Spectrum Computing

Miner Willy would be a great addition to a fighting game roster.

I don't think he would have any attacks at all though But pixel perfect collision against the enemies.

I recently reacquainted myself with Manic Miner after stumbling upon this brilliant emulator:
https://torinak.com/qaop/play/manicminer

I enjoyed figuring out the levels again.

Talking to my kids about it I realised that back in the day I used to speedrun Manic Miner without realising that speedruns were yet to be invented (!).

My Manic Miner speedruns used to be based on the highest score achieved at the end of each level (Not actually timed, which I've seen elsewhere on-line - on speedrun.com someone has completed Manic Miner in 13m 24s).
If a life is lost the value of any extra tokens collected is subtracted from the score to keep it accurate.

I ended up of course speedrunning Manic Miner again.
(My old speedrun scores are in the house somewhere (!) but I was unable to find them for comparison.)

Below are my speedrun scores for the first 5 levels. I'd be interested in hearing from any other 'sweats' as my kids call them who did/do similar:
Central Cavern 1724
Cold Store 3686
Menagerie 5581
Uranium Workings 7415
Eugene 8970

mmspeedrun wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 3:39 pm Central Cavern 1724

That's very impressive. I managed what felt like an unbeatable run and got 1721, so where you managed the extra 3 from I don't know! I managed to shave quite a bit more off the first half come get tantalisingly close to getting back in front of the wind-up toy, but it's impossible, and so all the extra optimisations are immaterial - it just comes down to that final jump over the grass at the bottom...

There's been tons of Manic Miner mods, but one neat one would be a speed-run version that lets you attempt any level over and over and stores your times.

It's as you say, dropping down behind the wind-up toy as close as possible. V.tricky to get just right and then not jump off the end of the conveyor!
Memory said my old time was 1726 but I can't find my old times and could well be wrong.
I still remember the first time I cleared the grass without hitting the oncoming wind-up toy! Until then I thought it impossible.

Of the first 5 caverns, Menagerie is also tough to optimise.

I finished it with snapshots a decade ago. Some of the levels were pure evil!

mmspeedrun wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 3:39 pmCentral Cavern 1724
Cold Store 3686
Menagerie 5581
Uranium Workings 7415
Eugene 8970

Closest I can get on Central Cavern is 1712, I haven't yet mastered the timing when going behind the yellow baddie on the way to the exit.

But I have done Cold Room in 1972, so you might be able to shave off a bit of time there. (I ended up looking at some RZXs for each level, and was surprised by what was the quickest route on that level)

That's a great Cold Store you did there

I dug this up via Google:
https://jswmm.co.uk/topic/580-automated ... gh/page/7/
I think the clever chap has automated the optimisation of the Manic Miner levels.
Maybe this is your Cold Store route, one which I'd never considered (on page 1 of the thread).
Check out the Eugene route (!), again, I never gave it a thought.

I think I was set in my ways lol.

clebin wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:41 pm
There's been tons of Manic Miner mods, but one neat one would be a speed-run version that lets you attempt any level over and over and stores your times.

It's here:
https://jswmm.co.uk/topic/421-file-mani ... -challenge

Just had a quick go, in case anyone wants to compare scores with someone who isn't superhuman (MM finisher but not a speed runner)

I'm sure some of the routes I take are non-optimal, but they work for me.

Central Cavern - 1698
Cold Store - 3648
Menagerie - 5457
Uranium - 7274
Eugene's - 8925

[Edit] - Looking at other scores, I think I might have a crack at a >1700 Central Cavern at some point.

Lee P wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 2:15 pm But I have done Cold Room in 1972, so you might be able to shave off a bit of time there. (I ended up looking at some RZXs for each level, and was surprised by what was the quickest route on that level)

That is a tough start to the Cold Room! Took me a good while to get 1973.
To do that after a 1721/2/3/4 on Central Cavern would be pretty demanding lol

Morkin wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:24 pm Just had a quick go, in case anyone wants to compare scores with someone who isn't superhuman (MM finisher but not a speed runner)

I'm sure some of the routes I take are non-optimal, but they work for me.

Central Cavern - 1698
Cold Store - 3648
Menagerie - 5457
Uranium - 7274
Eugene's - 8925

[Edit] - Looking at other scores, I think I might have a crack at a >1700 Central Cavern at some point.

Good one
You've got a better route past Eugene than me.
Central Cavern 1724 will try your patience but one run will be perfect.

Yasss...!!!

mmspeedrun wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:43 pm Central Cavern 1724 will try your patience but one run will be perfect.

I've got no chance..!

Morkin wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:53 pm Yasss...!!!





I've got no chance..!

Great stuff
You're closing in on perfection.

mmspeedrun wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:38 pm It's here:
https://jswmm.co.uk/topic/421-file-mani ... -challenge

Well, whaddyaknow? Thanks!

Incidentally my Sunday chores have somehow now been relegated to Monday night...

[Edit]: Have quite enjoyed working out the route to take without looking it up/watching a speed run. Though it probably helps knowing roughly what the top scores are, so you know if you're 'probably' correct. Have to say the final dash for the exit is quite tense.

Morkin wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:51 pm
[Edit]: Have quite enjoyed working out the route to take without looking it up/watching a speed run. Though it probably helps knowing roughly what the top scores are, so you know if you're 'probably' correct. Have to say the final dash for the exit is quite tense.

You're getting closer, it's all about the distance you are behind the wind-up toy.
Do 1724 once and never again!

Agree re. not doing homework on speed runs.
I followed the fastest Cold Room route but it wasn't the same as doing it independently.
Also, it's one thing doing these runs one discrete level at a time but totally different to string them together in a proper game.

Re .the Cold Room.
I still find it baffling that the route I assumed everyone takes, which ends with a long plummet into the box/portal, isn't the fastest route. It's v.deceptive lol

Finally in the 1724 club! Only took me about 100 attempts.

Lee P wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:25 pm Finally in the 1724 club! Only took me about 100 attempts.

Bravo!

Lee P wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:25 pm Finally in the 1724 club! Only took me about 100 attempts.

I just joined the club too. See you in the "21st Cavern".

clebin wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:49 pm I just joined the club too. See you in the "21st Cavern".

Good job
Will wait to see if Morkin achieves perfection too.

mmspeedrun wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 2:34 pm That's a great Cold Store you did there

I dug this up via Google:
https://jswmm.co.uk/topic/580-automated ... gh/page/7/
I think the clever chap has automated the optimisation of the Manic Miner levels.
Maybe this is your Cold Store route, one which I'd never considered (on page 1 of the thread).
Check out the Eugene route (!), again, I never gave it a thought.

I think I was set in my ways lol.

Btw my kids tell me this is a TAS or tool-assisted speedrun.
It's even on wikipedia!

Lee P wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:25 pm Finally in the 1724 club!

clebin wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:49 pm I just joined the club too. See you in the "21st Cavern".

Bloody well done guys..! You've joined the Manic Elites..!

mmspeedrun wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:56 pm Will wait to see if Morkin achieves perfection too.

Might be a while - it's so difficult

The most important thing is that I get there before @R-Tape, after the ribbing I got for being late to the MM completionist party

Very good - i stand in awe of you good people who can do such things...

of course, if you want a real challenge then get to the end of Jumping Jack...

Robbeasy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 4:40 pm of course, if you want a real challenge then get to the end of Jumping Jack...

Can get to level 3.

We do have it relatively easily compared to some other versions where the Final Barrier is a full cavern (and quite difficult)