Knuckle Cracker

The theme for this week's tournament is based on the fight scene sound effect names from the 60's TV Batman show. Was only going to do 1 map with experimentals, especially after last week's experimental-athon, but the 2nd map I found that I liked with experimental weapons doesn't actually need them so I went ahead and decided to include it.

Edit: A poorly chosen map on my part, POW!!! has been replaced by SPLATT!!!

A few useful links:
All Tournaments (http://knucklecracker.com/wiki/doku.php?id=cw2:weekly_5_map_tournament#current_tournament_maps)^*
Code Map Scoreboard (http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld2/viewscores.php)
Tournament Score Tool (http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?topic=7477.0)

Theme:
Batman Fight Scene Sound Effects

Map Name:	Size:	Complexity:
WHACK!!	Small	Medium
CRASH!!!!	Medium	Medium
SPLATT!!!	Small	High
BOFF!!!!	Medium	High
SOCK!!!	Large	High

---

* Modified to point to new, more complete wiki page. -G.

What's up with the complexity levels?

Two weeks in a row now we have a series that will trend to less participation than normal.

If you're referring to just the High/Medium/Low, then this tournament has exactly the same size/complexity combinations as the Limerick one, except for the medium/low from that one is now a medium/medium, and that tournament had great participation. On the other hand, if you've looked at the specific maps I've chosen, and think they are too difficult, well all I can say is that I try to look for maps that at least have something about them to make them difficult enough to not be boring for the better players, but aren't so difficult that the less experienced players can't eventually complete them. Of course, sometimes it's hard to fully judge the difficulty of the map until you've actually played it, so it's possible that I overshot the amount of difficulty that I was going for, and if that happened, then I apologize. It certainly wasn't my intention to try to exclude the newer players by overly ramping up the difficulty.

I think we(inexperienced player speaking here  :) ) will be fine unless they start out overwhelming us with spores, drones and creeper in the first 30 seconds.  the key for me anyway is having enough time to set up energy and defenses, after that I am good to go. I have learned that complexity doesn't necessarily mean really hard.

Quote from: asmussen on February 18, 2013, 02:06:34 PM
...sometimes it's hard to fully judge the difficulty of the map until you've actually played it...

Precisely why I always play the first 20-30 seconds before selecting any game to include. Your games this week look doable (for me), but I am more concerned with (1) how much fun they are going to be to play and (B) are they at a level that will be both doable and fun for the regular participants in this series.

It looked as though you simply matched the complexities from last week...and last week's game met neither of the two above criteria.

I think the whole "Weekly 5-Map Tournament" concept is terrific, but we should all be careful to maximize the enjoyment/participation level and not simply a showcase for some super star player.

POW!!! might be impossible  :-\

Quote from: ea3401 on February 18, 2013, 03:36:08 PM
POW!!! might be impossible  :-\

On looking at it a second time, I think you may be right, EA. When I originally played the first 20-30 seconds (Yes Helper, I actually do that too) I failed to notice that the 2nd section with drones would break through at about the same time that you're collecting the diamond. I had originally picked it based on the idea having to knuckle down and defend with shields for a little bit while you dig down and get the diamond and then being able to clear out that first gateway and emitter, but with that second drone area breaking through at about the same time, it's pretty overwhelming. That's totally my bad, although it was an honest mistake where I just misjudged the map, so if you could stop trying to nail me to the wall Helper, I'd really appreciate it. On the assumption that this map is in fact impossible, what would be the best course of action? Should I pick out a replacement map and edit the original tournament post?

Yes, go ahead and find a different map. Update the top post.

POW!!! has now been replaced by SPLATT!!!

Quote from: asmussen on February 18, 2013, 09:29:36 PM
...so if you could stop trying to nail me to the wall Helper, I'd really appreciate it.

Sorry, no intent to 'nail' you. I did the same thing on one of the first tourneys I put together and one of the long time members (a very good player) pointed out to me that making it too difficult is going to reduce competition. It wasn't a 'too difficult' problem, simply a time required problem.

Keep it simple and fun and let the uber-players go beat on the "Impossible" series if they want to test their ability.

Results Per Player


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Rank	Name	WHACK!!	CRASH!!!!	SPLATT!!!	BOFF!!!!	SOCK!!!	Total Score	Total Time
1	mopa42	11088	12257	10981	11233		45559
2	Helper		12463	11098	10387	10251	44199
3	samefaen	10458	11487	10661	9246		41852
4	asmussen	10813	12140		10484		33437
5	Gu250	10533	11546	10889			32968
6	Cinth	8480	8886	8740			26106
7	MizInIA	9573	10453				20026
8	ea3401					10534	10534

Scores recorded at 2013-02-19 17:14:03 forum time.

