[yse]

This is just another one of my spur of the moment things that may or may not last. Maybe others will share their thoughts about things in similar topics, iono - this seems to me what this forum seems to be about.

(Oh, and for everyone's sake I'll be steering clear of girl troubles, CF's or otherwise. c:)

To start things off, for the last couple of weeks I've really been evaluating my position at this here Sonic Center. After all, I have my HSC in just 6-7 months now, and that's mighty scary. Especially since I'll only just be 17, and most people in the state will be 18 when they sit these exams. :x

I had some wonderful "retirement" (because I don't see myself leaving for good any time in the forseeable future) plans set up too. My first choice was to take first place in SA2B and then hang up the controller - but SS and RPG stepped up their rivalry another gear putting that one out of reach. So I suppose I'll go without having held the most prestigious game on the site.

As you all well know, I've been setting myself up to record some Sonic videos for SDA - that may well be my last act as an active TSCer. (Not that it's only Sonic games on my list, I have a Banjo-Tooie variant run, along with Golden Sun and possibly Donkey Kong Land 2 if I ever get a copy of that again.)

Of course, no retirement is complete without the occasional comeback every week or so, so I'll always make myself available to accept any challenges that come my way, but I really think school should take more importance up until the HSC.

Oh also there's this girl at school that i like, i don't want to ask her out but i know it's love and its inevitable.

*shot for impersonating a TSSer*

*shot again for referencing girl troubles in this forum*

[Spinballwizard]

*Shoots you again for good measure*

Way to completely switch gears from the beginning of the post to the end.

Also I call this "retirement" lasts... two months tops. >_>

[Bilan]

Well mine lasted what? 3 days? X)  Meh, I have reasons for that...

[sonicam]

Mine hasn't lasted long either, but I have been playing considerably less and that's an accomplishment. :o

[Spinballwizard]

I tell you, moderation's the key. >_>

Though I can't say anything about that right now because I am obsessed. >_>

(This is going to turn Wikkity-like VERY soon I think.)

Also, HSC=? (Not being an Aussie = wtf what does this mean)

[yse]

HSC is our end of school exams. Not sure what they call it in the States, is it SAT or something like that? (Also, until I explained it to Andy he didn't even know what it meant - it's completely different between states.)

Well mine lasted what? 3 days? X) Meh, I have reasons for that...

Yarr. I have completely different circumstances which will probably see me return to full competition after about two weeks, but they're reasons nonetheless.

Like I said, I'm not even intending to quit for good - just cut down on my Sonic playing a little, like sonicam has.

[Spinballwizard]

Yeah, SATs, ACTs... there may be other regional ones. (SAT's more or less everywhere though. ACT's more midwest.) Only they're not really "end of school" so much as you usually take them Junior year of high school and they more or less determine what universities you could qualify for. And they're not that bad. Though I hardly remember what kinds of stuff I had. Been 3 good years since I took both of the ones I mentioned.

[douglas]

Mike retires, then takes my Sonic 1 championship >_>

You wait till next week when I'm not in the lab all day!

Also, best of luck with your exams, hope they go well :)

[yse]

Okay I'm back.

Whilst psuedo-writing a speech. Which I have to have ready for Friday. >_>

I tell you, procrastination is our curse. Many of us here are afflicted by it.

After said speech comes my exams. Now they're spread over two weeks, and I reckon I got a pretty good draw. I hope you'll agree.

Week 10
Monday: English
Tuesday: Physics
Wednesday: Maths Extension 2
Thursday: nothing
Friday: Chemistry

And after each day I'm out of the school by 11. Me likey.

Week 11
Monday: Maths Extension 1, Business Studies
and I'm done!

Now of course the school term finishes the day before Good Friday. That means I get three more days off than my brother, which will probably be spent on my SDA runs. :D

As for that... I still have levels which I need to practice up on, but I don't think I'll be doing any of that during exam period. >_>

That, of course, means douglas can have his Sonic 1 championship for now, unless I find something else I can improve significantly in a short amount of time.

And I'm done for now. I would do time attack blogs but I would have nothing to write about. (Expect that after the exams though.)

[Spinballwizard]

I tell you, procrastination is our curse. All of us here are afflicted by it.

[snapback]11191[/snapback]

Fixed.

And longer breaks than your bro are win. You thinking about trying the Leap of Faith for the Tails run, or playing it safe?

I wish I got out before Easter. :(

I would do time attack blogs but I would have nothing to write about. (Expect that after the exams though.)

[snapback]11191[/snapback]

Glad to see my idea is well-liked. :D

[Bilan]

I would do time attack blogs but I would have nothing to write about. (Expect that after the exams though.)

