Home Action Replay Page - Rules and Information- List of current
acceptable emulators - Regulation Play Rules
for all systems - Game rankings and
leaderboard calculation - Other important
HARP rules - HARP Jobs and it's
hierarchy - Current Staff -
Some good
etiquette that should be followed - Rules for
confirmers - Rules for
editors - Rules regarding
qualified emulators - Rules regarding
difficulty levels - Questions you might have
asked (Or an FAQ... except nobody's asked a question yet :) ) -
Home Action Replay
Links
List of currently acceptable emulators
System |
Name/ Homepage |
OS's / Download |
Comments |
Atari 2600/5200/7800 Amstrad CPC Commodore 64 Bally
Astrocade |
MESS |
Windows Linux Mac OS |
Because of the insane updating schedule of this software, use
the line in the first column. Although not required, it's a good
idea to claim the correct version of MESS you used to make the
recording in your descriptions. |
NES |
FCE Ultra |
Windows
0.98.12 Windows
0.98.15 |
The right link is a special movie version, programmed by Blip of
NESVideos. 0.98.12 is used for some NES entries here, but use of
this version is now discouraged. |
NES |
Famtasia 5.10 |
Windows |
This version uses the default checkboxes of Bisqwit's CGI patching
script of downloading improvements to Famtasia. |
SNES |
Snes9x Version 1.43+
improvement 7 |
Windows
| This is Nitsuja's improved version of Version 1.43, fixing some
of the playback bugs that were discovered. It's just as recommended
as the original version 1.43. |
SNES |
Snes9x Version 1.43 |
Windows Linux Mac
OS Solaris |
This is the one of two SNES9X versions that supports movie
recordings, and is highly suggested because of one, the hard disk
space used when zipped is much better than ZSNES, and two, the
higher convenience of determining the length of each
recording. |
SNES |
Snes9x Version 1.43 WIP
1 |
Windows Linux |
Old SNES9X version that some recordings use. NO LONGER ALLOWED
FOR COMPETITION AT HARP. |
SNES |
ZSNES 1.42 |
Windows DOS Linux |
Included as some people are more comfortable with this emulator
instead. |
Genesis |
Gens 2.12 |
Windows
| This uses Blip/Jyzero's of NESVideos specialized movie
variation, version 9f, of Gens. |
Genesis |
Gens Plus!
0.0.3.39 |
Windows
| This is Rodrigo Cardoso's rendition of Gens's recording feature.
Since it does not keep track of the length of the recording, this
version is not recommended, but is allowed for competition. |
GB/GBC |
Visual Boy Advance 1.7.2 -
re-recording version 10 |
Windows DLLs
| This is a re-recording version programmed by Nitsuja of
NESVideos. Because it keeps track of the length of the recording,
and the fact that this will record many games that the original
version did not, this version is recommended. Remember, you're not
allowed to use save states during your recording. :) One more
thing... this version requires certain DLLs, which is right below
the Windows link. |
GB/GBC |
Visual Boy Advance 1.7.2 |
Windows
| This is the original Visual Boy Advance... since it records
gameboy games, it is allowed for HARP competition, but is not
recommended for the reasons above. |
N64 |
Mupen 64 |
Windows |
This version is a version 8 re-recording program programmed by
Nitsuja of NESVideos. |
Sinclair ZX Spectrum |
RealSpectrum/RealSpectrum32 |
DOS/Windows
| Download link is to their page due to the many different types
of downloads. The windows version is a bit buggy to me, but I've
heard some people can get it working, so it's here. |
Sinclair ZX Spectrum |
Spectaculator |
Windows
| Spectaculator 6.25 is shareware, and can be downloaded via the
left link. The right link is to Spectaculator 5.3, which is
freeware. Thanks to Johathan Needle for allowing this as
freeware. |
SNES emulators only: Be forewarned, some games only require them to
be recorded without sound on EITHER emulator. With SNES9X, it's possible
to record with volume envelope height reading turned off. I will attempt
to figure out which games are affected as the site progresses. Keep an eye
out on the message
board.
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Regulation Play Rules for all systems
- The objective of regulation play is to reenact an arcade feel for all
games played. - Therefore, use of autofire, slowdown, and/or save
states are illegal. - Pausing is permitted, because you can pause on a
home system, but only through the emulator, not through the game. We don't
want to see the word "Pause" on the screen for 3 minutes while you go to
the bathroom. :) - You may not use passwords. All games must start from
the 1st level. - We also don't want to be bored, so "leeching" is not
permitted. In other words, you can't stay in the same area and score
points forever. However, you are not leeching if you are netting a
significant loss in number of lives. If you are netting a gain of lives,
or a small loss of lives, even if extra lives stop at a point, you are
leeching. - Now, with all of this in mind, you're on your honor. We
don't have competition emulators, so you probably could cheat and get away
with it most of the time. (save the leeching, of course) - However,
should a competition emulator be released, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DELETE ALL
SCORES FOR GAMES THEY AFFECT. We can also ask the top scorers to produce a
reasonable high score in a competition emulator to prove the high score
claimed from before. - When a competition emulator is released, all
future recordings must use these emulators. - Defn of a competition
emulator: An emulator that disables save states, slowdowns, and autofires.
