Hi all,

I think we should clarify/change some rules regarding timing. Firstly, we don't specify the timing method in the rules (as far as I know everyone uses RTA). That should be changed. Secondly, I propose to time using IGT because there can be (significant) differences in loading times. I checked a few runs and saw (in bonus any%) differences of up to 1sec before the cube hit the floor (in the first level), i.e. before any player input occured. What do you think? PS: I could create a comparison video if wanted/needed.

(Also, the proposal only applies to runs done on pc since you need an autosplitter.)

I think the 1 second loading time difference is happening because LinuxHater has turned the sounds setting off, which disables the computer voice that reads out the level names. This causes every level to start faster since the game stays on the loading screen until the voice is done talking, even though it may have already finished loading. Interestingly, on the mobile version the game doesn't wait on the loading screen and just starts the level even if the voice is still talking.

There could still be smaller loading time differences between different PCs or between PC, 3DS and WiiU, but for a fair leaderboard we would have to remove loads on every platform. I think loading times should be quite consistent on WiiU and 3DS, but someone who owns these versions (I don't) would have to check and measure that. Because of that, I would suggest to wait until we know more about loads on WiiU and 3DS until we change the rules to remove loads.

Another point would be whether to still use RTA and just remove loads or to switch to IGT entirely so that the time you submit would be all your in-game level times added (this would be the same as enabling the "In-Game Timer" setting in the autosplitter). These two timing methods are not the same because for some reason the in-game timer runs about 36% faster than real time. Additionally, pausing would stop the timer which would allow for new or different strats.

I will definitely change the rules for the PC version to say that everyone should turn their sounds setting off as it decreases load times. The thing with the two mentioned changes in the timing method is that they both result in faster times which would make all past runs kind of obsolete and easily beatable. So maybe we should wait until there are more runners playing this game before we make that change. What do you think?