[snapback]11191[/snapback]

Glad to see my idea is well-liked. :D

[snapback]11213[/snapback]

Im contemplating stealing it too >_>

[yse]

Okay, said speech is done. Thank fucking goodness for that. X)

Later on in the day I actually got to some TAing. Sonic 3, because my brother had mounted a challenge there and I decided I'd be having none of that. Here goes:

Hydrocity 1
Tails: 1:02
Sonic: 1:08

Both small improvements (Sonic by three seconds, Tails four). However I am still not accustomed to Sprint's route for the level, and hence don't use it. I did, however, discover something quite cool when running as Sonic, in terms of a strategy I used. I would pick up invincibility, stand on a set of spikes and spindash. The fans would have a little effect, but I'd get a clean run right the way through to the water shield (which I refused to pick up as Insta-Shield is infinitely more effective on the boss).

Carnival Night 2
Tails: 2:43

It may be the record, but I believe there is plenty of time left in this level yet. I had runs up to four seconds faster than this one at the first Knuckles cutscene alone! Plus I missed a boss hit or two. :(

Launch Base 1
Sonic: 1:44

Again, far from perfect. I am still yet to make that jump straight across to the checkpoint - if I could I'd save five seconds and this would be easy. Ah well.

Also I highly recommend you all participate in this and smite SCD down. [EDIT: Adjusted to link to the second round of challenges.

</endblog>

[Bilan]

Im already participating and smiting them all. Wroar.

And since they dont go here ever, here's some stuff SDM told me over MSN that I dont think he wanted released <_<

All Green Emeralds=TA
Yellow=Ring collection
Pink=Not taking hits
Light Blue='Aquatic' theme
Red=Enemy bashing
White='Aerial theme'
Blue=I forget.

Also, they go up as [X] Chaos Emerald, [X] Super Emerald, [X] Master Emerald.

Oh, and the Green Master Emerald challenge will be to beat Sonic 2 in under 45 minutes.

Havah.

[yse]

Okay, my turn. (I call BS on the filter crap... I mean seriously.)

So I left yesterday and didn't return. I was at my dad's place, where he was having a housewarming party. (Apparently his third in the past year... given he only moved once I don't know how that works.)

So with any gathering of adults, naturally there's going to be a shitload of alcohol. Being the only minor in the house, I was offered plenty of alcohol throughout the night. (As you do.) Eventually I obliged.

Now for those who don't know, I haven't drunk any alcohol until last night. And let me tell you, it's not all it's cracked up to be. X) Comedy block the throat up option for the lose. :(

So I was up till like 2am, last to go to sleep. And I was all right this morning.

But on a side note, I missed the EH1 challenge. AGAIN. That's twice I've been out of the house on that night :(

Ah well. Who needs a negative time anyway?

Also no TA blogging for me because I have exams starting tomorrow. Which I haven't done any study for. Go me. :(

[yse]

Okay I lied.

Also double post, something SBW refuses to do. :(

After I got home from my English exam (thank goodness for that!) I settled down to some more TAing. Here goes:

Hydrocity 1
Sonic: 0:59
Tails: 0:51 (record by two seconds!)
Knuckles: 0:55 (shared record)

Well what do you know - I can match it with Sprint! My brother showed me how to do the boss quickly (something I never thought of - who'd have thought the boss didn't defend itself until it appeared on screen?) and I found a slight route adjustment with Tails/Knuckles to take the times to their current levels. For any other info you might need, watch the damn vid I put up - the first I got x264 to work for!

Launch Base 2
Sonic: 1:41
Tails: 1:47 (record by SEVEN SECONDS!)

Contrary to my opinion that gamersince93 had a hold on this level, I broke it open with Tails with one slight route adjustment, and better execution I suppose. The Sonic time isn't quite at the record level, but I just can't make that jump... :(

Physics exam tomorrow - I should go better on that one. Wish me luck. :o

[yse]

Triple post. Douches. D:

Okay so I've had half my exams now. I am quite happy with the way the last two in particular went, despite my not-perfect condition at the moment. I really should've told someone of authority so if my mark was crap I didn't need to accept it. Ah well.

As I have a day off tomorrow before my Chemistry exam on Friday, I figured I'd do a bit more TAing today. Here goes:

Marble Garden 1
Sonic: 1:29

Sprint has 1:20 with not one, but TWO insane jumps that I care not to make. So I took the tried and true path through the level and after plenty of ruined 1:30s, got this. Needless to say I was very happy with it, as my previous best before that was 1:37. Still one minor error on the boss, but eh.

Carnival Night 2
Sonic: 2:39
Tails: 2:42

Both these runs were very good. I had trouble getting to the Knuckles part before 30 seconds, I refused to accept anything that was 29+ at that point. The rest of the run is easy enough, except as Tails I had to stop for a couple of seconds because I was about to drown (with Sonic, I elected to take the water shield just before the water area instead of try and get 35 rings for one).

