) would ensure a consistent standard of video quality. I know MK has already volunteered to do this but it probably doesn't make sense without at least three.
So in this topic you can nominate to be an encoder or discuss the video standards. I personally am a fan of SDA's LQ standard - 30fps 192kbps Xvid (or x264) in an AVI container - but that's subject to change.
Thoughts?
33
Bugs / Security Fix Fallout: View Adjustments, e.g. "|mode:hits"
« on: December 02, 2007, 02:20:22 am »
All URLs with | in them are broken (except new stats). I'm pretty sure you know how to fix this, you did so with new stats already.
34
Wikkity! / Something of an apology
« on: November 23, 2007, 09:34:53 am »
I feel the need to express this in an open forum where everyone can view and respond, rather than just a half-hearted attempt in the chat where it will go unnoticed within the hour.
As many of you will have no doubt found out (most of all RPG - none of my antics get past him), I don't seem to be myself as of late. I don't know why this is, and at any rate I'm not here to make excuses.
Often it'll just be a little comment in chat, and I'll react in a very... er, "killjoy"-like way, almost as though I want everyone to act a certain way... not necessarily like me, but like someone I'd like. I make no secret of the fact that I don't like everyone in #soniccenter, but as I said to sonicam once before and has become somewhat my mantra as far as TSC is concerned, our diversity is what makes us awesome. And I don't feel like I'm living up to that mantra.
I therefore apologise unreservedly to those who I might have particularly irked by this behaviour.
In that category I would include myself - I don't think I could have annoyed you guys nearly as much as it annoys me, particularly due to my efforts to get TSC back up to that level of awesome we all know it can attain. (And we're going the right way about it, I promise.)
So, next time I seem to be acting like a killjoy, just point it out to me, and you need not fear being kicked from the room... well, not much, anyway.
Now let's get on with being awesome again shall we?
As many of you will have no doubt found out (most of all RPG - none of my antics get past him), I don't seem to be myself as of late. I don't know why this is, and at any rate I'm not here to make excuses.
Often it'll just be a little comment in chat, and I'll react in a very... er, "killjoy"-like way, almost as though I want everyone to act a certain way... not necessarily like me, but like someone I'd like. I make no secret of the fact that I don't like everyone in #soniccenter, but as I said to sonicam once before and has become somewhat my mantra as far as TSC is concerned, our diversity is what makes us awesome. And I don't feel like I'm living up to that mantra.
I therefore apologise unreservedly to those who I might have particularly irked by this behaviour.
In that category I would include myself - I don't think I could have annoyed you guys nearly as much as it annoys me, particularly due to my efforts to get TSC back up to that level of awesome we all know it can attain. (And we're going the right way about it, I promise.)
So, next time I seem to be acting like a killjoy, just point it out to me, and you need not fear being kicked from the room... well, not much, anyway.
Now let's get on with being awesome again shall we?
35
Gaming and Grazing / Advance Wars By Web
« on: October 15, 2007, 09:39:19 am »
http://awbw.amarriner.com/
ITT we organise a massive AW game whereupon everybody gets totally pwned. It supports up to 8 players per game :O
Who's in?
ITT we organise a massive AW game whereupon everybody gets totally pwned. It supports up to 8 players per game :O
Who's in?
36
Information Kiosk / Site suggestion: A script to recalculate totals?
« on: October 15, 2007, 09:31:09 am »
Obviously SADX Gamma is forefront in my mind when I bring this up, but I'm pretty sure I've seen an instance where the totals were just plain wrong. I'll see if I can find it.
This would also ensure that, if ever charts needed to be removed, the relevant totals can be recalculated so the rankings are not adversely affected.
This would also ensure that, if ever charts needed to be removed, the relevant totals can be recalculated so the rankings are not adversely affected.
37
Wikkity! / TSC-related Fiction
« on: October 04, 2007, 07:35:28 am »
Or, more commonly, fake chats. But it also allows a bit of extension to include the Constitution.
Let me also make a quick note. "TSC-related fiction" does not extend to Sonic fanfiction because that has no place at TSC. Anywhere. Like ever.
By mike89
The Conventional Trilogy: The Grand Re-opening / Fake Chat mkII / The Egg Chat
CherryMayNot
The Sonic Center Constitution of Infallibility
By SadisticMystic
My Fake Adventure
By CosmicFalcon
Fake Chat mkII, CF-style
He also did another one but I can't find it :(
By Spinballwizard
SB and the Beanstalk (Warning: Lame alert)
Also, important notice!
I am AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION :O
Help me remember what needs to go in it! Speak now or forever hold your peace >:O
Let me also make a quick note. "TSC-related fiction" does not extend to Sonic fanfiction because that has no place at TSC. Anywhere. Like ever.
By mike89
The Conventional Trilogy: The Grand Re-opening / Fake Chat mkII / The Egg Chat
CherryMayNot
The Sonic Center Constitution of Infallibility
By SadisticMystic
My Fake Adventure
By CosmicFalcon
Fake Chat mkII, CF-style
He also did another one but I can't find it :(
By Spinballwizard
SB and the Beanstalk (Warning: Lame alert)
Also, important notice!
I am AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION :O
Help me remember what needs to go in it! Speak now or forever hold your peace >:O
38
Wikkity! / Test your typing skills!
« on: September 19, 2007, 07:26:01 am »
I would've put this up a couple of days ago but the site was down :(
Because we're the type that can turn anything into a competition, here goes an attempt at competing on words per minute typed! http://typera.tk is the site we're using, so the tests are standardised.
