This month's Speed Run competition is for 'Super Mario Kart' for the Super Nintendo. You can play it here:
https://www.vizzed.com/play/super-mario-kart-snes-online-super-nintendo-8609-user-game

The point of this competition is to beat the game as fast as you can.


VIDEO REQUIRED: Along with taking a screenshot with the plugin of the ending screen, you must also post a video of yourself beating the game. You must use the RGR Plugin's built in video recording capabilities. You can upload the video to any youtube account but you must add it to the game's page and also post a link to it in this thread.


RULES: You MUST play the game using the RGR Plugin in 'Timetrial Mode' and take a screenshot of the ending screen by pressing F6 when you've completed the game. To play in 'Timetrial Mode', scroll down the page where it shows the Speed Runs, you'll see a link that says 'Click Here to Compete for Speed Run', click that. Once you've taken your screenshot, click the link near that one that says 'Click Here to Submit your Speed Run' to submit your speed run.


TIP: In order to achieve the goal screenshot, you must unlock Special Cup by getting 1st in all the other cups, than you have to finish 1st in Special Cup. This can all be done in 100cc.


Prizes:
1st = 10,000 Viz
2nd = 2,500 Viz
3rd = 1,000 Viz


Competition begins now.

So, I've never done a speed run before, but I wanted to try this one.  However, I'm having some issues,and I thus apologize if I ask a stupid question. 

When I start the speed run, the keys I have set in the normal emulator don't work. Instead, the only keys that work are the arrow keys, and between all four keys, the only 'commands' I can use are 'yes' and 'no'.  For example, the up and left arrow key are akin to selected 'yes', and the down and right key are akin to selecting 'no'.

I tried hitting escape to configure the controls, but that doesn't work.  I even tried every single key on my keyboard... none of them worked.  None of them did anything or changed anything.

What am I missing?    I can't even change options in the menus because of my inability to have directional keys.  Is there something I should have done before starting the speed run?  Maybe something I'm supposed to set up in the regular emulator?

Again, sorry if this is something silly to ask

Singelli : Looks good, but I cant work out how to participate either (sob)

I'll join! Fast is my middle name! XD

Which cup do you need to participate in or is it all of them?

I'm just asking again since nobody answered me before.... Um.... I'd love to participate in this one if I have the time.   This is actually a game I've usually been pretty good at due to its simplicity.  Does anyone know why the controls in the speed run won't work for me?  (Look at my previous post for details.)

The controls work just fine as I've set them in the normal emulator.

Singelli : The menu with the default emulator opens with Esc, but for the emulator used for speed runs, the controls can be configured by double clicking the screen. The controls just have to be configured for Mednafen.

This speed run has a specific cup or we need to do all the cups on a specific cc?

Davideo7 : So I am assuming that the video needs to be of the entire run of someone beating this game? Or is just the last cup doable? The reason I ask is just to make sure everyone is 100% clear on the requirements.

Dragoon26 : The .mov file shouldn't matter. To make it as simple as possible, just find the file that you want to cut using Freemake. Open freemake, then drag the file into the Freemake window. It should then display. You can then condense it and turn it into whatever file type you want. Usually AVI is easiest for uploading to YouTube.

Jordanv78 : The whole video has to be recorded.

Dragoon26 ya know you can just turn on freemake and click add video just click on add video get your file. and convert it to avi its that simple. If you are still having issues i can recommmend you can try reinstalling the program hope this helps

Davideo7 : Just double checking. We can just do 100cc? The reason why I am clarifying is because on the screenshot you put as the reference shot for speed runs, the trophy is from 150cc. If anyone takes a screenshot after only beating 100cc, the shot won't be the same since the trophy will be different.

rcarter2 : I wasn't aware the trophy would be different, do you know what it looks like?

Davideo7 :

This is the trophy when you win 100cc



This is the trophy when you win 150cc

rcarter2 : Ok, I guess it's the 150cc that people gotta beat, I thought they used the same trophy.

Alrighty. 

Just a quick question.

Do I have to record getting gold in all four 100cc courses and all four 150cc courses or just the 150cc special cup course?

Nickrj : I would assume all of them.  A few posts ago, he said the whole thing has to be recorded.

All of them.

Does that include the 50cc courses?

