44 replies to this topic

[Carey85]

28.01

I think I have to agree that 27.51 is suspect as well. I can see someone approaching 27.90 or so, but I honestly don't think it is possible to break it. Someone call Bob Whitehead and get him in here .

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[JacobZu7zu7]

Zoyx, on Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:54 AM, said:

Atarian7, on Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:37 AM, said:

Todd Rogers didn't do that. I've had a bounty up on twin galaxies for many months now for
27.80 and no one has claimed it yet because it is not possible.

Yeah, I call BS as well. Only way to do 27.51 is to find an exploit. I would believe 27.91. I had room for improvement on my 27.96 run. I sent a PM to Todd via AtariAge, asking how he did it... no response so far.

If it was BS wouldn't Twin Galaxies know that, because they require a video of the persons game?
Many Todd's scores on TG... seem unobtainable.

[Zoyx]

@JacobZu7zu7 - Todd's record was refereed. I don't think a video exists of his run... also adds to the suspicion that something is amiss. Maybe it is just a typo. If so, it should be corrected.

[toymailman]

I would believe 27.91, but 27.51 hmmmm.

[chuckwalla]

Best is 33.17

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[toymailman]

I wonder if someone could make a hack of skiing and force a "perfect run". It seems that all one would have to do is make the minimum number of left and right button presses so each falg is just barely missed.

[shadow460]

I've suspected some TG scores myself. They're possible. Perhaps everyone in the room mis read the score when Todd played, or (more likely) it is indeed a typo.

From what I know about him, I don't think Todd would fake a score.

[Zoyx]

No, I doubt very much it was Todd that messed up the score. My theory is that either the ref read the 9 as a 5 on the screen... or the person who transferred it into TG... read the refs writing wrong.

[toymailman]

That makes sense.

My next question is those Decathlon scores. They are all so much better than 2nd place. Holy hand jiggling!!

[Zoyx]

@toymailman - Yeah, have to raise a quizzical eye on that one. Many ways to cheat on that game. My cheat was to take a wico bat, internally wire the up and the left together and the down and right together, then "run" by going SW <--> NE on the stick. Really helps your speed . I would be curious to see that video.

[shadow460]

One stick for Decathlon...the Power Stick. That's if you're wanting to play the fair way.

[Zoyx]

Yeah, more quizzical eye. Here is the official long jump record... doesn't show the controller.


I should rewire my joystick, take a video, and see if people catch it.

[shadow460]

That's with a track ball. I've done the exact same thing with one.

[toymailman]

The scores I have on TG for Decathlon all use the standard CX-40 (its what I use for every joystick game).

I'll have to try a track ball now to see what happens.

[darthkur]

29.92

.png]

[shadow460]

toymailman, on Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:48 PM, said:

The scores I have on TG for Decathlon all use the standard CX-40 (its what I use for every joystick game).

I'll have to try a track ball now to see what happens.

Make sure it's in track ball mode. If you set it up that way, all you have to do is spin the ball one direction at a slow to medium pace. The best way to describe it is to "walk" your fingers on the ball.

I don't see that being the way David Crane envisioned Decathlon being played. Then again, I don't think Bob Whitehead expected anyone to play Skiing with the paddles, either.

Edited by shadow460, Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:40 PM.

[aftermac]

28.32

Not much of an improvement... at this point I'm wondering how I can do a more perfect run than this??

[JacobZu7zu7]

My 3rd and probably final score. 0:28:41

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by JacobZu7zu7, Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:45 PM.

[shadow460]

aftermac, on Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:43 PM, said:

28.32

Not much of an improvement... at this point I'm wondering how I can do a more perfect run than this??

Screen shot 2009-12-28 at 7.06.07 PM.png

Try to memorize which gates you can go through without making any corrections at all. Go straight through those, then graze the inner flagpoles on the ones you can't. I know you have to make some major turns at or around gates 10, 18, and 21, counting up from 1 as you ski downhill.

Also, comparing the position of the skier's head to your time can help you line him up to graze the next pole.

[the 5th ghost]

Todd's 27:51 Skiing time was first published in the Activisions newsletter. Back in the day, all Activision required was a photo of the screen to qualify for their patches.

It was my understanding that Twin Galaxies simply accepted the scores printed in the Activisions newsletter, rather than having current video proof of the time, or they went by a photo, (which is no longer accepted.)

It is also my understanding that there is indeed a glitch in Skiing that involves toggling the difficulty switch mid-run. Toggling resets the skier to the center of the screen, enabling the player to cross the screen faster, and thus, saving time. David Yancey hepped me up to this, and confirmed that using this trick, he was able to achieve the 27:51 time.

Perhaps Todd discovered this glitch back in the day, and exploited it for the sake of having the "Activisions" record. Who knows for sure?

As for his Decathlon scores, they are the real deal! David Yancey witnessed Todd in person, playing Decathlon using a regular joystick. Simply put, he said it was amazing watching Todd max the energy bar.