The Leaderboard:
1. GerbilSoft - 118
2. Psymar - 99
3. CF - 95
4. Sprint - 90
5. Zeph - 86
6. F-Man - 84
7. egg - 82
8. Auriman - 75
9. mike89 - 74
10. Crowbar - 73
11. Taco - 69
12. Stefan - 68
13. D1AOS - 65
14. Quartz - 60
15. Sondow - 51
16. Max Firestorm - 50
17. FoxLuc - 40
17. Judgement - 40
19. ChaoRC - 38
20. Jawzun - 31
(Finally updated. I think it's correct... ~ PK)
Because we're the type that can turn anything into a competition, here goes an attempt at competing on words per minute typed! http://typera.tk is the site we're using, so the tests are standardised.
The Leaderboard:
1. GerbilSoft - 118
2. Psymar - 99
3. CF - 95
4. Sprint - 90
5. Zeph - 86
6. F-Man - 84
7. egg - 82
8. Auriman - 75
9. mike89 - 74
10. Crowbar - 73
11. Taco - 69
12. Stefan - 68
13. D1AOS - 65
14. Quartz - 60
15. Sondow - 51
16. Max Firestorm - 50
17. FoxLuc - 40
17. Judgement - 40
19. ChaoRC - 38
20. Jawzun - 31
(Finally updated. I think it's correct... ~ PK)
39
News and Updates / Sonic Rush Adventure added
« on: September 19, 2007, 04:56:03 am »
This game is TSC's biggest undertaking, with a whopping 3669 non-total charts because I forgot 3 that RPG wrote down <_<, and thanks to a huge effort from RPG, BenB17 and SkyLights, and 90 minutes worth of painstakingly entering level names into the database, it's ready to go.
Incidentally, it's also Sega's biggest ranking undertaking, with 14 charts. >_>
Feel free to test it out - if there's errors notify me because it probably means I missed a step somewhere.
Incidentally, it's also Sega's biggest ranking undertaking, with 14 charts. >_>
Feel free to test it out - if there's errors notify me because it probably means I missed a step somewhere.
40
Tournament Central / Tournament 1 - Over (Winners: yoshifan, SBW)
« on: September 13, 2007, 09:45:30 am »
FINAL STANDINGS
Tournament writeup to follow.
Code: [Select]
League One
Player | W | L | FFA1 | FFA2 | FFA3 | Bonus | Total
yoshifan | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 82
Quartz | 6 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 81
eredani | 5 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 73
SJ | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 59
SkyL | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 36
RPG | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 22
Aitamen | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9
Nelspike | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2
League Two
Player | W | L | FFA1 | FFA2 | FFA3 | Bonus | Total
SBW | 5 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 92
Achlys | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 77
Judgment | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 63
Max | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 49
MK | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12
genus | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8
SB | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4
digitrev | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4
Tournament writeup to follow.
41
Rules Revisions / Shadow scores [Resolved]
« on: September 08, 2007, 01:07:17 pm »
I have just been informed that some Shadow scores involve dying at the last checkpoint to reset a negative score meter in score attacks, which are otherwise very similar to time attacks. Should this be considered acceptable?
I don't care either way, for the record.
EDIT: Rules Committee ruled in favour of leaving the charts as they are. Topic locked.
I don't care either way, for the record.
EDIT: Rules Committee ruled in favour of leaving the charts as they are. Topic locked.
42
Tournament Central / Tournament 0: Testing [Winner - Thorn]
« on: August 10, 2007, 02:19:35 am »
TOURNAMENT 0
The Rules:
1. TSC rules unless stated otherwise.
2. Submit runs directly to me - either to mike89_mkscelite -at- hotmail.com or through PM or IRC or something, as long as I have eight submissions by this time next week.
3. One run per competitor. I cannot stress this enough!
Final Standings:
Bonus Challenge:
1. 58 (eredani)
2. 56 (Rick)
3. 55 (Thorn)
The Rules:
1. TSC rules unless stated otherwise.
2. Submit runs directly to me - either to mike89_mkscelite -at- hotmail.com or through PM or IRC or something, as long as I have eight submissions by this time next week.
3. One run per competitor. I cannot stress this enough!
Final Standings:
Code: [Select]
Player | Points
Thorn* | 28
eredani+ | 24
yoshifan | 23
SJ | 12
Rick* | 11
SBW | 10
genus | 7
Upthorn | 3
* - indicates two points for the Bonus Challenge
+ - indicates five points for winning the Bonus Challenge
Bonus Challenge:
1. 58 (eredani)
2. 56 (Rick)
3. 55 (Thorn)
43
Competition Central / MOVED: Tournaments
« on: August 10, 2007, 02:05:39 am »
This topic has been moved to Tournament Central.
http://www.soniccenter.org/forum/index.php?topic=2305.0
http://www.soniccenter.org/forum/index.php?topic=2305.0
44
Rules Revisions / Sonic Heroes - Team battles [Resolved!]
« on: August 06, 2007, 08:36:33 am »
I'm pretty sure I finally know what causes all the low times in Team Two.
If you are attacked and fall off the stage, and restart on the very last frame before you would die, you are able to move around and attack the other team before the four-second animation takes place. The issue here, obviously, is that a similar technique in Sonic Adventure 2 (used for 8"25 mission 2s) is already banned.
Now I can't say that this is what happens in the low times with absolute certainty because it's been such a long time since I got 5"34, and even so, why are there ten such times on T2-Rose, and none on any other team battle?
Let me know the results of any testing you might do to resolve this one.
If you are attacked and fall off the stage, and restart on the very last frame before you would die, you are able to move around and attack the other team before the four-second animation takes place. The issue here, obviously, is that a similar technique in Sonic Adventure 2 (used for 8"25 mission 2s) is already banned.
