This is another thing that should have been done a long time ago - namely, changing the current rules of PSX NFS High Stakes "Best Lap" runs. Because at the moment there is an Absolutely Disgraceful and Unacceptable opportunity to CHEAT in ANY Lap Record in this category
And, as I wrote several times before, this opportunity to cheat - is that any player can load emulator save state RIGHT BEFORE the "Best Lap" (for example, just a few seconds before the start of the lap)
In fact, at the moment in ABSOLUTELY ALL Main Lap Records (direction forward) - only a small piece of the previous lap is shown. The Only Exception is my recent Lap Record, Kindiak Park 1:21.56. That is, apart from this record - in ANY OTHER Lap Record (direction forward) it is NOT possible to prove that the player did NOT load emulator save state right before "Best Lap" !!
Moreover, if we talk about the advantage that the opportunity to cheat in this way gives you, it is VERY SIGNIFICANT advantage. The thing is, that if you honestly start the race from the very beginning every time, then you are forced to additionally complete 1st lap, which cannot be "Lap Record". As a result, when you are doing “Lap Record" after 1st lap (or 2nd/3rd lap) - your "focus" is slightly/significantly worse and you are a little/significantly more tired, than if you cheated and loaded save state right before "Best Lap"
And of course, the more difficult and/or longer the track, the worse your “focus” will be, and the more tired you will be. For example, during PRACTICE of Kindiak Park I loaded save state right before "Best Lap" - and my lap time in The Best attempt was once 0.44 SECONDS faster than my Real Lap Record (when I honestly started from the beginning of the first lap)
Thus, I spoke about the Most Important part of the changes/additions to the current PSX NFS High Stakes "Best Lap" rules, which I want to suggest. Next will be the list of changes/additions itself, and explanations of all other points of the rules will be after the list
. . .
1.) The ENTIRE race must be recorded on video - from the very start of the first lap, until a few seconds after the finish of the Best Lap
2.) A replay of a race is NOT allowed to be submitted as evidence of a Best Lap, only the LIVE race must be recorded
3.) HUD must be turned ON during the ENTIRE race. Speedometer and current lap time must be displayed during the Entire race. Video quality must be good enough so that Speed, Current Lap Time, and Gear Number (gearbox) - are CLEARLY visible
4.) During the race it is prohibited to call the Pause Menu
5.) Effect sounds (sfx / effects) - must be ON, and GOOD audible. The sound of the car's engine should also be Clearly audible. It's better not to use music in the video at all, or not to make it too loud (so that, again, effects and the engine can be heard Good)
. . .
And one more recommendation (not a rule). After finishing the best lap, the player must make Save State, but NOT at the Race Replay - BEFORE the Replay, and without leaving the race
Since this is the Entire list of changes/additions to the rules for PSX NFS High Stakes "Best Lap" (5 rules + 1 recommendation), I will immediately explain why this recommendation is needed (save state after the finish of the Best Lap). This is necessary in order for the Pause Sound Menu to be available, where you can control sound parameters. In this sound menu you can additionally check whether sfx/effects are Actually turned ON. And if a car Acceleration Cheat was used in the "best lap", then during this "bEsT LaP” you will hear the car horn (at the moment the car horn sounds, car will accelerate TOO quickly)
It is worth adding explanations to the remaining points of the rules (from 2. to 5.), but right now I'm very tired, so I'll do it a little later
- The rules don't say replays are allowed (idk if there are any on the board right now, per rules I wouldn't verify that but idk)
- There's already a rule about visibility
- That's already a thing, pausing = reject or adding the paused time to the final time
- also already a thing, covered by general gameplay rules
