Diagonal faster than straight
by Luc Jordan · in Marble Blast · 12/23/2002 (5:50 am) · 17 replies
I was doing some tests on the 2nd level.
If you hold down 'W' to go straight, you will land on the bottom of the ramp, miss the upturned lip, and fall to the bottom.
Now hold down 'W' + 'A', and angle the camera 45 degrees to aim the ball straight.
You will bounce off of the lip of the ramp.
This means that, for whatever reason, you go faster if you hold down forward+sideways than just plain forward.
Sorry if I'm pissing in the communal Cheerios here; I've just tried that out in every game since Thief, where you could use that tactic to outrun your own fire arrows if you just tapped the fire button. :)
If you hold down 'W' to go straight, you will land on the bottom of the ramp, miss the upturned lip, and fall to the bottom.
Now hold down 'W' + 'A', and angle the camera 45 degrees to aim the ball straight.
You will bounce off of the lip of the ramp.
This means that, for whatever reason, you go faster if you hold down forward+sideways than just plain forward.
Sorry if I'm pissing in the communal Cheerios here; I've just tried that out in every game since Thief, where you could use that tactic to outrun your own fire arrows if you just tapped the fire button. :)
About the author
#2
Simply clamping the marble's X/Y velocity at the end of the physics calculations should correct this (if, in fact, it's not intentional).
12/23/2002 (10:17 am)
The reason's pretty simple, actually, if I'm understanding you correctly. The marble's given a velocity forward and to the side of equal magnitude. However, the velocity isn't clamped in all directions, just on the axes. If you press forward + right, you end up getting a velocity of sqrt(2) at a 45 degree angle.Simply clamping the marble's X/Y velocity at the end of the physics calculations should correct this (if, in fact, it's not intentional).
#3
Every time I lower that number, I feel SO satisfied.
I think it's probably because of the way this game is set up -- it feels much more precise than a racing game for some reason, and thus every time you think of some new way to shave off that tiny extra bit of time, you feel like you've accomplished something, like you figured it out.
I keep closin the demo because, you know, it's simple -- only three levels. No reason to open it back up again! You've finished it!
Then I think "hmmmm, I wonder if I could ramp up PAST the first jump powerup?" and then I'm stuck for another half-hour. :)
12/23/2002 (11:08 am)
47.89 on 3rd demo level, didn't use any hourglasses.Every time I lower that number, I feel SO satisfied.
I think it's probably because of the way this game is set up -- it feels much more precise than a racing game for some reason, and thus every time you think of some new way to shave off that tiny extra bit of time, you feel like you've accomplished something, like you figured it out.
I keep closin the demo because, you know, it's simple -- only three levels. No reason to open it back up again! You've finished it!
Then I think "hmmmm, I wonder if I could ramp up PAST the first jump powerup?" and then I'm stuck for another half-hour. :)
#4
Right after the chunk of track with the holes in it, where the speed powerup is, you can use that ramp to land on the section of track above the SuperJump powerup. That cuts an easy couple of seconds off, again with no hourglass grabbing! I don't have a route for that yet.
This feels a lot like practicing cap routes for a new map in Tribes 1. :) Not that the feel is the same, but it seems like it works the same idea muscles . . .
12/23/2002 (1:08 pm)
45.48Right after the chunk of track with the holes in it, where the speed powerup is, you can use that ramp to land on the section of track above the SuperJump powerup. That cuts an easy couple of seconds off, again with no hourglass grabbing! I don't have a route for that yet.
This feels a lot like practicing cap routes for a new map in Tribes 1. :) Not that the feel is the same, but it seems like it works the same idea muscles . . .
#5
12/23/2002 (1:25 pm)
Oh hell yes, my VISA Check Card just came in the mail. I activated it by phone about 1 minute ago. I will soon be revelling in the sweet marbly (marbley? marbelly?) goodness of Marble Blast!!!
#6
12/23/2002 (1:27 pm)
At the beginning you can go as fast as you can, jump the gap in the first turn, spin the camera around facing up the ramp (hold forward the entire time)..if you timing is right it looks like it shaves off time..but Im not sure.
#7
I have 4 or 5 *great* ways of beating the second level, though.
For instance, using the diagonal movement, you can grab the gyrocopter and you can actually (without USING the gyro) jump back across to the ramp, and by spin-jumping diagonally you can climb back up the ramp to the start point. From there you can use the gyrocopter to fly all the way to the speed powerup, which you can grab without touching the ground. You then use the speed JUST as the gyro is running out and you start to fall, and if you aim good -- ZING, right to the end!