Now I can't say that this is what happens in the low times with absolute certainty because it's been such a long time since I got 5"34, and even so, why are there ten such times on T2-Rose, and none on any other team battle?
Let me know the results of any testing you might do to resolve this one.
45
Competition Central / Anyone up for a Time Attack Duel?
« on: June 19, 2007, 09:59:36 am »
One of the things that RPG requested of me after I retired was that I compete in a duel with him. We have tried this on Sonic 1 (typically our most evenly-matched game) many times before but he invariably fucks up at Marble XD.
To give this one a sense of finality, we've decided to make this one on Sonic 1, 2, 3&K in succession. Then Douglas and Thorn wanted in so I decided to just open the door to anyone who wants to compete. Rules are simple: Complete S1-K with Sonic, first to post all three input files in this topic wins!
The toughest part of this is going to be finding a suitable time for everyone to play. What with the Carcassonne tournament running as well and conflicting schedules and timezones... Suggestions here plz. Also post here if you want to compete AGAINST THE VERY BEST :O.
To give this one a sense of finality, we've decided to make this one on Sonic 1, 2, 3&K in succession. Then Douglas and Thorn wanted in so I decided to just open the door to anyone who wants to compete. Rules are simple: Complete S1-K with Sonic, first to post all three input files in this topic wins!
The toughest part of this is going to be finding a suitable time for everyone to play. What with the Carcassonne tournament running as well and conflicting schedules and timezones... Suggestions here plz. Also post here if you want to compete AGAINST THE VERY BEST :O.
46
Leaderboard Disputes / ATTN: yandao
« on: June 19, 2007, 05:28:15 am »
From your Leaf Forest 1 comment:
Unfortunately, some of your stats do not agree with this statement!
Here's a few examples:
1 2 3
ps who were you before >_>
Quote from: yandao
Ever since Rolken banned me for submitting a fake time, I decided to be honest and play fair.
Unfortunately, some of your stats do not agree with this statement!
Here's a few examples:
1 2 3
ps who were you before >_>
47
News and Updates / The future direction of TSC
« on: June 15, 2007, 09:09:25 am »
Before I start on this subject, a little bit of background. I was promoted to admin a couple of months ago and since then I've tried to take on more of an active role in improving the site. However due to my lack of coding experience compared to the other admins I've taken a more practical approach, and this in particular is something I've discussed with Rolken at length.
As many of you know, The Sonic Center has been operational for pretty close to four years now. In that time we've seen many very talented players come and go from our ranks. Unfortunately, in recent times, there has been considerably more going than coming. This can be attributed to three main factors:
1) Sonic games suck lately
No explanation needed. When Sonic 06 is the best Sonic Team can come up with you know something is pretty seriously wrong there.
2) There is a limit to just how far stats can be improved
Every level has a theoretical max, and over the course of four years on many levels this is being, or has been, approached. Naturally there will be people who will continue improving regardless but those with their sights set on records will get discouraged eventually.
3) People will leave of their own volition anyway
See #2 to an extent. Gradually the older TAers among us have left the scene, Cybrax, Taco, Rayku, and recently myself among them. I feel with my experience that it is my duty to pass on what I know to those coming through the ranks... but there are not a whole lot of genuine TAers coming into TSC (see #1 for reasons why) to replace them. When the current "new guard" becomes the old guard, TSC as we know it will probably lie dormant.
While it will probably take at least two years for that to actually happen, this set of circumstances is best addressed now than when it might be too late. Obviously #1 is out of our control (as much as we'd like to see it, Megamix will never be a full-fledged game). #3 is probably also out of our control because we can't keep everyone around... however, the option is there to provide a different offering.
It is #2 that needs most attention. And while the fact that many of the theoretical limits are being reached is not going to change, I believed that something could be done.
So last week, I brought it up with Rolken. Eventually it got to the point where we actually had a serious discussion in IRC about the future of the site - the three points above being key factors in the discussion.
Our consensus drew the following conclusions:
1) Subsites as we know them now will be no more.
As we know, the subsites have done little to a) spark up additional competition and b) draw in new members. This, from my perspective, is probably due to a lack of advertising on the part of the respective admins (though I did see a topic for the Megaman one on SDA which got mikwuyma curious, at least). It was determined that the best way for additional competition to occur on these games would be to fold the subsites back into TSC's structure and have everything on the one site, so all new visitors to TSC would recognise their existence rather than be forced to look down at that "network" tab. (At 1024x768, I can't see that tab on the first screen. Perhaps something as simple as moving the tab to a more prominent position on the sidebar would help?)
2) Competition will no longer be limited to time/ring/whatever attacking as we know it now.
Our plan saw an emphasis on multiplayer competition as essential to moving the site forward. Basically, we could set up "leagues" of players within which they would compete in challenges, which Rolken or somebody else who elects not to compete would devise. Scoring systems for such leagues are up in the air, but we'll save that discussion for another time. All that is relevant for now is that there'll be some sort of system in which players can compete against each other directly, not just individually, to go alongside our existing offering.
And I feel that point is important. We're not going to throw away the past four years to focus on this new strategy because there are no guarantees that it will work the way we want it to. And if it doesn't, we'll try something different.
In summary: TSC could be left alone and nobody would notice there was a problem. It's two to three years down the track where, if still left alone, TSC will probably not have much of a future. So instead of sitting on our hands we're taking action now.
Now tell me what you think. I know there'll be myriad ideas among you, and they'll be entertained.
UPDATE: watch this space for coherent ideas/ramblings regarding the specifics of this eventual strategy.