LOL! Wish you had done that an hour ago, I actually (first time ever) had a better score than ea. :o

Results Per Player


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Rank	Name	WHACK!!	CRASH!!!!	SPLATT!!!	BOFF!!!!	SOCK!!!	Total Score	Total Time
1	Helper	10857	12463	11098	10660	10251	55329	46:12
2	mopa42	11088	12257	10981	11233		45559
3	samefaen	10458	11487	10661	9246		41852
4	asmussen	10813	12140		10484		33437
5	Gu250	10533	11546	10889			32968
6	Cinth	9312	10423	10338			30073
7	MizInIA	9573	10453	9987			30013
8	dt42	11051	12307				23358
9	ea3401					10534	10534

Scores recorded at 2013-02-20 11:25:35 forum time.

I have to figure out what mopa and deety are doing on Game 1 - they smoked that thing.

Helper, I think the trick was to grab the diamond, scoot to the right, build a couple of blasters, and take out that first emitter really early on.  If I replay it I'll grab some screen shots.

Thanks - I might try that.
I dug in on the left and fought my way through all that Creeper...a real slog.

Good stuff!

I didn't save any screen shots either, but I believe I grabbed the green gem immediately and took out the gateway with a couple of shields for the drones.

well I am done for this round. I can't get BOFF!!!! or SOCK!!!. the open surface emitters a a bit beyond my skill set.

and/or patience level.  ;D

HawkeyeLady -
The open Emitters are tough enough, but to add in Experimentals, Fields, and Phantoms... there's a whole bunch of tough stuff coming at you.

We about due for a week of easier games - maybe this week's winner will take it easy on the rest of us.

Results Per Player


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Rank	Name	WHACK!!	CRASH!!!!	SPLATT!!!	BOFF!!!!	SOCK!!!	Total Score	Total Time
1	Helper	11083	12463	11098	10660	10251	55555	44:34
2	mopa42	11088	12257	11040	11233		45618
3	dt42	11051	12307	10711	10040		44109
4	samefaen	10458	11487	10661	9246		41852
5	ctuna	10939	12146	11055			34140
6	asmussen	10813	12140		10484		33437
7	Gu250	10533	11546	10889			32968
8	Cinth	10478	10999	10338			31815
9	MizInIA	9573	10453	9987			30013
10	ea3401	11303				11122	22425

Scores recorded at 2013-02-22 11:19:36 forum time.

Well an uneventful friday night lead to me taking most of the top scores this week. :P I proabably won`t be around on Sunday or Monday so if I manage to hold onto the first place spot then could someone else please post the tournament for next week.

Results Per Player


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Rank	Name	WHACK!!	CRASH!!!!	SPLATT!!!	BOFF!!!!	SOCK!!!	Total Score	Total Time
1	Wheatmidge	11248	12603	11170	11228	11018	57267	30:23
2	Helper	11083	12463	11098	10660	10251	55555	44:34
3	mopa42	11088	12257	11040	11233		45618
4	dt42	11051	12307	10711	10040		44109
5	samefaen	10458	11487	10661	9246		41852
6	ctuna	10939	12146	11055			34140
7	asmussen	10813	12140		10484		33437
8	Gu250	10533	11546	10889			32968
9	Cinth	10478	10999	10338			31815
10	MizInIA	9573	10453	9987			30013
11	ea3401	11303				11122	22425

Scores recorded at 2013-02-23 02:54:37 forum time.

Quote from: Wheatmidge on February 23, 2013, 02:33:20 AM
... if I manage to hold onto the first place spot then could someone else please post the tournament for next week.

Same for me: In the event of winning the tournament, please someone else next week.

Results Per Player


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Rank	Name	WHACK!!	CRASH!!!!	SPLATT!!!	BOFF!!!!	SOCK!!!	Total Score	Total Time
1	ea3401	11303	12739	11198	11397	11122	57759	26:47
2	Wheatmidge	11248	12603	11170	11228	11018	57267	30:23
3	Helper	11083	12463	11098	10660	10251	55555	44:34
4	mopa42	11088	12257	11040	11233		45618
5	dt42	11051	12307	10711	10040		44109
6	samefaen	10458	11487	10661	9246		41852
7	ctuna	10939	12146	11055			34140
8	asmussen	10813	12140		10484		33437
9	Gu250	10533	11546	10889			32968
10	Cinth	10478	10999	10338			31815
11	MizInIA	9573	10453	9987			30013

Scores recorded at 2013-02-24 03:18:45 forum time.

