Read This - High Score Cheating Rule Updates and Changes

[Kong]

-=EDIT=-
The content of this post has been moved to the FAQs (http://retrouprising.com/faq.php#faq_scores).

Read them, know them, love them, tattoo them to your ass if it helps but don't break them.

[Slime Slayer]

If your average frame rate is below 90% your score will not count.

if we pause a game, to go to run some errands, would this effect our average frame rate?

[Kong]

No. Frame rate is not counted while it is paused.

Also the fast forward button will not increase your recorded frame rate. So you can not force lag and then hold the fast forward key to make up for it.

If you are unsure if your computer is fast enough to play the game at 100% speed that is ok, submit the score anyway and we will let you know if it was too slow. If it is slow then your score will be deleted but it wont be counted as intentional cheating.

You can hold the "end" key to see the maximum FPS that your computer is capable of for the the current game. It should be above 100%. A few games, especially 3D games, take very powerful computers.

If your computer is fast enough to play the game and you are playing fair then you have nothing to worry about. Banning is only for people that are trying to cheat.

If you are the type of person that has more fun finding ways to cheat than playing fair, that is fine. I am the same. Just let me know what you discover.

[Winnebagel]

You can hold the "end" key to see the maximum FPS that your computer is capable of for the the current game. It should be above 100%. A few games, especially 3D games, take very powerful computers.

That's good info. I didn't know you could hit that key to get this.

If you are the type of person that has more fun finding ways to cheat than playing fair, that is fine. I am the same. Just let me know what you discover.

I am always surprised when people come up with this stuff. I'm just not wired that way, so I'm amazed when people find new ways to cheat. Hopefully, the new system will help prevent most of that.

[joz]

I use pause a lot, but that's because I play at work and I have to stop the game so I can answer the phone. I'm a telecom operator and it gets difficult to play games like Tetris Tengen version and answer the phone. I use other applications on the computer to help assist my work. If this is a problem I'll stop and stick to games like TMNT and other side scrolling games where pause doesn't help out.

[Kong]

It only matters if it looks fishy or not. It only takes 2 or 3 pauses in a trivia game for it to be fishy. For it to be fishy in a beat'em up like TMNT it would need to be hundreds. Puzzle games would be in the middle. Unless you are setting really high scores or playing trivia games we wont look too closely at pauses.

[Kong]

Please reread the rules in the first post (http://retrouprising.com/support/retro-uprising-support/read-high-score-cheating-rules/t8217/#post91208). Some of them have changed.

[Kong]

Rule addition again.
The following rule was added to the Mastering requirements.


If a game loops, you only need to complete the first loop. That means some games such as Donkey Kong will be very short and easy to beat.

Here are some examples of games this will effect.
Super Mario Bros
Legend of Zelda
Castlevania
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Kung Fu
Vulcan
Flicky
Punch-Out Arcade

Some examples of games that would NOT count as loops.
Pac Man
Galaga
Space Invaders
Asteroids
Centipede

[elrod21]

I think Kung Fu should be two loops because you only get the full heart made of hearts above your head after the second loop which would be the better ending no?

Either way I guess I should go back and get my mastery for such games (except I never stopped at the required screen when I played before.)

[Kugyince]

Elrod: First loop only. This is to simplify the approval process for the GM staff.

[elrod21]

That's cool! I will do it that way then. :)

[Kong]

Elrod: First loop only. This is to simplify the approval process for the GM staff.
And to simplify it for users too. We're trying to eliminate rules with exceptions.

There may seem like there are a lot of rules but I think we have done a decent job of making them simple and cover all special circumstances that could ever come up.

[elrod21]

And to simplify it for users too. We're trying to eliminate rules with exceptions.

There may seem like there are a lot of rules but I think we have done a decent job of making them simple and cover all special circumstances that could ever come up.

I understand completely and I really do appreciate all you and the other mods do for the site. :) (For virtually free I might add as well.)

[alohaex]

Maintain at least 95% FPS

What is an FPS?

[Kugyince]

Frames per second.

[alohaex]

Thanks Tenser

[alohaex]

Question if the game has stages but you are not required to go to them and they serve no part in the game story do you still need to go to them for game mastery submission

[Kong]

Link to the game?