57% done downloading! Come on baby!
12/23/2002 (1:33 pm)
My best time on the first level is 6.57 seconds. I haven't spent much time on that one, though.I have 4 or 5 *great* ways of beating the second level, though.
For instance, using the diagonal movement, you can grab the gyrocopter and you can actually (without USING the gyro) jump back across to the ramp, and by spin-jumping diagonally you can climb back up the ramp to the start point. From there you can use the gyrocopter to fly all the way to the speed powerup, which you can grab without touching the ground. You then use the speed JUST as the gyro is running out and you start to fall, and if you aim good -- ZING, right to the end!
57% done downloading! Come on baby!
#8
12/23/2002 (1:34 pm)
Oh, btw, a nice and fun variation of gyro-ing all the way to the end of the level is to gyro to the 2nd (vertically) SuperJump and use it instantly (combined with gyro). It should take only minor tweaking to land in the 'end zone' in under 12 seconds.
#9
Given the MASSIVE amount of time I've spent as a much younger kid designing levels for freeware 'Kye' clones, I know I am quickly going to become one of this games biggest fans.
Just from the demo, I can tell that THIS is the game that I've been looking for, that puts something NEW out there and makes gaming fun again. I really hope this doesn't keep me from going to Afton Alps over Christmas, but if I haven't beat it by then I'll probably stay home. :) Besides my ankle really isn't healed up good enough for snowboarding anyways. :P
OK ENOUGH TALK I GET TO PLAY THE GAME WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!
12/23/2002 (1:39 pm)
DONE DOWNLOADING.Given the MASSIVE amount of time I've spent as a much younger kid designing levels for freeware 'Kye' clones, I know I am quickly going to become one of this games biggest fans.
Just from the demo, I can tell that THIS is the game that I've been looking for, that puts something NEW out there and makes gaming fun again. I really hope this doesn't keep me from going to Afton Alps over Christmas, but if I haven't beat it by then I'll probably stay home. :) Besides my ankle really isn't healed up good enough for snowboarding anyways. :P
OK ENOUGH TALK I GET TO PLAY THE GAME WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!
#10
Level 1: 5.47 - via a fluke that I doubt I could reproduce
Level 2: 25.00 even
Level 3: 45.68 - and I think I could squeeze this down a little bit if I can snag all the hourglasses.
This is a blast... will be checking out the retail version soon :)
12/24/2002 (5:21 pm)
Best times so far in the demo:Level 1: 5.47 - via a fluke that I doubt I could reproduce
Level 2: 25.00 even
Level 3: 45.68 - and I think I could squeeze this down a little bit if I can snag all the hourglasses.
This is a blast... will be checking out the retail version soon :)
#11
12/24/2002 (5:36 pm)
The way I got the second level is to jump to the second platform from the beginning..right when you grab the gyro immediately turn it on and jump towards the final platform..(its important you turn it on before jumping otherwise you dont get the lift needed) holding up or down in the air and you can fly right into the sweet spot... thats how I got my under 12 second score. 
#12
10.51 - *Hint* Use the method Tim used above and try to decrease that.
Woohoo New best time: 10.46
12/25/2002 (5:35 am)
Level 2 in the Demo10.51 - *Hint* Use the method Tim used above and try to decrease that.
Woohoo New best time: 10.46
#14
12/26/2002 (7:14 pm)
You little bastard. :) Now I have to play again.
#15
Remember that beginner level where you have to pick up the hourglass to keep your time under five seconds?
I DIDN'T HAVE TO USE THE HOURGLASS.
I think that's a good benchmark to go by to see if you're fully exploiting the abilities of jumping and diagonal movement to squeeze the most speed out of your marble. If you can do it in under 5 seconds withoutusing the hourglass, you've got it.
12/26/2002 (8:18 pm)
Hah!Remember that beginner level where you have to pick up the hourglass to keep your time under five seconds?
I DIDN'T HAVE TO USE THE HOURGLASS.
I think that's a good benchmark to go by to see if you're fully exploiting the abilities of jumping and diagonal movement to squeeze the most speed out of your marble. If you can do it in under 5 seconds withoutusing the hourglass, you've got it.
#16
09/17/2006 (10:11 am)
Yes, but to get gold, you need the hourglass.
#17
09/17/2006 (12:13 pm)
Sorry for bumping topic. 
Torque Owner Luc Jordan
50.01 seconds on the 3rd level in demo!