Learning to TAS Super Metroid

2008-07-11 03:30:52 pm

What'd you say?

After watching some TAS videos recently, I decided I want to try it out; so I went to TASVideos.org and learned all about it, and I also experimented a little bit with it in-game. But here's what I want to know: Is there any tips you can give me? How should i start practicing (Slow-mo Ceres Station is hard Mad

)? and, What emulator do you suggest? (I'm using Snes9x 1.43)

(I wasn't sure where to post this exactly, but since it involves Super Metroid, I thought this would be the best place.)

Thread title:

playerman1230

2008-07-11 04:07:10 pm

Hated by all

As far as I know, Snes9X Version 1.43 is best. Get either Improvement 9 or Improvement 12 (since 1-7 have crashy savestates as far as I read for Improvement 12, get beta 8-12).

Fano7

2008-07-11 04:11:11 pm

Every Bit Counts

I remember when I first started TASing this wonderful game. This is one of the harder games to TAS and it takes alot of time to get usted to frame advance and the way this game works. If you do really bad in Ceres, dont fret. Its one of the hardest places to TAS. You'll want to use Snes9x (the newest is probably the best though I dont know what verson :(). There is (or at least there was) a TASing thread in the SM boards started by ING-X. Read through that if you want. The TASvideos.org SM forum has alot of info though it is quite big (171 pages to be exact). Tip wise, study the tricks, study the game, and watch runs (like Cpadolf's or hero's any% TASes). If you have questions about something, ask about it. Someone should be able to answer it. Good luck with TASing.

Tyjet66

2008-07-11 04:17:05 pm

What'd you say?

Thanks for the tips, but where exactly should i practice at?

Fano7

2008-07-11 04:23:35 pm

Every Bit Counts

Depends on what you want to practice.

Tyjet66

Edit history:

Tyjet66: 2008-07-11 04:59:14 pm

2008-07-11 04:38:33 pm

What'd you say?

Well, slow-mo wj is a must.

Also, using the "pause -> \ (frame-by-frame)" how do i move, ect.? Do i just hold the buttons i want and then tap \?

EDIT:Also, what Emulated Frame Rate do you guys use? i use either 35 or 70.

EDIT2:Just pulled off Kraid quick-kill (I could never do it before.)

Fano7

2008-07-11 05:04:44 pm

Every Bit Counts

1) For frame advance wall jumping, otes (the room in Crateria with the pirates on the walls and the small purple platforms) is a good one off the top of my head.

2) For the moving, you got it. Hold the buttons and push the frame advance button. It feels weird at first but you get usted to it the more you do it.

3) Emulated Frame Rate: I have no clue. Sorry.

4) Cool.

Tyjet66

2008-07-11 05:26:43 pm

What'd you say?

TY for your help.

Do you even use the frame rate function? (Shift+"-"or"+")

Bolognab

2008-07-11 05:46:53 pm

Eh, I'm sure tasers would use that function. Although I don't tas myself.

Glad to see you've come back to Super Metroid, Fano Wink

Cpadolf

2008-07-11 06:28:17 pm

Almost happy

Quote from tyjet66:

EDIT:Also, what Emulated Frame Rate do you guys use? i use either 35 or 70.

If you by emulated framerate mean slowdown, then no TASer who is going for anything of quality uses that at all. Frameadvance is the way to go, it feels weird for a couple of hours until you get used to it, but after that at least I think it is very user friendly.

Oh, and this page is a goldmine of information, though it is slightly out of date currently (very slightly).

Tyjet66

2008-07-11 07:48:08 pm

What'd you say?

Alright, one more question for tonight then i'll start on TASing tomorrow.
Say i was working on my TAS and i was to leave the house a few days (whatever the reason) so i needed to shutdown the computer, how would I save the game progress and then load it while it's still paused?

To make the question simpler: how do i load a savestate and keep the game paused to keep from loosing time?

Fano7

2008-07-11 07:58:06 pm

Every Bit Counts

Before you go, save state the frame you want to contine on. Then when you play the movie, activate frame advance, hit the button (or button combo) to activate Movie Read + Write (I think it's Shift + 8 bu default but I'm not sure anymore), load the save state and contine TASing. Sorry if this is confusing, I haven't done it myself in a few mounth. Also, I can post (or PM) my control setup if you want me too, its the best I've found.

Tyjet66

2008-07-11 08:06:59 pm

What'd you say?

That is a little confusing, but i'll figure it out.

Sure, i'd like to see what your set up is, heres what i play with (not TAS, i dont have a current set-up):
up:w
left:a
down:s
right:d
B:numberpad-0
A:numberpad-2
Y:Space
X:numberpad-1
Start:Enter
Select:numberpad-3
L:q
R:e

Fano7

2008-07-11 08:52:32 pm

Every Bit Counts

Up: Up
Left: Left
Down: Down
Right: Right
B: S
A: A
Y: E
X: D
Start: Enter
Select: Space Bar
L: W (I think)
R: Q (I think)
Turbo X: X
Turbo L: C
Save savestate 0: F0
Save savestate 1: F1
Save savestate 2: F2
Save savestate 3: F3
Save savestate 4: F4
Save savestate 5: F5
Save savestate 6: F6
Save savestate 7: F7
Save savestate 8: F8
Save savestate 9: F9
Load savestate 0: 0
Load savestate 1: 1
Load savestate 2: 2
Load savestate 3: 3
Load savestate 4: 4
Load savestate 5: 5
Load savestate 6: 6
Load savestate 7: 7
Load savestate 8: 8
Load savestate 9: 9

Thats all that I think you will need to know. Then again, I havent been able to look at my emu yet :\

Tyjet66

2008-07-11 08:54:09 pm

What'd you say?

alright, well i'm going to bed, ill start work on a TAS tomorrow, good night.

Bolognab

2008-07-11 11:09:43 pm

Sweet dreams wub

Tyjet66

Edit history:

Tyjet66: 2008-07-12 12:22:15 pm

2008-07-12 09:54:04 am

What'd you say?

Well, sad to say starting TASing has to be put off.... :| I gotta go to my dad's house for a few days (he's getting remarried) but I promise that i'll try to work on it up there. So, thanks for the help, and 'll talk to you guys in a few days.

EDIT: I just found out I'm not leaving for a few more hours (I'll work on actually completing Dependence since I don't want to get too in-depth into anything right now.)

aigamerDS

2008-07-15 03:52:56 am

I'm not really good with keyboard so I used pc gaming control (also used with TAS.) Just one question even though somebody already asked and I still don't get it. How do I properly resume the tas in the middle of my project. If I start recording again, it will over write my entire smv file and start a new one. I wanted to prevent that.

uNsane

2008-07-15 11:28:05 am

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

You need to play the video up to the point where you left off, from what I understand.

playerman1230

Edit history:

playerman1230: 2008-07-15 04:23:04 pm

2008-07-15 01:41:18 pm

Hated by all

Well, in the single-skit instance:
Play Movie>Load State>Keep recording

Multi-part (say, doing WIP skits and somesuch):
Make a new movie after loading state, don't overwrite your movie by giving the next segment another name (i.e. first part is SM TAS part 1, and second part SM TAS part 2). And don't say "start from reset/power on [Edit: Do Record from now]".