Towards the end of my Sonic run, I figured I was about on par with SM's time, and probably entered the boss room a couple of seconds behind. I picked up a lightning shield from the last checkpoint for the boss, and I got all of two hits with it. XD Hence the 12 second variance.

Ice Cap 2
Sonic: 1:01
Tails: 1:05

The Sonic run involved holding onto a lightning shield from act 1, as the one at the start of the level takes too long to stop for. Tails doesn't need it but could probably use it - I might have a go at this using a lightning shield later.

Anyhow, with Sonic I couldn't make the huge jump over the level for the life of me, so I changed tactics a little and took a safer but more reliable path. Tails, on the other hand, is severely disadvantaged at the boss, as he can't land any hits before Robotnik lowers the platform (at least not without some seriously awesome flying skills).

S3&K full run
Sonic: coming soon?

[Spinballwizard]

Triple post. Douches. D:

[snapback]11416[/snapback]

You want me to feel guilty don't you. :(

...douche.

S3&K full run
Sonic: coming soon?

[snapback]11416[/snapback]

:O

Also lol at avatar.

[yse]

You want me to feel guilty don't you. :(

...douche.

You know what? Yes. Yes I do. Douche.

My blog today consists of: <3 days off. =D

Also this:

Hydrocity 2
Sonic: 1:46

Just something I did because I remembered a few of my efforts on full game runs where I'd come close to my previous time. And yes, that is from an act 1 start. Hence I went to beat this time, and did so in only five minutes. Nothing special.

Carnival Night 1
Sonic: 0:51

This was unexpected, I set it during my latest full run attempt, and it was a very good run except for one tiny mistake. However, look at what happened as I made the descent into act 2. X)

Launch Base 2
Knuckles: 2:29

Spent most of my TA time today on this one. It's a damn impressive time, to say the least, with the vid to back it up. Unfortunately I was a little unlucky towards the end of the run, but some of the new tricks I've found since I landed 2:39 (which, at the time, was really good) look pretty awesome. Watch out for what happens when I beat the water up to the top of the level. :)

[yse]

I return. :o

Firstly my exams are over and I am on holidays. =D Most importantly this means I can record for SDA - as soon as I go out and get some tapes. I should ask them about the BT run too... I found a couple more optimisations for that today.

Sonic 2 with Knuckles is not going too well, I haven't got a run past Casino Night 1. On that occasion I got stuck in a wall. :x

[yse]

I return to my blog after a long period of inactivity. :o

Holidays are good. I went to see a few friends who I haven't seen for a while (in one case, over a year...). About bloody time, I say.

Heh, we saw Scary Movie 4... that's bloody funny, but the ending ruins it for mine. :(

Catching up with my gaming buddies on Friday for The Gathering Version Eight. Essentially, we get together and play games all day. :D For the first time in a year and a half, I'm the reigning SSBM champion, so I'll be up against it. My main competitor, David (anotherbean on TSC), thinks he's a pro, but I'll show him.

And now for TAing. Screw retirement, eh?

Hill Top 1
Sonic: 0:45

You'd never believe it, but Rolken was the catalyst for this one. He discovered that if you stood on a falling platform while invincible, and that platform happened to fall through lava, then you would stay on the platform and fall through the lava! This, of course, led to me looking to exploit it in as many ways as possible (there was only one that I could see...), and TA the levels in question. In this case, I gained all of three seconds. How useful. X)

And for those of you wondering about my SDA speedruns: Vectorman 2 is still in progress, as I can't beat the game without a death to save my life (no pun intended).

Sonic Mega Collection is still hard as heck to find, but I'm hoping someone at the Gathering has it and will bring it on Friday. That'd give me three days to get the runs done. I reckon I can do that.

Until next time, game on!

[yse]

Okay... this is going to be a rather emotional post...

Spring Yard 3
Sonic: 1:19

Just quickly revised the route and got this. Yay.

Labyrinth 1
Sonic: 0:54

Same as before, but a little more frustrating. Unfortunately, it just ticked over to 54...

Anyhow, here goes. I've been planning this for a while... and this is it. This is my farewell from TAing...

...for the next six months. I couldn't stay away forever. X)

Anyhow, school's only going to get more and more hectic, and all I'm doing by TAing is putting off the important stuff. As such, I've decided to take my leave the only way I know how - by pwning. I'm now joint holder of Sonic 1, I believe.

But don't fret, you haven't seen the last of me! I'll still be around the forum and chat, calling BS as much as I ever did. But for now, the controller can be considered "hung up."

Until next time,

~mike89

Game on!

[Rolken]

:o

[yse]

Oh, forgot to mention, that all the thoughts in my first post apply. (re: weekly comebacks, possible TSC tournament? etc.)