As many of you know, The Sonic Center has been operational for pretty close to four years now. In that time we've seen many very talented players come and go from our ranks. Unfortunately, in recent times, there has been considerably more going than coming. This can be attributed to three main factors:
1) Sonic games suck lately
No explanation needed. When Sonic 06 is the best Sonic Team can come up with you know something is pretty seriously wrong there.
2) There is a limit to just how far stats can be improved
Every level has a theoretical max, and over the course of four years on many levels this is being, or has been, approached. Naturally there will be people who will continue improving regardless but those with their sights set on records will get discouraged eventually.
3) People will leave of their own volition anyway
See #2 to an extent. Gradually the older TAers among us have left the scene, Cybrax, Taco, Rayku, and recently myself among them. I feel with my experience that it is my duty to pass on what I know to those coming through the ranks... but there are not a whole lot of genuine TAers coming into TSC (see #1 for reasons why) to replace them. When the current "new guard" becomes the old guard, TSC as we know it will probably lie dormant.
While it will probably take at least two years for that to actually happen, this set of circumstances is best addressed now than when it might be too late. Obviously #1 is out of our control (as much as we'd like to see it, Megamix will never be a full-fledged game). #3 is probably also out of our control because we can't keep everyone around... however, the option is there to provide a different offering.
It is #2 that needs most attention. And while the fact that many of the theoretical limits are being reached is not going to change, I believed that something could be done.
So last week, I brought it up with Rolken. Eventually it got to the point where we actually had a serious discussion in IRC about the future of the site - the three points above being key factors in the discussion.
Our consensus drew the following conclusions:
1) Subsites as we know them now will be no more.
As we know, the subsites have done little to a) spark up additional competition and b) draw in new members. This, from my perspective, is probably due to a lack of advertising on the part of the respective admins (though I did see a topic for the Megaman one on SDA which got mikwuyma curious, at least). It was determined that the best way for additional competition to occur on these games would be to fold the subsites back into TSC's structure and have everything on the one site, so all new visitors to TSC would recognise their existence rather than be forced to look down at that "network" tab. (At 1024x768, I can't see that tab on the first screen. Perhaps something as simple as moving the tab to a more prominent position on the sidebar would help?)
2) Competition will no longer be limited to time/ring/whatever attacking as we know it now.
Our plan saw an emphasis on multiplayer competition as essential to moving the site forward. Basically, we could set up "leagues" of players within which they would compete in challenges, which Rolken or somebody else who elects not to compete would devise. Scoring systems for such leagues are up in the air, but we'll save that discussion for another time. All that is relevant for now is that there'll be some sort of system in which players can compete against each other directly, not just individually, to go alongside our existing offering.
And I feel that point is important. We're not going to throw away the past four years to focus on this new strategy because there are no guarantees that it will work the way we want it to. And if it doesn't, we'll try something different.
In summary: TSC could be left alone and nobody would notice there was a problem. It's two to three years down the track where, if still left alone, TSC will probably not have much of a future. So instead of sitting on our hands we're taking action now.
Now tell me what you think. I know there'll be myriad ideas among you, and they'll be entertained.
UPDATE: watch this space for coherent ideas/ramblings regarding the specifics of this eventual strategy.
48
Competition Central / Looking forward...
« on: May 11, 2007, 02:33:21 am »
I would like to announce my retirement from competition effective immediately.
However, this does not mean I am leaving you all behind! I will of course remain with TSC in whatever administrative capacity I am required in or asked to fulfil.
Taking back the Advance 3 championship has been my last and greatest of all my achievements here at TSC - a list which includes probably about half the site's championships held with a record seven at once, a few speedruns over at SDA, and my individual level videos here. Why is this my greatest then? Because the desire is gone. I have little left to give competition, and certainly nothing left to prove. That and Quartz was a worthy foe to overtake. >_>
On that note, I know I had the championship yesterday, but I felt the need to set him a target. I didn't want to put this up and look highly silly the next day when Quartz got around to rings, so I've set him a difficult, but certainly not impossible task to regain the championship. And I know he's up to it, too.
I must give some words of thanks to those who have helped me along the way:
Rolken - Where would any of us be without you? You've done so much hard work and put aside hard-earned for us to pursue what really is nothing more than a hobby - and one that gets you laughed at at many places too. Over the past four years you've shown outstanding leadership and integrity in all your dealings with other people. Anyone aspiring to be a great leader of people (myself included) - look no further.
SM - My mentor in the early days (and I imagine mentor to many other than just myself) on competition and running the place. I owe much of my recent rise through the admin ranks to you giving me my start as a mod of the old Sonic Legacy board, and much of my rise through the competition ranks to your strategies and advice.
NintenDan - My great rival from the early days. Who could forget the battles over Sonic Advance which you invariably won... Also our respected challenge runner in the GameFAQs days. I tip my hat off to you for actually getting a life while the rest of us kept on playing games X)
sonicam - I've particularly enjoyed my battles with you over the years. Your determination will serve you well in your later years... as long as you never play Sonic Adventure again. :D
stanski - You proved to me that the impossible was possible. Again and again and again and again! also S3&K >> S2 yeah you heard me!
Aitamen and Thorn - Two quarters of the mystical Quadrinity. That's right, the SECRET IS OUT :O
Seriously though, we've always provided each other moral support when required, and we will continue to do so, right guys? Rock on.
RPG - Of course, I save the last word for you. Still my "brother separated at birth" after all these years, my greatest rival and my best friend. I think the best way to sum him up is through his own words: "You can't have manslaughter without laughter".
Witty, yes, but fucking stupid. And that is why he is an inspiration to us all. :D
I'm going to conclude by telling a bit of a story that I never really told anyone here... not even RPG!