Final standings

Results Per Player


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Rank	Name	WHACK!!	CRASH!!!!	SPLATT!!!	BOFF!!!!	SOCK!!!	Total Score	Total Time
1	ea3401	11303	12739	11198	11516	11122	57878	25:57
2	Wheatmidge	11248	12603	11170	11228	11018	57267	30:23
3	Helper	11083	12463	11098	10660	10251	55555	44:34
4	mopa42	11088	12257	11040	11233		45618
5	dt42	11051	12307	10711	10040		44109
6	samefaen	10458	11487	10661	9246		41852
7	ctuna	10939	12146	11055			34140
8	asmussen	10813	12140		10484		33437
9	Gu250	10533	11546	10889			32968
10	Cinth	10478	10999	10338			31815
11	MizInIA	9573	10453	9987			30013

Scores recorded at 2013-02-25 01:29:01 forum time.

ea3401 and Wheatmidge have already passed on doing the next one, so Helper is up.

I am really interested in seeing how people managed the last map. The field with the drones was too tricky for me to pull off.

@mopa42 -
Mine was not a very good score, but I maxed out my energy and started working down the left side using Shields to help block the Creeper and Drones. As I was able to move right, I would pick off Gems to help. This was not a very efficient technique - kind of like slogging through the mud on a forced march.

Quote from: asmussen on February 25, 2013, 01:31:01 AM

ea3401 and Wheatmidge have already passed on doing the next one, so Helper is up.

@asmussen,
As the winner, ea3401 needs to put this week's game together. 
Grauniad published the rules and guidelines here: http://knucklecracker.com/wiki/doku.php?id=cw2:weekly_5_map_tournament

If neither of them posts a new game by midnight tonight, anyone can then put it together.

Quote from: Helper on February 25, 2013, 05:42:12 AM

@asmussen,
As the winner, ea3401 needs to put this week's game together. 
Grauniad published the rules and guidelines here: http://knucklecracker.com/wiki/doku.php?id=cw2:weekly_5_map_tournament

If neither of them posts a new game by midnight tonight, anyone can then put it together.

I was just giving you first crack at it, since you are the highest ranked player this week who did not already explicitly state in this topic that he did not wish to run the next tournament. If you'd rather not do it that way, I guess the next tournament will be by whoever posts it first. No need to wait for the midnight deadline, as ea3401 and Wheatmidge have requested that somebody else run the next tournament if either of them were to win.

Shawn - good thought on anybody who wants to should jump in ASAP and post a new one.

I was expressing my irritation - not with you - but with those two who had the time to play this week's game, but won't take the time to make up the new one.

The rules have always been the same in this series. The winner makes up the next game (with caveats about consecutive wins).

I sincerely hope that whoever does it will make the games at a level that more than 3 people can finish all 5 games.

The level of irritation expressed in the last two weekly  threads might be a reason  why some players are declining to submit new competitions.

Quote from: Grauniad on February 25, 2013, 11:40:48 AM
The level of irritation expressed in the last two weekly  threads might be a reason  why some players are declining to submit new competitions.

Definitely a possibility - and I acknowledge that my irritation might have been better expressed.

I would also suggest that the level of difficulty has made several selections impossible for a lot of people.

Most players here are just regular players looking to have some fun and enjoy themselves. When the games selected are aimed at average players, we get somewhere in the the range of 65-75 scores.

"Knowing the target audience" would seem to be paramount in game selection.

Hanlon's Razor and some forgiveness might suffice.. :)

Or maybe the more pithy epigram from Sir Bernard Ingham? Seriously, let's all move on. It will soon be time for any volunteer to legally post the continuing game.

Edited to correct typo.

Well said.
Some possible titles...

"It's only a game."
"Lighten up."
"Give it a rest."
"Wrapped around the axle."

And the piece of resistance:

"Hit the road Jack."

:)
*******************

This might be a good week to re-charge my batteries and do something constructive...tax returns, fix computers, etc.

Well, I didn't finish this week because of an unexpected stay in hospital, but I'm anxious to try again...so someone, please post something! :)

Quote from: deety42 on February 25, 2013, 01:13:26 PM
Well, I didn't finish this week because of an unexpected stay in hospital, but I'm anxious to try again...so someone, please post something! :)

Oh, no! I hope everything is ok!

Quote from: asmussen on February 25, 2013, 01:36:01 PM

Quote from: deety42 on February 25, 2013, 01:13:26 PM
Well, I didn't finish this week because of an unexpected stay in hospital, but I'm anxious to try again...so someone, please post something! :)

Oh, no! I hope everything is ok!

Agreed!
We need you back up to full strength.

************
Just for grins, I am looking at the joke titles I posted above. Give me a couple of minutes to make sure they are functional and I'll have a new game up (unless someone beats me to it).

Thanks for the well wishes and yea! for posting a game.  Seemed serious at first, but turned out to be minor, so all is well.

Here you go: http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?topic=12758.0

I played a few seconds of each. They all look doable and perhaps a little bit of fun on the speed runs.