Actually, if this TSC tournament were ever to happen, I probably wouldn't participate. Give you all a chance. >_>

[yse]

A couple of random thoughts:

• Two weeks on from my "retirement", I haven't felt any desire to come back, despite my records being pwned left right and centre. I wonder if this is a good or a bad thing...
• I'll be out for the weekend, I'm at another party. Suddenly I'm popular... I don't understand this at all. >_>
• TSC is still the best community ever. Never have I come across a group of such motivated and knowledgable (about TSC's subject matter and otherwise) individuals.

That is all.

[yse]

Right then. I put this in place to give you guys an idea of where I was going, and, well, I've not done much of that lately. So here goes, a big one. :o

Put simply, gaming doesn't give me the excitement it used to. Much of this stems from my incessant need to time attack every game I play, whether I've played it 200 times or just twice. As much as I've made my name for it in the past three years, I can't keep going - my real life has suffered too much.

Basically my plans are to get through the HSC as best I can, then do all my backlogged speedruns. After that... I really don't know. I don't think gaming will hold any place in my life after all that is done. It'll be time to move on.

So, the next six months is about imparting my knowledge onto the next generation. I intend to vid any level that isn't well covered at the moment, for Sonic 1-K at least.

The most important thing, though, is that this community is still the best ever, and you in no way have adversely affected my decision. (In fact, you guys probably kept me around longer than was healthy.) Particularly RPG and Aitamen, who I've felt I can talk freely to like a real friend (which is more than I can say for a lot of people I know...).

If there really is a TSC Convention, I'll still be the first one there.

And if there's not, the three of us should still meet up sometime and kick some ass.

Game on, brothers.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Something else I feel I should address. Now that I am firm in my future direction, and that it does not involve mindlessly playing the same level over and over (which is almost a relief), I'll be doing a series of tributes to the characters in the community who I've really gotten to know and admire over the past three years. I won't lock myself into a time frame for each one, because I'll never stick to it.

First on my list, someone who has been much overlooked by myself and many others in the past, but is a very important member of the community all the same, CosmicFalcon.

CF isn't the best gamer here at TSC, but then not many people are. What I think we are oblivious to at TSC is just how bad some people are. Most of TSC is probably the top <5% of gamers as a whole, so I think CF should get more credit than he does. A silver (and very nearly gold) in the last SO is proof enough of that.

That aside, I think its fair to say that CF and I haven't really got along. I don't know why, because we seem similar in a lot of ways, but we seem to clash a lot. I'd just like to take this opportunity to say I've got a lot of respect for who CF is, and that I'd hope the reverse was true as well.

[Taillow]

Particularly RPG and Aitamen

Not me?  I'm hurt...  But seriously, you're leaving?  We'll miss ya, even if you will be here for the rest of the year at the least.

Oh, and if that latent Advance 3 path memory comes back to ya, feel free to vid those.  Or better, let me know and I can vid those.  I should vid what I know for that matter...

And finally, HSC?  What does that stand for?

[Buizel]

Particularly RPG and Aitamen

Not me?  I'm hurt...

You're not the only one. D:

Then again, mike doesn't like me anyway, so what am I talking about? >_>

And finally, HSC?  What does that stand for?

HSC is our end of school exams. Not sure what they call it in the States, is it SAT or something like that?

Pay attention, Quartz! >_>

:o

Nice post, Rolken. o:

...okay, I'm done...for now. >_>;

[Bilan]

He's not leaving he just wont be gaming much/at all anymore, or atleast thats the vibe Im getting (And also hoping is right).

As for the big speeches, I guess Im gonna have to write you one up now aren't I mike? Damn you for like, ruining my schedule or something >_>

Jokes aside, I really have no idea where to begin, so I guess Ill need some time to put across exactly what, and everything that I have to/need to say, so on the bright side I have 6 weeks holiday soon, 5 of those I wont be seeing Charlie :( so if I dont start writing something soon, I will then, and if I dont then, spam me until I do, this is one thing I dont intend to just procrastinate continually.

If what I assumed was wrong and you truly are leaving us mike, then all I can say is the community as a whole, but possibly myself more than anyone here alone, are gonna miss you bro.

Keep on rockin'~

[Spinballwizard]

If there really is a TSC Convention, I'll still be the first one there.

And if there's not, the three of us should still meet up sometime and kick some ass.

I call BS.

The host would be the first one there. Whoever it is. (Based on fiction, it'd be Rolken and flyby. And SM would be there before everybody.)

And you better stick around in #soniccenter. Both of them. >_>
You're like a staple.

*has nothing else to say really*

[magnum12]

I too hope that RPG's right. It just won't feel right here at TSC without the leadership of one of TSC's original members.