Not long after TSC started, in December of 2003, my parents split up. (This much most people know.) I can remember going to school in the last few days of grade 9 from a motel in the city. The whole situation brought out the worst in everyone. Both my parents tried to convince me and my brother that the other was not capable of bringing us up right. For me, it came out in rather darker ways. During this time I seriously contemplated suicide. The details of which probably don't need telling.
Obviously, the happy ending is that I'm still around, and far from being contemplative I'm looking forward to what is ahead of me. It's a state I never dreamed I could attain in those dark days, and I know my mental state is still far from where I want it to be, but I haven't felt this good about the future for a very long time.
And I attribute much of that to you, the people of TSC. You may have your label which says you're slightly or considerably more important than the average Joe but when it comes to open, honest discussion none of that counts for very much if you contribute to the discussion. It's this aspect of TSC that I love even more than the competition, and for which I am eternally grateful to have been, and continue to be, a part of. It is people like you who have restored at least some of my faith in humanity. That there are people out there who don't accept mediocrity. It is an honour to have been associated with such great people as well as great players.
So, on my final high in Sonic competition, I bid the competition adieu... and the community, welcome back.
EDIT: Forgot something >_>
I know you've earned the right to be skeptical of me thanks to NintenDan and Rayku and the like. I'd say my motives are different though. They wanted out so they could get a life or something, but sonicam showed you can have both. I would really love to play a game just for the sake of it being a game again. This place has warped my sense of what a game is and I preferred the old sense. :(
However, this does not mean I am leaving you all behind! I will of course remain with TSC in whatever administrative capacity I am required in or asked to fulfil.
Taking back the Advance 3 championship has been my last and greatest of all my achievements here at TSC - a list which includes probably about half the site's championships held with a record seven at once, a few speedruns over at SDA, and my individual level videos here. Why is this my greatest then? Because the desire is gone. I have little left to give competition, and certainly nothing left to prove. That and Quartz was a worthy foe to overtake. >_>
On that note, I know I had the championship yesterday, but I felt the need to set him a target. I didn't want to put this up and look highly silly the next day when Quartz got around to rings, so I've set him a difficult, but certainly not impossible task to regain the championship. And I know he's up to it, too.
I must give some words of thanks to those who have helped me along the way:
Rolken - Where would any of us be without you? You've done so much hard work and put aside hard-earned for us to pursue what really is nothing more than a hobby - and one that gets you laughed at at many places too. Over the past four years you've shown outstanding leadership and integrity in all your dealings with other people. Anyone aspiring to be a great leader of people (myself included) - look no further.
SM - My mentor in the early days (and I imagine mentor to many other than just myself) on competition and running the place. I owe much of my recent rise through the admin ranks to you giving me my start as a mod of the old Sonic Legacy board, and much of my rise through the competition ranks to your strategies and advice.
NintenDan - My great rival from the early days. Who could forget the battles over Sonic Advance which you invariably won... Also our respected challenge runner in the GameFAQs days. I tip my hat off to you for actually getting a life while the rest of us kept on playing games X)
sonicam - I've particularly enjoyed my battles with you over the years. Your determination will serve you well in your later years... as long as you never play Sonic Adventure again. :D
stanski - You proved to me that the impossible was possible. Again and again and again and again! also S3&K >> S2 yeah you heard me!
Aitamen and Thorn - Two quarters of the mystical Quadrinity. That's right, the SECRET IS OUT :O
Seriously though, we've always provided each other moral support when required, and we will continue to do so, right guys? Rock on.
RPG - Of course, I save the last word for you. Still my "brother separated at birth" after all these years, my greatest rival and my best friend. I think the best way to sum him up is through his own words: "You can't have manslaughter without laughter".
Witty, yes, but fucking stupid. And that is why he is an inspiration to us all. :D
I'm going to conclude by telling a bit of a story that I never really told anyone here... not even RPG!
Not long after TSC started, in December of 2003, my parents split up. (This much most people know.) I can remember going to school in the last few days of grade 9 from a motel in the city. The whole situation brought out the worst in everyone. Both my parents tried to convince me and my brother that the other was not capable of bringing us up right. For me, it came out in rather darker ways. During this time I seriously contemplated suicide. The details of which probably don't need telling.
Obviously, the happy ending is that I'm still around, and far from being contemplative I'm looking forward to what is ahead of me. It's a state I never dreamed I could attain in those dark days, and I know my mental state is still far from where I want it to be, but I haven't felt this good about the future for a very long time.
And I attribute much of that to you, the people of TSC. You may have your label which says you're slightly or considerably more important than the average Joe but when it comes to open, honest discussion none of that counts for very much if you contribute to the discussion. It's this aspect of TSC that I love even more than the competition, and for which I am eternally grateful to have been, and continue to be, a part of. It is people like you who have restored at least some of my faith in humanity. That there are people out there who don't accept mediocrity. It is an honour to have been associated with such great people as well as great players.
So, on my final high in Sonic competition, I bid the competition adieu... and the community, welcome back.
EDIT: Forgot something >_>
I know you've earned the right to be skeptical of me thanks to NintenDan and Rayku and the like. I'd say my motives are different though. They wanted out so they could get a life or something, but sonicam showed you can have both. I would really love to play a game just for the sake of it being a game again. This place has warped my sense of what a game is and I preferred the old sense. :(
49
Tournament Central / Tournaments
« on: April 30, 2007, 03:53:47 am »
UPDATE: Ideas will be coming into this topic more coherently and more often. Watch this space!
With subsites being established and more on the way the time is right to start this thing running.
What I bring to the table:
A semi-regular tournament schedule based on fair and equitable single player competition.