[alohaex]

Star Trek 25th Anniversary for the NES has many planets you can visit but most of them play no part in the game main story. There just there for you to fly to and beam down to then it tells you that there is noting here to do and you don't need to be there

Retro Uprising - Arcade - Star Trek 25th Anniversary (http://retrouprising.com/game-menu/game/3823/)

[Kugyince]

They can be skipped.

[alohaex]

Ah good to know thanks Tenser

[goombaman]

are we allowed to farm in RPGs, games such as Final Fantasy are hard to do unless you sit in one place to up your lvls a little, also, are we aloowed to die in Rpgs, or other long games such as Ledgend of Zelda without restarting, these are probly stupid questions, but i just wanna be sure i am of course talking about mastering, not for a high score

[Kugyince]

If the game is SRAM enabled (games that had battery saves in the cart such as Zelda and FF) you may grind as it is part of the game genre.

[alohaex]

So just to be clear we can die and then resume the game from our last save in an RPG if we did a battery save right and we don't have to start the game again from the begining for mastery submission right

[joz]

So just to be clear we can die and then resume the game from our last save in an RPG if we did a battery save right and we don't have to start the game again from the begining for mastery submission right

correct

[alohaex]

Cool 8) good to know I always thought you had to restart it no mater what

---------- Post added 04-04-2011 at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was 04-02-2011 at 06:53 PM ----------

Another Question What are the rules for game show games like wheel of fortune and jeopardy and are they able to be submitted for mastery

[Dudebro]

Games like that can be submitted for high scores but you can't pause. People pause to cheat with google. I don't know if they can be mastered though. If they somehow can be I'm interested.

[alohaex]

Would you have to win every round get all the bonus prizes and win the bonus round?

[Dudebro]

That sounds right but I don't think we ever decided on those kind of games. It seems like it might be too easy.

[alohaex]

That would be pretty hard to do in one go I think

[Dudebro]

Well now that you brought it up we can discuss it. I'm open to the idea but I'm sure there's gonna be some issues.

[alohaex]

Guaranteed there will be issues like people only playing by themselves and not the three player regular way

[Dudebro]

No I mean there's probably stuff we're not thinking of that might make this not work. Playing multiple players at once is cheating no matter what game it is.

[alohaex]

Playing multiple players at once is cheating no matter what game it is.

It is but wheel of fortune, jeopardy and many others lets you play 3 people your 1 and 2 computer controlled players

[Dudebro]

I could be wrong but playing against AI is fine since you can't make them take a dive and boost your score. Intentionally choosing more than one human controlled player is cheating and will be dealt with, just an FYI for anyone reading this.

[alohaex]

I could be wrong but playing against AI is fine since you can't make them take a dive and boost your score. Intentionally choosing more than one human controlled player is cheating and will be dealt with, just an FYI for anyone reading this.

How about having only your player in a game that suppose to have 3 players 1 human and 2 AI would that still be cheating if the game give you the option to do that

[Kong]

6. Do NOT use pause to boost your score.

8. Always play as player 1 only.

13. If a game allows you to adjust the game difficulty then do NOT make it easier than default settings.
In Jeopardy, you can not pause, you must play a one player game and use the default number of computer opponents or more. You can not reduce the number of computer opponents.

I assume you just need to get first place in one game to master it, but that is just a guess as I have not played it before. Whatever the main goal is, you must complete it, to master the game.

[alohaex]

Ah I see that clear up the playing part although mastery remains a mystery as it changes for each game

[Tails]

Be the jeopordy winner?

[alohaex]

I'm good Tails but not that good I always lose at jeopordy badly

[Josephjo]

Special Rules:

In most sports games your score is the spread. Example if you score 21 and the computer scores 14, then your final score is 21-14=7. If your score is zero or negative then it will be deleted.
Do you need to add that a entire match or contest has to be completed for the score to count if the score is the spread?

[Dudebro]

No such rule exists for other games, just how much score you can get before you submit. Right?

[Josephjo]

No such rule exists for other games, just how much score you can get before you submit. Right?

Yeah - but not every game has a score based on the spread. Seems a bit cheap for someone to submit 2 mins into a football game leading 7-0 and beating someone who has played for the whole game and won the match say 36 - 30.

I of course will bow to whatever you decide.

[Dudebro]

Seems a bit cheap for someone to submit 2 mins into a football game leading 7-0 and beating someone who has played for the whole game and won the match say 36 - 30.
Funny I just set a score like that.


