Die4Ever

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/13741856

From the video's description:

Finally!

In the next few days, I'll upload a commentary video that explains how this is possible. Some key points for those who are curious:

• AutoHotKey (AHK) is a piece of software that allows the user to create custom keyboard macros and hotkeys. Using AHK, I set up my Numpad to control the mouse. For example, Numpad 4 moves the mouse 100 pixels left, and Numpad 6 moves the mouse 100 pixels right.

• Most objects in the game require you to look directly at them in order to interact with them. For smaller objects, like elevator buttons and keys, we must memorize a series of precise movements and angle changes in order to line up our camera with the intended object. This can be quite tedious.

• At 4:30 is the first big trick of the run. Throwing a gas grenade in a particular spot will cause the guard inside the building to panic. He runs to the front door to let us in, allowing us to skip the entire first mission.

• At 6:50 you'll see some weird blue text on screen. If you hold down the quicksave button while a conversation is ending, sometimes this will cause what's known as a "glitchy save". Loading a glitchy save can produce a variety of interesting effects, which we'll abuse later in the run.

• At 10:25 is perhaps the weirdest trick of the run. The goal is to shoot an explosive crate to clear out a bunch of enemies without taking damage from the explosion. At first glance it seems impossible to line up this shot while blindfolded, since there are no audio cues whatsoever. The rather strange solution I came up with was to move backwards while singing the chorus of the song "Benny and the Jets", which just happens to be the right tempo to put us in the correct position for the shot.

• At 13:50 is the first use of the glitchy save. When you load a glitchy save file, maps adjacent to your current map will reset, which will respawn items. We abuse this to duplicate augmentation upgrade canisters, biocells, and flamethrower ammo, all of which are tools that we'll rely on heavily through the run.

• At 18:35, you can survive a fall from any height by quicksaving+quickloading just before you land. This is a trick that can be abused anywhere in the game, although it eventually becomes obsolete once you get fully upgraded jumpy legs.

• At 38:50, we clone items in our inventory. This can be achieved by binding the "use object" button to the mouse scroll wheel, then rapidly scrolling while looking at the object we want to clone. Note that this only works if you start with at least 2 copies of the item.

• At 50:55 is the first example of a "superjump". If you activate jumpy legs, then open the options menu, this reapplies the jumpy leg buff. This can be done multiple times to jump to very large heights. We rely on this pretty heavily throughout the run.

• At 54:55, the LAW is a powerful rocket launcher that is intended to be a single-use consumable item. However, if you pass through a loading zone immediately after firing LAW, it stays in your inventory. This can be used repeatedly to get a ton of mileage out of a single LAW.

• At 1:12:00 is where the craziness begins. We fire a LAW to kill ourselves, sending us directly to the MJ12 prison level. Normally when the MJ12 prison level starts, it runs a script that restores our health, and removes all items from out inventory. By loading a glitchy save as soon as the level starts, we skip that script, allowing us to keep our inventory and remain at negative health. The reason we want negative health is an absolutely wild exploit called "Dead Man Walking". If you consume a small healing item (such as a candy bar) while at negative health, most enemies will think you are dead, and ignore you. This allows us to run straight past hordes of enemies that would normally be a deadly threat. It is the single most important exploit in the entire run, and we rely on it pretty heavily for the rest of the game. Without it, I highly doubt that a blindfolded run would be possible.

From the video's description:

Finally!

In the next few days, I'll upload a commentary video that explains how this is possible. Some key points for those who are curious:

• AutoHotKey (AHK) is a piece of software that allows the user to create custom keyboard macros and hotkeys. Using AHK, I set up my Numpad to control the mouse. For example, Numpad 4 moves the mouse 100 pixels left, and Numpad 6 moves the mouse 100 pixels right.

• Most objects in the game require you to look directly at them in order to interact with them. For smaller objects, like elevator buttons and keys, we must memorize a series of precise movements and angle changes in order to line up our camera with the intended object. This can be quite tedious.

• At 4:30 is the first big trick of the run. Throwing a gas grenade in a particular spot will cause the guard inside the building to panic. He runs to the front door to let us in, allowing us to skip the entire first mission.

• At 6:50 you'll see some weird blue text on screen. If you hold down the quicksave button while a conversation is ending, sometimes this will cause what's known as a "glitchy save". Loading a glitchy save can produce a variety of interesting effects, which we'll abuse later in the run.

• At 10:25 is perhaps the weirdest trick of the run. The goal is to shoot an explosive crate to clear out a bunch of enemies without taking damage from the explosion. At first glance it seems impossible to line up this shot while blindfolded, since there are no audio cues whatsoever. The rather strange solution I came up with was to move backwards while singing the chorus of the song "Benny and the Jets", which just happens to be the right tempo to put us in the correct position for the shot.

• At 13:50 is the first use of the glitchy save. When you load a glitchy save file, maps adjacent to your current map will reset, which will respawn items. We abuse this to duplicate augmentation upgrade canisters, biocells, and flamethrower ammo, all of which are tools that we'll rely on heavily through the run.

• At 18:35, you can survive a fall from any height by quicksaving+quickloading just before you land. This is a trick that can be abused anywhere in the game, although it eventually becomes obsolete once you get fully upgraded jumpy legs.