What I'll need:
* Volunteers from each existing subsite to run tournaments in their area of expertise (I'm obviously TSC's representative in this regard, but I might also do tournaments on other games at times) EDIT: Currently reconsidering. I say there should be Sonic and Megaman leagues but it might make things interesting down the track if people want to compete in multiple leagues.
* An upload interface where players can upload their runs for me to review and later display (something like microstorage)
* A PayPal account if we decide to go down that road
Tournament Format
Still a few ideas on the table. The cornerstone of it is this: leagues of 16 players (or some other round number) who play against each other every week for bragging rights. Points of contention:
* Whether to play one, or several, matches in a week
* Whether to use one or multiple challenges in the same round
* Whether to use one or multiple categories of challenges in the same round
* Whether to rank players head-to-head or against everyone in the league (ties in with the last two)
* Bonus points for miscellaneous tourneys (such as the Toulouse one we're running now!)
Thoughts would be appreciated on this. I have a vision in my head but it is not translating too well heh.
---
Also administration will be far more competent than Sonic Olympics organisation. >_>
With subsites being established and more on the way the time is right to start this thing running.
What I bring to the table:
A semi-regular tournament schedule based on fair and equitable single player competition.
What I'll need:
* Volunteers from each existing subsite to run tournaments in their area of expertise (I'm obviously TSC's representative in this regard, but I might also do tournaments on other games at times) EDIT: Currently reconsidering. I say there should be Sonic and Megaman leagues but it might make things interesting down the track if people want to compete in multiple leagues.
* An upload interface where players can upload their runs for me to review and later display (something like microstorage)
* A PayPal account if we decide to go down that road
Tournament Format
Still a few ideas on the table. The cornerstone of it is this: leagues of 16 players (or some other round number) who play against each other every week for bragging rights. Points of contention:
* Whether to play one, or several, matches in a week
* Whether to use one or multiple challenges in the same round
* Whether to use one or multiple categories of challenges in the same round
* Whether to rank players head-to-head or against everyone in the league (ties in with the last two)
* Bonus points for miscellaneous tourneys (such as the Toulouse one we're running now!)
Thoughts would be appreciated on this. I have a vision in my head but it is not translating too well heh.
---
Also administration will be far more competent than Sonic Olympics organisation. >_>
50
Emerald Challenges / Emerald Storage Topic
« on: March 22, 2007, 05:53:49 am »
Due to excessive putting-emeralds-in-sigs (not looking at anyone in particular...) Rolken, Zeupar and I have decided to make a topic that everyone can post in and hold their obtained emeralds in.
Basically something like this:
Now get those damn things out of your sigs >_>
ps I am a fag
Not edited by RPG
Srsly. <_<
Basically something like this:
Now get those damn things out of your sigs >_>
ps I am a fag
Not edited by RPG
Srsly. <_<
51
Non-Sonic Site Discussion / Mario Center discussion
« on: March 22, 2007, 04:17:17 am »
First things first: This subsite will be strictly PLATFORMERS ONLY. Mario Kart has a well established community, and the sports games are not great candidates for competition.
Off the top of my head, there are 11 games available for competition under a Mario Center:
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels (aka SMB2j)
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Super Mario World
SMB:DX Challenge mode (is Beat the Boo competitive?)
Wario Land 3
Wario Land 4
New Super Mario Bros.
Each game is going to have its own rules issues. One common to all is going to be the fact that you can theoretically start any level in any game (except the first level) as any incarnation of Mario you desire. How to handle this (and worse, prove it) should be discussed here.
Another one specific to SMW and NSMB is the ability to carry an additional item between levels (and particularly for NSMB, you can select any item you want prior to entering a level). In both these games it is advantageous to have a certain incarnation of Mario at certain points in a level, which would permit switching of items. Fair game or not?
SMW and NSMB levels also have two exits in some levels. Track both, or just the fastest one?
Any other difficulties to competition which might arise should be discussed in here too before any charts actually go up.
EDIT: Notes on WL3/4:
WL3: Time Attack mode is only unlocked once you collect all 100 treasures. This would make competition comparable to something like, say, SSR, where it takes a lot of time to get to a competitive level. However the game is very convenient in saving your times so I don't think there's much of a case against it, considering the game is also over 7 years old.
WL4: Three divisions per level are necessary, one for Normal, Hard and S-Hard difficulties. Scores can be tracked as well as time from when the switch is hit, counting down a-la Gamma.
EDIT2: PPA informs me that WL1 does have a counter. Eleven now!
Off the top of my head, there are 11 games available for competition under a Mario Center:
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels (aka SMB2j)
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Super Mario World
SMB:DX Challenge mode (is Beat the Boo competitive?)
Wario Land 3
Wario Land 4
New Super Mario Bros.
Each game is going to have its own rules issues. One common to all is going to be the fact that you can theoretically start any level in any game (except the first level) as any incarnation of Mario you desire. How to handle this (and worse, prove it) should be discussed here.
Another one specific to SMW and NSMB is the ability to carry an additional item between levels (and particularly for NSMB, you can select any item you want prior to entering a level). In both these games it is advantageous to have a certain incarnation of Mario at certain points in a level, which would permit switching of items. Fair game or not?
SMW and NSMB levels also have two exits in some levels. Track both, or just the fastest one?
Any other difficulties to competition which might arise should be discussed in here too before any charts actually go up.
EDIT: Notes on WL3/4:
WL3: Time Attack mode is only unlocked once you collect all 100 treasures. This would make competition comparable to something like, say, SSR, where it takes a lot of time to get to a competitive level. However the game is very convenient in saving your times so I don't think there's much of a case against it, considering the game is also over 7 years old.