Nickrj : In a speedrun, you just have to get the reference screenshot. As long as you don't use cheat codes to do it (which is why videos are required), you do what you please. Beating 50cc isn't required to unlock 150cc, so you don't have to do that circuit. 

Nickrj : You need to record a video of the entire run, from start to finish. I don't think you need to beat the 50cc courses in order to obtain that screenshot but I could be wrong.

Can I use a different screen recorder, or do I have to use the RGR one?

thing1 : I don't think there's any real way of knowing what the user used to record their video so I suppose using a different screen recorder would be fine.

Man this is difficult.

I'm having trouble getting gold on the 100cc special cup.

Umm... so I tried doing a test one to see if the video recording works and I went to the compete for speed run and used f8 to record and all, but when I stop it and check the file, it's just an audio file without video :/ Am I doing something wrong? I installed that freemake video converter thing... do I use that? If I can't get the RGR video capture plug in to work can I use an external video recorder as long as I still take the target screen shot with the RGR plug in? Sorry if these are dumb questions... I'm really confused here

ClearAsCrystal : You need to convert the file to an avi. file. The easiest way I know is to download Freemake Video Converter (it is free). 

I'm starting to think that maybe I created too difficult of a challenge.

I beat all four 100cc cups and got gold in all of them and watch the ending but then when I reset the system after the ending, I couldn't get the 150cc mode.

Can I submit the run of me beating all four 100cc cups? I'd say that's good enough for me.

Nickrj : You can submit the video.

Davideo7 : I think it was the 1500cc thing. It is hard to do if you don't have a controller. I am working at it though. Although I just saw that Nickjr couldn't get 150cc, so I assume 100cc will do?

rcarter2 : his wont be counted.

Davideo7 : There is an issue. As far as I can tell, there is no way to access 150cc. Once you beat 100cc Special Cup, you get to the The End screen, but you you can't go past it. I tried myself. I spent 3 minutes trying to get it to go to the main screen after the The End screen. On the console, the only way to do it is to reset your console, which we can't do with the Plugin. Unless there is another way to unlock 150cc, the farthest anyone can reach is 100cc.

rcarter2 : in that case, teh 100cc special cup ending screen will have to do.

Nickrj : Don't forget to upload your video.

I deleted the video because I tried to open it and it said that it was an unrecognizable format even though it was a MOV file. I had no trouble with a couple of NES speed run games and I have uploaded them to my YouTube channel.

I saw that my screenshot and run time was recorded on the Super Mario Kart page. Does that mean the video has been uploaded?

Nickrj : In order for your submission to qualify for this competition, you need a video to go along with it. We do this now since previous competitions users have cheated.

Okay. I've got to go do this again.

rcarter2 :

you wrong,the 150cc trophy is a golden head of Mario



No, I am not worthy to make a video is because when I used the code to have thunder every time I walk out the box "?"

It appears it is not possible to play 150cc in speed run mode. There is no way to pass the end screen after achieving gold in special cup unless you reset the game. Without the ability for the game to save automatically after each trophy received there would be no way to unlock 150cc. rcarter2 first discovered this and I have checked it out pretty thoroughly.

jerryaberry : Yeah after he told me I changed the rules and goal screenshot of this competition.

blackvelvety : No, I am not wrong. I know the Golden Head Mario trophy is the 150cc trophy. The problem is that you cannot access the 150cc cup on the Madnafen emulator because it doesn't allow cheats and you can't reset it at the The End screen like you can on the console. 

But I did all the trophy from 50 to 100cc seeing the credit and I had no problem

blackvelvety : But did you use the madnafen emulator (high score mode/speedrun mode)? You can complete 50cc and 100cc, but you can't get past the THE END screen after you complete 100cc Special Cup. 

Uh no, I'm just playing through for 150cc and win all the trophies

Ok, the noob user that I am finally found his way: 1000 sent Can participate now, but probably only during weekends.

Tortwag : this isn't for the tournament. This is for the monthly competition.It is a speedrun competition. No Viz is required to participate in this. The tournament that you pay to enter starts next week.

blackvelvety : then what you are doing will not count. You have to play using the speedrun mode, which uses the madnafen emulator which does NOT allow you to play 150cc. You have to record a video of the whole run, and you submit your time. Not playing on speedrun mode means you aren't making submission here.

Not that I'm the best Mario Kart player but here's some tips anyway for the speedrun.