I of course will bow to whatever you decide.
Why? If anything I know much less about sports scoring than you.

[Josephjo]

Funny I just set a score like that.



Why? If anything I know much less about sports scoring than you.

Because you're higher up the ladder!

[Dudebro]

Yeah but if I'm wrong I'm wrong. Either way you do bring up a good point and I'm not sure how to call this.

[Kugyince]

You don't need to finish a game. The longer a good player plays the game, the farther apart the spread will be.

[Josephjo]

You don't need to finish a game. The longer a good player plays the game, the farther apart the spread will be.

O.k. makes sense - thanks:)

[StarfoxFan2009]

So does that mean i can actually set a score on Tecmo Super Bowl?

[Tails]

Yes, Ronfromfresno I believe submitted on them all by now I think.

[StarfoxFan2009]

ok it's game on then.

[Incubator]

in games like river city ransom, where you can farm to buy upgrades, is it allowed to do so? I think that would make it more enjoyable, because that way you can explore the whole game, and not just something similar to a speedrun...
Also, if the game allows you to die infinite times, and every time takes something from you, for example halves the money. Is it allowed to die only 5 times?

[joz]

@incubator: You can farm on games that don't keep score since you won't be submitting it for a high score anyways. If it does keep a score, you can farm if you're going to submit for mastery ONLY. So if there is a score showing when you've beaten the final boss, you'd do best to wait for the credits or anything after the final boss to submit a screen shot.

[Incubator]

@incubator: You can farm on games that don't keep score since you won't be submitting it for a high score anyways. If it does keep a score, you can farm if you're going to submit for mastery ONLY. So if there is a score showing when you've beaten the final boss, you'd do best to wait for the credits or anything after the final boss to submit a screen shot.

Wow, that's great to know, what about my other question?
The same applies?

[Dudebro]

Good question. I think it should be ok if the game penalizes you for each continue. I know Dragon Crystal does that, takes away some of your money each time and money is score. I wouldn't continue more than five times and lose all that score but if someone wants to struggle like that it shouldn't be seen as cheating, IMO.

[Kong]

in games like river city ransom, where you can farm to buy upgrades, is it allowed to do so? I think that would make it more enjoyable, because that way you can explore the whole game, and not just something similar to a speedrun...I think River City Ransom doesn't have a score so that is ok. But don't do that when submitting a score.

Also, if the game allows you to die infinite times, and every time takes something from you, for example halves the money. Is it allowed to die only 5 times?
Dragon Crystal does that and it is ok. Do you have a specific example?

[Kugyince]

Also, if the game allows you to die infinite times, and every time takes something from you, for example halves the money. Is it allowed to die only 5 times?

The staff is going to discuss this. We'll try and have an official answer for you by tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

[Incubator]

Dragon Crystal does that and it is ok. Do you have a specific example?

i meant River City Ransom but not for score mode, so i guess it's ok then

[Kugyince]

You can do anything you want in full mode.

[joz]

Wow, that's great to know, what about my other question?
The same applies?


If you're playing in FULL mode, the Rules do not apply. If you're playing in SCORE mode and the game allows for infinite lives/continues, then the limit is at 5 no matter what.

[Incubator]

and what about long games without sram save, only password?
for ex Mission Impossible and Kunio Kun no Nekketsu Soccer League and some other nes games

[joz]

NO PASSWORDS allowed in Score Mode at all. Mission Impossible has been mastered here already so it's not impossible.

[Tails]

NO PASSWORDS allowed in Score Mode at all. Mission Impossible has been mastered here already so it's not impossible.
Welcome to Instant Rimshot (http://www.instantrimshot.com)

[Incubator]

Welcome to Instant Rimshot (http://www.instantrimshot.com)
lol

well, that's tough, but i will master it anyway :D

[StarfoxFan2009]

for mastering Tecmo, would i have to play the entire season or can we sim the season and play the playoffs? I mean it would make a long playthrough if the whole season had to be played

[joz]

@ SFF: Good question. We'll discuss is and then post our reply here. Give us 24 hours.

---------- Post added at 08:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:16 AM ----------

Which Tecmo?

[StarfoxFan2009]

Tecmo Super Bowl on Genesis

[Kugyince]

The first post has been updated to now reflect that the High Score and Game Mastery rules are now found in the FAQ.