Can also secure the information to prevent such cheating. - GAMES THAT
ALLOW YOU TO SAVE TO BATTERY: If a game belongs in this category, you do
NOT have to put it all in one recording. Instead, you may record up to
your playing time / 1 hour times, rounded down. EXAMPLE: If you played a
game for 13.5 hours, you're allowed up to 13.5/1 rounded down = 13
separate recording files. You MUST pick up the game right where it left
off in the previous recording, or it's an automatic disqualification. -
GAMES THAT DO NOT ALLOW YOU TO SAVE TO BATTERY: To ensure the exact
console experience, you MUST put a recording on one file and one file
only. - AVIs, MPEGs, and similar media are prohibited... mostly because
I have a hard disk space limit. :) - Finally, You MUST ZIP ALL
recordings. We'll probably let it slide early in the development of this
site... but later on we may disqualify the recording.
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Game rankings and leaderboard calculation
- If there is scoring, then the most points will be ranked first. -
If there isn't, usually completing the most stages (or completing the
game) in the least time will be ranked first. - Sports games will be
the most common where the number of stages (or victories) in the biggest
point differential will be ranked first. - All recordings will be
assessed a leaderboard value. Leaderboards can be arranged by the user in
a variety of ways, so each user can decide who's the best overall player.
1st place scores 20 points, 2nd place scores 10 points, 3rd place gets 6,
4th gets 4, 5th gets 2, and 6th OR WORSE gets 1 point. This leaderboard
system is intended to encourage participation, but REALLY rewards 1st
place recordings.
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Other important HARP rules
- If a score is disqualified by an editor for any reason, the affected
player has 45 days to contest the decision. If the player does not contest
the decision, the recording will be subject to deletion from the
database. - THE COMMON SENSE RULE: HARP was designed to have as little
politics as possible. Therefore, high-ranking officers, including editors
and system leaders, should use common sense in interpreting the rules.
Examples: If a recording uses an emulator that's not supposed to be used,
consider letting the infraction slide once or twice unless you have a darn
good reason. If somebody uses the wrong game, but it plays back on that
different game, then you SHOULD create a new game entry (if needed) and
move the recording there, NOT disqualify the recording. - In addition,
high-ranking officers should consider having other people take the leader
position for various sections at HARP, ESPECIALLY in tournaments.
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HARP Jobs and it's hierarchy
- Confirmers watch recordings and makes sure the recording plays back
to the claimed score. Almost anybody can become a confirmer if said person
wants to. You pretty much have to be screwed up to be denied access. :)
Confirmers report to editors, system leaders, SuperEditors, and the
founder. - Editors are also confirmers... but they also enforce the
rules at HARP, editing scores and disqualify recordings for various rule
violations. Editors report to the system leader or the SuperEditors. -
System leaders usually know their stuff about a particular system. They
usually wind up editors for that system as well. System leaders report to
the founder. - SuperEditors are highly active players at HARP. They are
just like Editors, except they can edit score for ANY system or tournament
available at HARP. They usually have been editors for a system or two or
three before reaching this step. SuperEditors report to the founder as
well.
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Current Staff
Confirmers: All
systems: Metrackle Frankie Sephiro499 Barthax Mahlemiut DRN DarkestOfNights Skito ZX
Spectrum: Eyp Cosmos2 Nintendo Entertainment
System: Roncli Editors: Speccy
Tour 2005: Eyp Javian Alex_Lux System
Leaders: (also Editors and Confirmers) Amstrad CPC:
Mahlemiut Atari 2600: Skito Bally Computer System:
Barthax Nintendo Entertainment System: Metrackle ZX
Spectrum: Frankie SuperEditors: None
yet! Other helpers: The Master Of The
Screenshot: Skito Founder: Gameboy9
If you're not listed here and you should be, please let Gameboy9 know.
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Some good etiquette that should be followed
- Please start your recording from reset, if possible. This usually
saves disk space because you don't have to save a state in addition to the
recording. - Please start your game as soon as possible. Reason being
is because the length of your recording that's recorded on HARP is not the
same as the recorded time that might be claimed on the emulator. Starting
the game as soon as possible prevents a timing error. See questions
below. - For the same reason, please end your recording as soon as
possible. Basically, when you complete the game, stop your recording, THEN
enjoy the ending. This is more important than the previous item because I
have to anticipate the "movie ended" line from the emulator, which may
result in a timing error if I miss it. And I don't want to play the whole
movie again, especially if it's a Role Playing Game.