First, I find the best way to make sharp turns is to let off the gas just for a moment then resume. I have not had much luck with drifting in regards to actually saving time. If you're in an area that causes sliding all over the place tap the gas repeatedly for traction. I seldom had to use the break except for a hairpin or two in which I tap the break just once or twice.

Second, who ever you pick as your character seems to have a nemesis that sticks to you no matter what you do to get ahead. If you pick Toad it is Princess Peach, if you pick Koopa Troopa it is Luigi etc. The opposing characters have unlimited items that are specific to that character (Peach = unlimited shrinking mushrooms, Luigi = unlimited star power). Thus, you should choose your nemesis wisely based on which items you are better at avoiding. Having Luigi hounding you with unlimited star power is one I avoid.

Third, the opposing characters seem to be impervious to thwomps and have unlimited leaves allowing them to jump over most items. You need to be sneaky to get them with any item. The opposing characters don't seem to be able to use the speed pads (arrow looking things) so take advantage of that fact even if you have to slow down nearly to a stop to use them.

Lastly, coins make you go faster so the shortest line may not always be best and remember to boost at the beginning of each race.

I was going to speed run it today, but it was lagging a lot. I couldn't really play it too well so I stopped. I wish this would of had more participation.

jerryaberry : I'll just give my two cents worth on some of your tips as I have some other information to add to them.

1. This tip is more map dependent and is based on how wide your turn can be, with a little practice you can save time drifting on particular maps like Donut Plains and on other maps it would work better to just slow down, and even on the same map there are points where it's better to just slow down. If you make your turn a bit wider but can keep your speed you would wind up taking less time overall because of the increased speed.

2. Although you have a general nemesis you can affect this to a small degree early on in the Grand Prix. If you were to say play as Koopa Troopa and you prevent Luigi from placing second (assuming you get first) then it will change your nemesis to whoever placed second in that first race. This generally is more difficult to do as it would require you to hit your nemesis on the last lap of the course so he/she doesn't have time to recover their position.

3. Yes and no, they aren't affected by any obstacles and boosts on the map naturally, but they only seem to have a knack for avoiding their own items and the occasional red shell. Laying a green shell in a small passage seems to consistently hit someone within a few places behind you and computers who are further back have on occasion hit items left by other computers.

4. Although I agree with most of this tip, it might not be the best idea to boost at the start of some courses. These courses are ones where you need to make a sharp turn quickly after the start of the race and could cause you more problems if you boosted than if you didn't.

5. This is something you haven't mentioned but playing different characters will provide different pros and cons. For example Playing Bowser or Donkey Kong will give you a higher top speed and less prone to being knocked around in return for a slower acceleration and poor turning. On the other hand if you were to pick Toad or Koopa Troopa you will much more easily make turns, but you will be bumped aside by almost everyone who hits you. So you could try playing different characters and see what appeals to you.

earthwarrior : yea thats what im worried about this is another competetion that lacks  participation its shameful to see this competetion turn out like this

ByePass: Nice to hear some feedback. I'll give drifting another go in particular areas. I actually noticed the "nemesis switch" yesterday. I always take Yoshi so Koopa Troopa is next in points. During the last lap of an early race I went out of my way to take him out with a red shell so I wouldn't have to get first in the last race (taking some pressure off of me). After that Donkey Kong was my new nemesis.



I tried to put the link to your user name but it doesn't always work for me. I thought it was just a colon following the user name.

jerryaberry : It is. But it is supposed to be the first thing on the line. In your post, you put the word Thanks before the summon, so it doesn't work.

My laptop broke down a week ago, and I had my speedrun stuff on it. I have been using a borrowed desktop since then. I am finally able to back up my hardrive onto this computer today, so I can get my video to submit for the speedrun. Though it won't get me first place. I am going to give some last day tries this evening when I am done grading papers

rcarter2 : I thought that might be the case but it still didn't work. Perhaps it doesn't work with edits. Worked here finally!

Here is the link to my video. Since the rules state it has to be put in the game's page as well as here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxdWMvMuYaI

Didn't see that part in regards to providing the link in this thread. Thanks rcarter2!

Here's the link to my speedrun video:

https://www.vizzed.com/playonlinegames/game.php?id=8609&page=user-videos&video=b28990aVs2A#user-videos

I've finally managed to get my video uploaded, and here's the link to the video once it's processed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoPfRjxGufw

Competition over, results coming soon.