Retro Uprising - FAQ: Arcade (http://retrouprising.com/faq.php?faq=scores)

I'll leave this thread open and post any specific rules changes if they occur to notify the users.

[supernintendosp]

Rule 2-8. Always play as player 1 only. Examples, In Double Dragon do not start a two player game and kill player 2 for extra points. There are a few exceptions, example Robot Gyro requires both game pads be used.


There are such games such as the hidden gem Nostradamus that have hard-wired characters with different styles.
Nostradamus' characters (you select them by hitting the respective player's start button):

Player 1: Male straight shooter with side bullets turning backwards
Player 2: Female ace whose shots home in on a center position, has no straight shots and cannot shoot backwards
If Nostradamus is an exception to Rule 2-8, may I play as Player 2?

[joz]

Sorry about the delay Supernintendosp, we've been busy around here working on the site. Give us 24 hours as of this post and I'll be back with a response.

---------- Post added at 01:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 AM ----------

@ supernintendosp: You can go ahead and play as player two.

[Kong]

The reason for that rule is primarily to prevent cheating in games like Double Dragon and confusion in sports and board games.

Games like TMNT, X-Men, Simpsons and Nostradamus where each player is a different character are generally acceptable exceptions. Asking for clarification like you did though is a good move.

[supernintendosp]

The reason for that rule is primarily to prevent cheating in games like Double Dragon and confusion in sports and board games.

Games like TMNT, X-Men, Simpsons and Nostradamus where each player is a different character are generally acceptable exceptions. Asking for clarification like you did though is a good move.
Thank you--I thought this would be the case. I really like that game with its catchy music and gameplay and thought before now, "Gee, Player 2 could really pack a punch. But I don't know if this would be breaking the rules." Therefore, I asked. Apparently it's a great exception.

[joz]

Good luck with beating Winnebagel's score on that one. I got close once.

[alohaex]

A question how is Score or Mastery judged for games that have more then one game in it. For example Super Mario Superstars and Kirby Superstars and I'm sure there is many more.

---------- Post added at 01:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:57 PM ----------

Sorry meant Super Mario All Stars not Superstars my bad

[Kong]

You can beat either game on the cart and receive full credit.

[alohaex]

So if I beat Super Mario Bros 3 in Super Mario Allstars but not the other games I can submit it for mastery of that game?

[elrod21]

You bet! Have fun! :D

[alohaex]

Is it the same for Kirby SuperStars

[elrod21]

I would say yes. Also multi-carts share the same hi-score tables as well.

[alohaex]

I see thanks Kong and Elrod

[goombaman]

aight so i finnaly got around to mastering Final Fantasy, my work schedule has been cleared so i finnaly have time to master longer games. anyway, i know you need to be logged in to submit scores but theres something i may have done wrong. pat way through the game, i relized i was logged out while playing. i will be logged in when i submit, but will my being logged out while playing affect the gameplay video at all?

[Kong]

Currently with SRAM enabled games this shouldn't be a problem. As long as you are logged in when you submit the ending.

However, that might not always be the case in the future, so try to make sure you are logged in next time.

[goombaman]

will do thanks kong, even if i did have to restart it would be fine, Final Fantasy is not an extremely long game anyway.

[Seahawk]

For Dr. Mario on NES, you get the final ending for beating level 20 on hi speed.

Query: Can I use the stage select to skip to level 20 directly? Playing through all the levels is an hour long affair. I just failed at it on level 19 and I'm not too keen on doing it again, and I'm pretty sure you mods don't want to sit through multiple hour long submissions.

[Tails]

I don't mind sitting through those submissions.

Gotta play all levels, sorry Hawk.

[Seahawk]

I don't mind sitting through those submissions.

I really hope you mean that, because there are some long waits for the right pieces in my latest. Or maybe you just like watching me build giant combo towers :p?

[Tails]

It's already done actually. ;)

[Kong]

Retro Uprising - FAQ (http://retrouprising.com/faq.php)
You must complete the entire game from start to finish on default or harder settings.
Sorry.

[bearhawk72]

Can I pause on a point and click game like Deja Vu for the NES?

I can probably beat it without pausing I just need to know if pausing is allowed in case I need to go do something.

