Hello,
I recently had my Any% runs rejected with the reasoning being that my runs did not follow the rules, which I believe that they did.
One of those runs rejected was also a new Any% WR which was very difficult to set, so this is extremely frustrating for me given that from my perspective my runs were legitimate.
There are two bits from the rules that I made note of when I read them:
"L+R+Select code is allowed."
"Timing starts when you select a new diary."
I didn't see an advantage to using a cheat code and the rule says it's merely allowed and not REQUIRED, so I didn't use it, and the second part explicitly says a NEW diary is required, which is what I selected in my runs. I chose the in game NEW DIARY option.
The rules allude to sleeping on the "final day" but given that the rules also say a new diary is needed I had no way of knowing what this specifically meant nor can I see any difference in the timing in this regard.
Given the above not saying the cheat code is required, and the rules explicitly saying a NEW diary is required, that to me is saying the final day is the end of the first day which is the final day for a one day speedrun.
So far as I can tell this is an arbitrary restriction. There seems to be zero advantage to not using that cheat code that the rules don't even say is required.
Nowhere in the rules does it say you are required to use a cheat code yet me not using a cheat code is why my runs were rejected.
Can somebody please explain why a cheat code is required, despite the rules not saying it is required, even though the use of this code doesn't affect the timing of the speedrun?
edit:
I should also point out that 3 of my runs were previously accepted, none of which used any cheat codes, setting precedent for my runs being legitimate.
I believe my run should be accepted because it is legit as per how the rules were written when I submitted it, and because not using the cheat code didn't give me an advantage.
As well, I believe the rules should be rewritten so they state that using the aforementioned cheat code is a requirement and not something that is simply allowed.
The category is for completion of the game which has always been stated in the rules, timing ends on the final day -- your runs did not complete the game. The code is not a requirement but it is the fastest way to complete the game.
Your previous runs were accepted in error, as I was focused on the frame counting and not on the actual completion of the run, which is that the final day is triggered and the ending sequence begins.
Not a mod of this game. But I believe that the idea is (as with most any% categories) to play to credits as quickly as possible. That seems to be the key difference between going to sleep with or without the code. One way loads up day 2, the other way brings you to the game's ending sequence. The rules could be more clear about that, but it seems like common sense to me
Your previous runs were accepted in error, as I was focused on the frame counting and not on the actual completion of the run, which is that the final day is triggered and the ending sequence begins.
That's really what my contention is: the restriction is so inconsequential to the spirit of the speedrun—which is to play the first day as fast as possible—that you didn't notice.
It is not clearly stated that the game must be completed. There is a reference to a "final day" without clarifying what that means, such as specifying that the fade in should lead to the scene with the parents. The word "final" here is ambiguous. It is also not uncommon for speedrun categories to be for only a portion of the game without completion.
This category is really a Day1% speedrun which is what I did.
However, if you insist on rejecting my 2m 05s 767ms WR for these leaderboards because I didn't use a cheat code that doesn't affect the speedrun then I can't stop you. I'll come back and use this cheat for a run if somebody does it faster.
Yes, it is inconsequential, but it's quite obvious to anyone looking and that's why it was brought to our attention so promptly. The reason I missed it is because I was focused on frame counting as we've had a lot of runs coming in recently for both the English and Japanese version of this category. I am at fault for accepting those runs and I apologize that I wasn't able to let you know earlier before you submitted more runs.
It is clearly stated in both the rules and the category name, Any% has been defined by the larger speedrun community and I've not seen anyone else misinterpret the rules of this category in this way. The word final is not ambiguous, there is a final day of the game (the last day of the third summer) and the code exists to advance you to that day, end your game, and see the ending scenes early. You're right, it is not uncommon for speedrun categories to exist that are only a portion of the game. I would say, though, that it is uncommon for those categories to be called "Any%".
This category is not a Day1% speedrun, it is an Any% speedrun. It would be well within the rules to sleep for those 2.5 years and not use the code at all. The code is not required, it is just the best strategy for advancing to the end of the game.
The best way I can describe this to you is, if somebody was finishing up Super Mario 64 and didn't collect the final star after Bowser, it wouldn't be a completed run. If somebody walked up to Ganon at the end of Ocarina of Time but didn't swing their sword, it wouldn't be a completed run. Every run MUST have a final input, and in this category it's L+R+Start+Select. The 2m 05s 767ms run you mention might be the fastest "English Day 1 Speedrun", but it is not the fastest English Any% run.
i get what the reasoning is behind the rejection, but seeing as the record would be the english wr i think an exception should be made. to do this and clarify the rule to prevent a reoccurrence would be much better than completely rejecting the run...
I think the rules were clear, like Demo said, they've never been misinterpreted before until now. They clearly state timing ends on sleeping the last day, and that the code is allowed. The code isn't required, it's just used to get to the last day faster than sleeping for 40 minutes.
I also want to mention in regard to "I believe my run should be accepted because it is legit as per how the rules were written when I submitted it", the rules haven't been changed since March 6th, which was before your first submission on the 16th.
I just practiced this a couple times this weekend for the first time, and I would agree that the rules are definitely a confusing read. Even after watching some runs I wasn't sure what was happening, until I saw one that had inputs showing and I could see the code being input at bedtime.
What if the rules were modified to "L+R+Select code is mandatory."? That would accomplish two things. 1) All runs are done correctly, even by people that aren't familiar with the game with a little explanation 2) The mods won't have to sit through a 1-3 hour run from someone that didn't use the code.
The only objective of the category is to reach the end of the game, the code is allowed but not mandatory. Sleeping for 40 minutes would still be a valid "Any%" run, as long as you make it to the final day. Again this has never come up before across 150 runs in the 8+ years this board has been around, which is why we unfortunately didn't notice it on his first two submissions. The rules are the parameters of the run, not a guide on how to do it. If anyone is unsure on when the final day of the game is, or what the L+R+Select code does they can check one of the guides, Google it, watch one of the runs, or ask in the forums or community Discord server.
