The Sonic Center

Sonic Central => Competition Central => Topic started by: Thorn on November 30, 2005, 06:18:44 pm

Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on November 30, 2005, 06:18:44 pm
Are there any rules regarding the team I use or the time of day?  I know I can't use a team that can only be made via stage select, but I want to make sure that there's not some "understood" rule that's not posted.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: SadisticMystic on November 30, 2005, 07:39:14 pm
Any team that consists of two different members from the set {Knuckles,Mighty,Espio,Charmy,Vector,Heavy,Bomb} is allowed for any level except Isolated Island (where Heavy and Bomb are disallowed) and Introduction (where only P1 Knuckles, P2 Espio may be used).  Use the team you think is best for each level.

I don't recall time of day having any effect on any level, and even if it does then you can choose the time that will lead to the most favorable layout.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on November 30, 2005, 07:45:06 pm
Thanks.

I asked about time becuase there's a door in Speed Slider 4 that is unlocked at sunset but not at night.  With it open, I used Mighty and Espio to clear the level in 15"05, which I'll post in the rankings soon.  If I wasn't so lazy, I'd get verified for uploading videos and submit a vid.  Some people are probably itching to see Chaotix.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 01, 2005, 06:46:17 pm
Heh... I beat three records, and as a result, you're now the champ at Chaotix, SadisticMystic.  Feel free to enjoy that warm, fuzzy feeling.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: yse on December 02, 2005, 12:35:55 am
And now I am again. *slightly confused*
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: sonicam on December 02, 2005, 07:25:42 am
No, you both are. I guess when I made submissions and gamersince93, it refreshed some percent values and decared you champion by a value less than .1%. That's just a guess.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 02, 2005, 03:57:32 pm
Now the home page is saying that there's only one champ again.  This is going to happen whenever I submit a time, isn't it?  I'm scared to actually knock someone down to #2...

*notices mike89's sniper rifles on left*
*notices SadisticMystic's rifles on right*
*cowers in fear*
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Spinballwizard on December 02, 2005, 04:28:31 pm
Well, whenever you get a time better than someone else, your point total drops and their point total rises. What's happening is that your times are either beating mike89's or SadisticMystic's, but almost never at the same time, which would explain why they keep interchanging the championship.

I doubt either will mind too much. Or if they do, they'll just go get better times. That doesn't seem too likely though, as KC isn't exactly the most TAed game, and mike's concentrating more on other games like SnK at the moment IIRC. (For he has a championship to regain there too. XD)
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 03, 2005, 01:57:12 pm
Yeah, I know nobody cares to TA Chaotix, but I've been kind of addicted to it lately.  I can't really explain why, but it's probably just because it's different.  That, and records are easy to come by with some luck.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Bilan on December 03, 2005, 04:29:57 pm
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Yeah, I know nobody cares to TA Chaotix, but I've been kind of addicted to it lately.  I can't really explain why, but it's probably just because it's different.  That, and records are easy to come by with some luck.
[snapback]7886[/snapback]

I intend to TA Chaotix sometime :o.

Then again, I intend to submit something for every Point-Worthy division on the site eventually X)
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: qubit on December 03, 2005, 05:55:43 pm
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Thanks.

I asked about time becuase there's a door in Speed Slider 4 that is unlocked at sunset but not at night.  With it open, I used Mighty and Espio to clear the level in 15"05, which I'll post in the rankings soon.  If I wasn't so lazy, I'd get verified for uploading videos and submit a vid.  Some people are probably itching to see Chaotix.
[snapback]7842[/snapback]


I'd love to see some Chaotix TA vids.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: yse on December 03, 2005, 06:01:09 pm
Well, it appears both SM and myself have been usurped to the KC throne!

...Meh.

Congrats, gamersince93!
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 03, 2005, 06:11:40 pm
Yeah, but I won't feel satisfied with that title until I've got the best total time (why does total time count twice?).  I'm a minute or two behind.

Quote
I'd love to see some Chaotix TA vids.
[snapback]7894[/snapback]

I figured somebody would want to see.  I've got to see if my parents will let me use their camera.  Then I've got to make sure that everyone can view whatever format the camera records in.  If all of that goes alright, I'll try to get verified and post the vids.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Bilan on December 04, 2005, 09:40:25 am
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I figured somebody would want to see.  I've got to see if my parents will let me use their camera.  Then I've got to make sure that everyone can view whatever format the camera records in.  If all of that goes alright, I'll try to get verified and post the vids.
[snapback]7896[/snapback]