[Dudebro]

Do NOT pause ("P") to boost your score. You may occasionally pause in typical games but do NOT pause in a game that has puzzles (Example Where's Waldo and Tetris) or trivia questions (Example Jeopardy) or is an endurance test (Example Asteroids marathons). Resizing the screen pauses the game. Be careful as resizing the screen is counted the same as pausing and is not allowed in timed puzzle and trivia games.
Unless I'm not understanding something it seems to say that point and click games are fine, pause away. It's only intended for games where pausing could give you an advantage.

[Kong]

Pausing is allowed as long as pausing can't give you an advantage in a game.

I've never played Deja Vu before but I can't imagine pausing helping much in a Point and Click game so it is allowed.

Just be sure to pause by pressing "P" instead of "Start".

[FudgyDRS]

Is classic bomberman considered a puzzle game?

[OmegaShadow]

Nah, I'm pretty sure it isn't.

[elrod21]

I wouldn't say it is a puzzle game either.

[Kong]

You can use pause in Bomberman.

[lestat7902]

Okay. So I got my asteroids score unaccepted because I paused. The day after I went on a Asteroids marathon and beat high score without pausing. So, um, where is it???

[elrod21]

Okay. So I got my asteroids score unaccepted because I paused. The day after I went on a Asteroids marathon and beat high score without pausing. So, um, where is it???

You are right. I remember the second submission being in the queue though I wasn't the one who approved it. I will look into it.

[Kong]

You flipped the score 4 times but only the score displayed was counted. I fixed it. Thanks for letting us know.

Because you submitted a high score before and not counting the flip made this score look less and by default only your best score is shown you didn't see it. If you had clicked "View All Scores (http://www.retrouprising.com/game-menu/game/6910/scores/?allScores=1)" you would have seen it.

For future reference, if you flip a score it is helpful to let a mod know. You can post it here http://www.retrouprising.com/contests/open-contests/game-masters-submissions/t9794/

[bearhawk72]

What is the mastery criteria for Operation Wolf (coin op)?

Once you beat the initial 6 stages you can go through them again on a harder difficulty.

I submitted a mastery for it when I died on the second run through but didn't get credit for the mastery(possibly because I submitted on the standard death screen)

[Kugyince]

Because you submitted on the standard death screen. If the game loops as such then you only need to complete the first loop.

[elrod21]

As a general rule we would want to see the ending sequence at the end of a loop when a game loops.

[bearhawk72]

Roger that, easy enough to fix. I was unaware it looped when I went through it.

[Sid seattle]

Where and/or who do I contact about ru wr.... Scores... I plAy exclusively arcade pcbs and TG has me beating 11 wr as of two months ago. The ones listed in Guinness are pang 3 ( panic mode)400,400, mr. Driller both 500m and 1000 m modes, daioh ( 1 and 2 player mode) raiden 210,000, raiden II 240,000, lifeforce( second in world)607,000, jackthegiant killer 20,000, dancing eyes,300,000. All confirmed.... Working on bosconian TG tournement settings(5 men only), solar warrior, psycho soldier, and soon karnov....


Sid seattle

[Winnebagel]

Where and/or who do I contact about ru wr.... Scores... I plAy exclusively arcade pcbs and TG has me beating 11 wr as of two months ago. The ones listed in Guinness are pang 3 ( panic mode)400,400, mr. Driller both 500m and 1000 m modes, daioh ( 1 and 2 player mode) raiden 210,000, raiden II 240,000, lifeforce( second in world)607,000, jackthegiant killer 20,000, dancing eyes,300,000. All confirmed.... Working on bosconian TG tournement settings(5 men only), solar warrior, psycho soldier, and soon karnov....


Sid seattle

The best first step is to get ArcadeOX and start playing games on RU. RU now is one of the best places to record WR (and perhaps the fairest anywhere), so if you set the WR high score in the games you mentioned, you will get credit for the World Record on RU.

Let me know if you would like any assistance getting started.

[Slime Slayer]

And just to clarify, RU only accepts submissions using the method WB explained.

[Sid seattle]

other games with loops(if I understand correctly)

alcon,side arms,life force,r-type,section z,gyruss,xevious,bubble bobble..(1-100)single player never ends. (all coin-ops)moon patrol..(two loops..the second loop is much different than the first)...galaga (255 stages,) sinister(four stages) time pilot (8 stages..) jailbreak(4 stages)q-bert(9 stages)..then the ninth repeats forever..(robotron(seven stages)...???

Robert "sid seattle"Racek