• At 38:50, we clone items in our inventory. This can be achieved by binding the "use object" button to the mouse scroll wheel, then rapidly scrolling while looking at the object we want to clone. Note that this only works if you start with at least 2 copies of the item.

• At 50:55 is the first example of a "superjump". If you activate jumpy legs, then open the options menu, this reapplies the jumpy leg buff. This can be done multiple times to jump to very large heights. We rely on this pretty heavily throughout the run.

• At 54:55, the LAW is a powerful rocket launcher that is intended to be a single-use consumable item. However, if you pass through a loading zone immediately after firing LAW, it stays in your inventory. This can be used repeatedly to get a ton of mileage out of a single LAW.

• At 1:12:00 is where the craziness begins. We fire a LAW to kill ourselves, sending us directly to the MJ12 prison level. Normally when the MJ12 prison level starts, it runs a script that restores our health, and removes all items from out inventory. By loading a glitchy save as soon as the level starts, we skip that script, allowing us to keep our inventory and remain at negative health. The reason we want negative health is an absolutely wild exploit called "Dead Man Walking". If you consume a small healing item (such as a candy bar) while at negative health, most enemies will think you are dead, and ignore you. This allows us to run straight past hordes of enemies that would normally be a deadly threat. It is the single most important exploit in the entire run, and we rely on it pretty heavily for the rest of the game. Without it, I highly doubt that a blindfolded run would be possible.

Taking a look at all kinds of voreball-tricks in Quake. From the useful to the absurd!

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/13618989

Vanilla Fixer: automatically applies compatibility fixes without changing the game at all.

Zero Rando mode: features many quality of life improvements and bug fixes. Based on Deus Ex Randomizer but without the randomization.

Randomizer Lite mode: keeps the randomization subtle, without moving anything or breaking immersion. Similarly there is a Randomizer Medium mode which enables a bunch more randomization features without getting too crazy.

All with good Steam Deck support!

Lots of things not shown in this video because I tried to keep it under 3 minutes. Features such as the integrated bingo board, support for Crowd Control, brightness boost adjustment, and looting improvements, which are all available options even in Zero Rando mode!

Vanilla Fixer: automatically applies compatibility fixes without changing the game at all.

Zero Rando mode: features many quality of life improvements and bug fixes. Based on Deus Ex Randomizer but without the randomization.

Randomizer Lite mode: keeps the randomization subtle, without moving anything or breaking immersion. Similarly there is a Randomizer Medium mode which enables a bunch more randomization features without getting too crazy.

All with good Steam Deck support!

Lots of things not shown in this video because I tried to keep it under 3 minutes. Features such as the integrated bingo board, support for Crowd Control, brightness boost adjustment, and looting improvements, which are all available options even in Zero Rando mode!

Download DXRandoInstaller.exe in the Assets section under the changelog or download from Mods4Ever.com. It is safe to update in the middle of a playthrough.

Use vanilla (optionally with Lay D Denton) to get all of the Randomizer's features, best QoL improvements, and the most polished experience. Our installer has an option to install Lay D Denton for you automatically.

Trailers

See the full README here. Also check out our Discord and Mods4Ever.com

Major Changes

• Simplified barrels to combine multiple variants that did the same thing. Also added optional new textures to make it even clearer (look in the Rando menu).
• Weapons that fall out of enemy hands due to damage now have ammo
• M14 Silo: Howard radio room closer to window, and added computer in machine shop
• Added option to automatically put away in-hand items when trying to pick up decorations
• Nerfed automatic power recirculator slightly
• Gas colliding with enemies is now more consistent
• You now start with 6575 skill points, and Zero Rando defaults to Trained pistol with 5000 points remaining like vanilla does (except without the exploit/bug with untraining pistol)
• More goal locations mutual exclusions, to reduce the difference between best seed and worst seed for each mission
  • M02 subway vents start and subway ambrosia because of easy skill points
  • M02 warehouse alley generator and sewer jock, this combo was too easy
  • M08 the 2 bar locations, bar is still the best place to check but now you can't get both Harley and Vinny in the bar at the same time
  • M12 starting front gate and exiting at front gate, because that's too much walking back and forth, also slightly moved front gate start forwards where Tong normally is

Minor Changes

(SHIN aka Ragnarok)

watch on Afreeca: https://bj.afreecatv.com/gslenglish

watch on Youtube (restricted): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntdhrCtlcDw

Liquipedia https://liquipedia.net/starcraft2/Global_StarCraft_II_League/2024/Season_2#Group_Stage_1

Same time every Thursday.

TL discussion thread https://tl.net/forum/sc2-tournaments/624855-gsl-2024-code-sseason-2-group-a

The highest prize pool ever for an SC2 tournament

Liquipedia here https://liquipedia.net/starcraft2/Esports_World_Cup/2024

https://gamesdonequick.com/games

"Remember, there is a second submission period, where Games Done Quick will be accepting games released after February 14th. The second submission period is open from May 18th - 25th."

"The draft schedule will be released on May 8th!"

The event will take place June 30th - July 6th in Minneapolis, MN

https://liquipedia.net/starcraft2/World_Team_League/2024/Summer

https://www.scboy.cc/?thread-631531.htm