Use an emulator+Camtasia Studio
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 04, 2005, 12:03:26 pm
If I can avoid it, I'd rather not use a ROM.  That, and I don't have $300 to spend once the free trial on Camtasia Studio expires.  I've seen a few vids taken by cameras for Sonic Adventure 2, and they turned out okay.  It seems easier to record it, put the memory card in my PC, and upload it.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Rolken on December 04, 2005, 02:43:06 pm
If you're planning on just taking a camcorder and pointing it at a TV, you might have problems - since both devices don't actually display/record images continuously, but rather as discrete frames too fast for people to see but that may desync and appear as odd dark bars on the recording. I know cables exist for synchronization, but have no idea where to get one or how much they cost. But maybe it'll work anyway and I'm just blustering.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 04, 2005, 02:45:54 pm
I won't know unless I try.  The worst case scenario isn't exactly bad:  I'll adjust to using a keyboard, play the ROM, and record it.  I don't think my times will be as good with a keyboard, but at least the poeple who have no clue what this game looks like can get a glimpse.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: SadisticMystic on December 04, 2005, 03:01:26 pm
There's a crack available for Camtasia that gets rid of the trial requirement.  Obviously you won't be linked to it here, but someone will let you know eventually...

If nothing else, you could run a VCR between your game system and TV, and record your game from that.  Then if you have a TV tuner/capture card for your computer, you can record the input from your VCR.  If not, you can mail the tape to someone who does.  It'll still be a high-quality recording of just the screen that way, and not the crazy stuff that an external camcorder might do with the picture.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Bilan on December 04, 2005, 04:18:27 pm
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If I can avoid it, I'd rather not use a ROM.  That, and I don't have $300 to spend once the free trial on Camtasia Studio expires.  I've seen a few vids taken by cameras for Sonic Adventure 2, and they turned out okay.  It seems easier to record it, put the memory card in my PC, and upload it.
[snapback]7916[/snapback]

Once it expires, you uninstall it completely. Then if you need it again, you redownload it and install it again :D

That works...uh...a friend of a friend tried it...um....yeah...

/me flee
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 04, 2005, 05:39:25 pm
I've found a way to record without abusing the free trial on Camtasia.  I'm using HyperCam, but since it seems to record external sound only, I placed a microphone next to the computer.  It would have been a nice recording if my brother wasn't beating on his drums.

I still want to try using a camera, though.  With a keyboard it took me eleven seconds longer to beat Speed Slider 4 (25 seconds rather than 14 seconds).
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 04, 2005, 07:27:26 pm
Alright, I have an okay vid now, only three seconds off of how I would do on the actual 32X version.  The submissions page says Rolken and SadisticMystic are the ones to talk to about getting validated for videos, and the FAQ says to ask in the forum.  Both Rolken and SM have posted here, so I guess I should just wait until one of then stops by.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 05, 2005, 01:42:46 pm
I don't know if triple posts are frowned upon, but... here's a triple post.

I uploaded a video, but when I went to play it back, I received a 404 error.  That, and the vid showed up under Speed Slider 4 when it should have been under Speed Slider 1.  How can I have the mistake corrected, and does anyone else get a 404 error?
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: SadisticMystic on December 05, 2005, 02:17:05 pm
The error was actually 403, not 404.  The file can be found, but the server doesn't think you have permission to watch it.

I deleted the incorrect level entry, and changed the permissions on the video file so now it can be watched.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 05, 2005, 02:20:58 pm
Thanks for that.  I'm still going to try using a camera; you can see where I slipped up in the vid since I can't use a keyboard well.  Better than nothing, though.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: CosmicFalcon on December 05, 2005, 05:24:59 pm
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I don't know if triple posts are frowned upon, but... here's a triple post.
[snapback]7950[/snapback]

(http://www.soniccenter.org/forum/style_images/soniccd/p_edit.gif)
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Taco on December 05, 2005, 06:26:55 pm
There is an edit button, but unlike other communities, we really don't give a shit about bumping old topics, double and tripleposting, or anything else of that sort!

Just don't abuse the privelage
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Rolken on December 05, 2005, 09:24:12 pm
I am actually pro double/triple/whatever posting, with the exception of "hey and also I just remembered" thoughts like five minutes later. Editing new comments into a post a day or two old doesn't tell anyone something new's been added to the topic, which is just silly.

Also I was wondering where the 403s in the server log were coming from. Nice to have that resolved.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 06, 2005, 06:38:32 pm
Alright, I've got seven vids online now.  I scaled the file sizes on most of them down fourteen-fold (28 MB to 2 MB was the largest), and they didn't become unwatchable, which is pretty good.  That odd "dark bar" effect Rolken mentioned happened once or twice, but it wasn't too bad.  I plan to do more vids this way in the future.