WL4: Three divisions per level are necessary, one for Normal, Hard and S-Hard difficulties. Scores can be tracked as well as time from when the switch is hit, counting down a-la Gamma.
EDIT2: PPA informs me that WL1 does have a counter. Eleven now!
52
Leaderboard Disputes / A couple more BS calls.
« on: March 09, 2007, 09:04:39 pm »
I would put them in different topics but here goes anyway.
sdj6707: claiming record times for WV-T and SH-T. Translation of the page with the screenshots revealed he was using Chankast, which gives a wider movement range than a true Dreamcast, and is therefore not allowed.
RedMountain27: Claims 583 rings on LR1-S when three players have 488, the likely max. I suspect bonus stage use. Also the score is only the bonus screen score and doesn't include bosses/other enemies.
sdj6707: claiming record times for WV-T and SH-T. Translation of the page with the screenshots revealed he was using Chankast, which gives a wider movement range than a true Dreamcast, and is therefore not allowed.
RedMountain27: Claims 583 rings on LR1-S when three players have 488, the likely max. I suspect bonus stage use. Also the score is only the bonus screen score and doesn't include bosses/other enemies.
53
Information Kiosk / TSC Convention!
« on: March 05, 2007, 10:00:15 am »
The mythical event first proposed by NintenDan known as the TSC Convention may soon be a reality.
Before we make a decision on its viability, however, we probably need to gauge how many people will be attending. Here's the current details, which are a little sketchy:
Location: Rolken mentioned flyby's dad has a place in Maryland which is in closer proximity to most TAers than Utah. This is the current front-runner to host, but this is open to suggestion.
Time: Will obviously have to be some time in the northern summer when everyone's on holidays. Either side of the Mario Kart convention (Aug2-6) would be good particularly if there's people considering attending both. Could 07/07/07 really be the day?
I'd also propose a general, while not steadfast, rule that it'd be difficult for you to attend if you're under 16 (though not impossible if you have progressive parents heh).
More details to hopefully come from Rolken at some stage because I'm tired and probably missed heaps of important stuff.
EDIT: I checked out the MK64 forums and their convention was a few days later than I thought. Fixed.
Before we make a decision on its viability, however, we probably need to gauge how many people will be attending. Here's the current details, which are a little sketchy:
Location: Rolken mentioned flyby's dad has a place in Maryland which is in closer proximity to most TAers than Utah. This is the current front-runner to host, but this is open to suggestion.
Time: Will obviously have to be some time in the northern summer when everyone's on holidays. Either side of the Mario Kart convention (Aug2-6) would be good particularly if there's people considering attending both. Could 07/07/07 really be the day?
I'd also propose a general, while not steadfast, rule that it'd be difficult for you to attend if you're under 16 (though not impossible if you have progressive parents heh).
More details to hopefully come from Rolken at some stage because I'm tired and probably missed heaps of important stuff.
EDIT: I checked out the MK64 forums and their convention was a few days later than I thought. Fixed.
54
Beef / Stuff that Needs Adding
« on: March 01, 2007, 08:10:35 pm »
Taken from ks8's topic because nobody wants to rummage through that topic to find it.
NEW TIMES
Sonic Battle
Sonic Riders (Tag, Survival Race, Survival Battle, Mission modes)?
Sonic Drift/Drift 2 fastest laps
SPECIAL STAGES
Sonic Chaos/Triple Trouble?
Now I'm stickying and locking it so nobody gets at it.
NEW TIMES
Sonic Battle
Sonic Riders (Tag, Survival Race, Survival Battle, Mission modes)?
Sonic Drift/Drift 2 fastest laps
SPECIAL STAGES
Sonic Chaos/Triple Trouble?
Now I'm stickying and locking it so nobody gets at it.
55
Gaming and Grazing / SDA runs ahoy!
« on: January 11, 2007, 06:50:20 am »
I'm now the third, after NintenDan and F-Man, TSCer to have a run submitted on SDA. It's not a Sonic run, but I promise those are coming.
Banjo Tooie in 53:17 (using in-game cheats)
The other runs will be up within the week according to Mike Uyama (who's the fill-in for Radix at the moment) - watch this space!
Banjo Tooie in 53:17 (using in-game cheats)
The other runs will be up within the week according to Mike Uyama (who's the fill-in for Radix at the moment) - watch this space!
56
Wikkity! / A bit of a leaving topic
« on: December 29, 2006, 07:05:53 am »
No, not in the retiring sense. Don't get your hopes up just yet.
I'm going to Tasmania (y'know, the little island at the bottom of Australia which tags along with the rest of us) for about two weeks, I'll be back on the 10th, I think.
One person who I'm sure will be happy to see this is KS8, who I've passed in Heroes and no doubt will pass me back by the time I return.
Keep on pwning guys!
I'm going to Tasmania (y'know, the little island at the bottom of Australia which tags along with the rest of us) for about two weeks, I'll be back on the 10th, I think.
One person who I'm sure will be happy to see this is KS8, who I've passed in Heroes and no doubt will pass me back by the time I return.
Keep on pwning guys!
58
Rules Revisions / Sonic Heroes - Team Blast Glitch [Resolved] (updates in first post)
« on: December 04, 2006, 05:09:29 am »
Look, we all know it needs doing. Charts like this have to be made a thing of the past.