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Rules for confirmers
- CARDINAL RULE: With each recording, play it back IN IT'S ENTIRETY. If
it plays back in it's entirety, then claim a CONFIRMATION by clicking the
(Un-)confirm link next to the appropriate recording, unless there's a
problem in the rules below. If it does NOT play back in it's entirety,
claim an UNCONFIRMATION and comment what the problem is. Maybe you can't
see what the score was or the playback un-syncs itself, or some other
problem might arise. - If it's a scoring game, make sure the score is
completely accurate with no margin of error. If there is a margin of
error, claim an UNCONFIRMATION, and comment what the real score is. An
editor will change the score, then it will be your RESPONSIBILITY to
change it to a CONFIRMATION, provided it followed the CARDINAL RULE. -
If the game is a least time wins game, make sure the score is accurate
with a little margin of error. If there is a margin of error of seconds,
claim a CONFIRMATION. If there is a margin of error of minutes (or some 20
seconds or more in short games), claim an UNCONFIRMATION, and comment what
the time should be. An editor will change the time, then it will be your
RESPONSIBILITY to change it to a CONFIRMATION, provided it followed the
CARDINAL RULE. - If unnecessary fields are not filled in, don't worry
about it, it's an editors responsibility to fill them in. But if you want
to help, keep the CONFIRMATION, and comment what the unnecessary fields
should be, and an editor will take care of it.
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Rules for editors
- CARDINAL RULE: ALWAYS be fair and honest. I don't care if your worst
enemy or your best friend is playing, you must be fair in your decisions
at all times. I cannot stress that enough. - An editor is also a
confirmer, and are subject to those rules. - If there is a timing
correction of minute(small) realms, don't edit the recording. If there are
errors in scoring and/or stages claimed, please correct them. - If
there is a really close time competition (a matter of a few seconds),
Gameboy9 will carefully review the timing and make a final decision. -
EXCEPTION: If Gameboy9 is involved in the competition, he will bring in an
editor to make a more fair decision. - Some players may not claim things
that are unnecessary for submission. (Like time and stages completed in a
most points wins game) They are not to be penalized; it is YOUR
responsibility to fill in those values in as fair and as accurate as
possible.
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Rules regarding qualified emulators
- If an emulator supports recording input of a game and it plays back
correctly with MOST games, it will be supported. - The exception, at
least for now, is MESS. There usually will be an emulator that is superior
to MESS, so MESS won't be allowed for that system. MESS probably supports
recording for NES and SNES, for example, but FCEU, Famtasia, and SNES9x do
a much better job with recordings in those cases, so MESS isn't
allowed.
Rules regarding difficulty levels
- You may enter the options screen before the game to choose a
difficulty level. - You may play the game using ANY difficulty
level. - However, the harder the game is, the more points you get on
the scoreboard. . If you play the easiest difficulty, you get no
bonus. . If you play the 2nd easiest difficulty, your score is
multiplied by 2. . If you play the 3rd easiest difficulty, your score
is multiplied by 3, and so forth. - EXCEPTION: If a game is programmed
to accommodate a higher score for a more difficult game, the game's rules
take effect.
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Questions you might have askedWhy is it taking a long
time to add these games to the site? It mostly has something to do
with how these games are added to the database. We have to categorize
them, (shooters, platforms, puzzles, etc.) so we have to load all the
games to figure out what type of game it is. We also have to see what type
of scoring system, if any, the game presents. Doesn't help that real life
gets in the way, either. How is the recording's game length
determined? The "clock" will start after the last button before a game
begins is pressed. The "clock" will stop after the last loss of life, or
when the game is completed. Why are you printing rules for
confirmers and editors? Because I feel that all players should know
about the expectations of those types of players.
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Home Action Replay Links
General
Bisqwit's tool-assisted
console game movies deserves a link here, as we use a number of the
pieces of software they use. It's also one of the best replay sites as
well... the difference between this site and theirs is that they strive
for the best theoretical time or score to complete a game via savestates
and the slowing down of an emulator, amongst other tools and strategies.
Sinclair ZX Spectrum
Frankie is currently creating an archive of ZX Spectrum games that can
be legally distributed. They also write how to create recordings for said
system, as well as list currently supported games on HARP. Click here to check out
this site.
*Somewhat* unrelated...
The Home Action Replay Page is actually based on the MAME Action Replay Page's (MARP)
model, and remains THE top replay page within the arcade emulation realm
with over thirty thousand(30,000) recordings. They also conduct various
competitions outside it's regulation realm, including decathlon-style
competitions, a knockout-style competition known as the MAME
Championships, two championships based on a week-by-week format, and a
MAME Olympiad, which MARP will host the 2nd of such in 2005.
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