BTW, the Botanic Base 2 vid uses the low exit, not the high one.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Rolken on December 08, 2005, 02:24:06 pm
If the larger vids are better quality, you can send them too. Might as well have all the options.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 08, 2005, 03:49:22 pm
Quote
If the larger vids are better quality, you can send them too. Might as well have all the options.
[snapback]8005[/snapback]

I think the Techno Tower 5 vid was the only one that suffered serious quality loss, but the submissions page won't take vids over 2 MB, so I can't make them too much bigger.  That's why I only did short levels.  I've seen 14 MB vids on the site; how did they get submitted?  The FAQ said "upload directly", but didn't go into any detail.

Oh, and the link to the Amazing Arena 1 vid is dead.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Rolken on December 09, 2005, 12:29:56 am
You have to either send them to me or use an FTP utility (which if you don't have experience with, is akin to a remote Windows Explorer). The latter requires you to request a username/password. You then submit videos through the site using the URL option instead of upload.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 09, 2005, 01:42:46 pm
Okay, I'll e-mail them to you.  One thing, though: the vids are MPEGs.  Should I convert them to WMVs like the other ones?
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: SadisticMystic on December 09, 2005, 02:27:14 pm
If you leave them as MPEG, we can convert them to a variety of formats and pick the one that gives the best results.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 09, 2005, 02:52:55 pm
I sent them to Rolken's e-mail.  If I'm supposed to send them to somewhere else, let me know.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Rolken on December 10, 2005, 05:21:11 am
I haven't gotten them. If you indeed sent to rolken@soniccenter.org, you might want to try hitting up SM instead, or uploading.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: qubit on December 10, 2005, 11:01:39 am
Quote
Quote
If I can avoid it, I'd rather not use a ROM.  That, and I don't have $300 to spend once the free trial on Camtasia Studio expires.  I've seen a few vids taken by cameras for Sonic Adventure 2, and they turned out okay.  It seems easier to record it, put the memory card in my PC, and upload it.
[snapback]7916[/snapback]

Once it expires, you uninstall it completely. Then if you need it again, you redownload it and install it again :D

That works...uh...a friend of a friend tried it...um....yeah...

/me flee
[snapback]7924[/snapback]

Or, if Camtasia's a date-based trial (e.g. 30 days), you can simply set your computer clock back a year or so.

erm...yeah...

/me flee after ARRPEEGEE
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Bilan on December 10, 2005, 12:02:33 pm
Quote
Quote
Quote
If I can avoid it, I'd rather not use a ROM.  That, and I don't have $300 to spend once the free trial on Camtasia Studio expires.  I've seen a few vids taken by cameras for Sonic Adventure 2, and they turned out okay.  It seems easier to record it, put the memory card in my PC, and upload it.
[snapback]7916[/snapback]

Once it expires, you uninstall it completely. Then if you need it again, you redownload it and install it again :D

That works...uh...a friend of a friend tried it...um....yeah...

/me flee
[snapback]7924[/snapback]

Or, if Camtasia's a date-based trial (e.g. 30 days), you can simply set your computer clock back a year or so.

erm...yeah...

/me flee after ARRPEEGEE
[snapback]8064[/snapback]

You might end up analling your computer by doing something like, and Im pretty sure that people arent stupid, the 'days remaining' shouldnt go back up if you turn the clock back.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 10, 2005, 01:27:50 pm
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I haven't gotten them. If you indeed sent to rolken@soniccenter.org, you might want to try hitting up SM instead, or uploading.
[snapback]8059[/snapback]

I sent them to the e-mail in your profile, not that one.  I'm not sure if they went through, because my computer nearly crashed after sending seven attachments.  In a few minutes I'll send them to the address you just gave me, as seven separate e-mails this time.  Delete my last mail since the vids are probably corrupted now.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 10, 2005, 03:10:46 pm
Sorry it's taking so long.  My anti-virus insists on making sure that I'm not sending anything harmful.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Rolken on December 10, 2005, 04:09:07 pm
Er, oops, that "email" is actually MSN which I never use. I might as well take off defunct contact methods.

They don't seem to have come through there anyway; I'm getting them at my soniccenter address though.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 10, 2005, 04:21:31 pm
Alright, all seven have been sent.  Five are MPEGs, one is an AVI, and the last is a WMV.  I had to convert two to different formats because they were over 20 MB.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Rolken on December 11, 2005, 02:25:52 am
Well, the only ones I've gotten so far are TT1 and SS4...
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 11, 2005, 02:03:14 pm
My e-mail's down; it might take a day or two.
Title: Question about rankings on Chaotix
Post by: Thorn on December 12, 2005, 05:23:40 pm
I just got one to go through.  I'll see how many more I can send before my connection gives way.