If we're making a freestyle division, it needs to be known which levels should be included in it. Anyone can add/remove from this list in future posts - this is my best estimation of what needs to happen:
TIMES
Sonic - Mystic Mansion, Egg Fleet, Final Fortress
Dark - all
Rose - Egg Fleet, Final Fortress
Chaotix - Grand Metropolis, Power Plant, Mystic Mansion, Egg Fleet, Final Fortress
EXTRA
Dark - all
Rose - same as times
Chaotix - same as times, plus Ocean Palace and Hang Castle
BOSSES
All Robot Carnivals/Storms
Dark EH, EA, EE - how beneficial is this for the other teams? I think Egg Albatross in particular benefits from TBG in all teams
Metal Madness
RINGS
Chaotix - I'm taking suggestions here. People are saying we should allow TBG here to avoid the horribly slow process of building up a TB manually - I vote against this as it affects scores. Opinions?
SCORES
Put simply, straight ban on TBG here is my opinion. It gets too fiddly otherwise.
At this stage people should nominate levels in which they used TBG, and when submissions go up change them back or incur Rolken's wrath.
My list is: (from an earlier topic)
TIMES
PP - Chaotix
EXTRA
PP - Chaotix again. As you can see I never did these to any great level heh.
BOSSES
Egg Hawk - Dark
Egg Albatross - All
Egg Emperor - Dark
Metal Madness
But I'll fix them up when submissions are re-enabled, so by then it won't matter. I completed the whole game again just for this purpose. :D
EDIT: note that on the Dark bosses in particular, the line between non-TBG and TBG is very, very obvious. Anybody who doesn't comply/doesn't come here anymore can just have their times removed as far as I'm concerned.
-----
RULING: 26/1/07 by yse
All stats which are known to have used TBG have been suspended. Point out any I may have missed and we can request an explanation or remove the offending stats.
TBG will be permitted for ring counts, but any scores or times obtained on the same run are void. (ProTip: if you think you're going too well, hang around at the goal ring for a while)
-----
Players/stats being challenged
Onryou
videogamemaster777
If we're making a freestyle division, it needs to be known which levels should be included in it. Anyone can add/remove from this list in future posts - this is my best estimation of what needs to happen:
TIMES
Sonic - Mystic Mansion, Egg Fleet, Final Fortress
Dark - all
Rose - Egg Fleet, Final Fortress
Chaotix - Grand Metropolis, Power Plant, Mystic Mansion, Egg Fleet, Final Fortress
EXTRA
Dark - all
Rose - same as times
Chaotix - same as times, plus Ocean Palace and Hang Castle
BOSSES
All Robot Carnivals/Storms
Dark EH, EA, EE - how beneficial is this for the other teams? I think Egg Albatross in particular benefits from TBG in all teams
Metal Madness
RINGS
Chaotix - I'm taking suggestions here. People are saying we should allow TBG here to avoid the horribly slow process of building up a TB manually - I vote against this as it affects scores. Opinions?
SCORES
Put simply, straight ban on TBG here is my opinion. It gets too fiddly otherwise.
At this stage people should nominate levels in which they used TBG, and when submissions go up change them back or incur Rolken's wrath.
My list is: (from an earlier topic)
TIMES
PP - Chaotix
EXTRA
PP - Chaotix again. As you can see I never did these to any great level heh.
BOSSES
Egg Hawk - Dark
Egg Albatross - All
Egg Emperor - Dark
Metal Madness
But I'll fix them up when submissions are re-enabled, so by then it won't matter. I completed the whole game again just for this purpose. :D
EDIT: note that on the Dark bosses in particular, the line between non-TBG and TBG is very, very obvious. Anybody who doesn't comply/doesn't come here anymore can just have their times removed as far as I'm concerned.
-----
RULING: 26/1/07 by yse
All stats which are known to have used TBG have been suspended. Point out any I may have missed and we can request an explanation or remove the offending stats.
TBG will be permitted for ring counts, but any scores or times obtained on the same run are void. (ProTip: if you think you're going too well, hang around at the goal ring for a while)
-----
Players/stats being challenged
Onryou
videogamemaster777
59
Competition Central / In the vein of SM's low score challenges, comes...
« on: October 31, 2006, 04:14:26 am »
...low ring challenges!
Here's the deal. Play through any of the MegaDrive Sonic levels, collecting as few rings as possible. MK, Sprint and I have been testing Sonic 1 lately, so we're taking it to the masses.
Usual low score challenge rules apply, such as having to do the level in a continuous run. Obviously as well, getting hit just before the end of the level doesn't mean you got 0 rings. It's how many you picked up.
These we believe to be the theoretical maxes for each level:
Sonic 1
GH: 0/0/0
M: 0/7/0
SY: 0/0/6
L: 0/10/0
SL: 0/0/0
SB: 5/2/0
Have fun.
Here's the deal. Play through any of the MegaDrive Sonic levels, collecting as few rings as possible. MK, Sprint and I have been testing Sonic 1 lately, so we're taking it to the masses.
Usual low score challenge rules apply, such as having to do the level in a continuous run. Obviously as well, getting hit just before the end of the level doesn't mean you got 0 rings. It's how many you picked up.
These we believe to be the theoretical maxes for each level:
Sonic 1
GH: 0/0/0
M: 0/7/0
SY: 0/0/6
L: 0/10/0
SL: 0/0/0
SB: 5/2/0
Have fun.
60
Competition Central / A compendium of game saves
« on: October 24, 2006, 09:47:26 am »
Here we compile a list of savestates where the game is complete, where a mode is unlocked which is useful for competition, eg. boss mode in Sonic Advance 2 (requires all emeralds with two characters) or Special Stage mode in Sonic Pocket Adventure (which requires you to collect all the puzzle pieces). The idea behind it is that nobody has any excuse to not be able to compete.
I finished off the puzzle piece collection, so I'll start the collection off with this.
I finished off the puzzle piece collection, so I'll start the collection off with this.
The Sonic Center v3.9
Copyright 2003-2011 by The Sonic Center Team.