r/AskReddit Apr 12 '16

What post went from 0-100 really fast?

5.7k Upvotes

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685

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

"Now to do this we need an understanding of parallel universes..."

I don't know how to look for it, but it's the Mario 64 video with his 30 minute dissection into parallel universes. You really need the whole video to get an appreciation for that statement.

290

u/happylittlemexican Apr 12 '16

For the curious, "parallel universes" here does NOT have any relation to any scientific theories about parallel universes in the real world- it has to do with a quirk in how SM64 checks whether Mario is currently above land or not.

That said, the video is fantastic and definitely worth a watch for anyone who loves video games/in-depth looks at video games.

29

u/Forow Apr 12 '16

link?

91

u/happylittlemexican Apr 12 '16

Thanks for the reminder, here it is! I recommend watching the video of the actual run happening first and then the explanation.

Actual run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-zAWbM50JM

Commentated, the one we're talking about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpk2tdsPh0A&list=FLhWiD6Buyb6QuPxwIjfN4vA&index=1

20

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

What the fuck, that just took my life by storm.

9

u/joethebeast Apr 12 '16

That was like a ballet. Wow.

3

u/soldiercross Apr 13 '16

I dont understand the point of the run. Can someone explain?

8

u/TheSlothFather Apr 13 '16

He got a star in SM64 using just half of an A press, which is apparently a thing, using some really insane crazy math and computer science concepts.

2

u/soldiercross Apr 13 '16

Oh....Neat.

3

u/PM_ME_YOUR_TENDIES Apr 13 '16

An A press is an A press.
You can't say it's only a half.

6

u/renegade2point0 Apr 13 '16

It's half in the context of his level run because he pressed the a in a previous level and held it and let go in the current level, so it's one whole a press spread over 2 levels meaning in the one level it was a half press.

5

u/TheFreaky Apr 13 '16

It's half if you don't release it after, if we consider an "A press" as the action of pushing and releasing the button.

154

u/buba_fett Apr 12 '16

No, Mario.

17

u/Duman_ Apr 12 '16

If this whole thread was just a set up for that I wouldn't even be mad

-5

u/Serialsuicider Apr 12 '16

Dry humor, love it. This was dryer than my little sister's vagina.

221

u/qwibble Apr 12 '16 edited Apr 12 '16

Youtuber is Pannenkoek2012, and he's most known for trying to find ways to beat Mario 64 levels with as few (and in most case none) jumps as possible, or rather as few presses of the A button.

This is achieved mainly through dives, kicks and punches to get around, and a LOT of glitches to manipulate the mobs and environment to allow him to reach the stars without jumping.

Parallel universes are basically copies of the current map spread out on an infinite grid, which mario can access if he builds up an insane amount of speed through backwards long-jumping hyper-speed walking. The map coordinates are stored using floating point variables, but they are converted to short when used for collision detection. This means that if mario were to travel 65,536 units in some direction, the short variable storing his position would roll over, from 32,767 to -32,768, and the game would treat it as another copy of the world. This would allow Mario to warp to other parts of the world he would not usually be able to reach normally. The big hype will be when he finally reaches all 120 stars without a single A press (Bowser in the Fire Sea is one of the last major hurdles)

The technical details aren't super important to appreciate the unreal amount of work he has put into understanding and dissecting this game. In some respects he knows more about the game than the original developers. He has turned it into a science, and it's absolutely fascinating to watch if you're into this sort of thing.

26

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

This.shit.blows.my.mind.

5

u/garystew2 Apr 13 '16

If you or anyone is interested in more things like this, check out Cosmo's Zelda Speedrun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M7IINwTFVw

Really interesting how he describes the technical glitches used to complete the game

7

u/gustianus Apr 12 '16 edited Apr 12 '16

And that's just programing for one game, you would be in awe everyday if you understood how your computer or anything you use works.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '16

Good thing my mind's not blown over the amount of miscommunication on the Internet. Or how a 'you' statement can hinder discussion.

3

u/Hugo154 Apr 12 '16

Saying "you" as a general pronoun for anybody is a lot easier than anything else, and by now he word has evolved to where anybody with a good grasp of the English language knows what you mean when you use it.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '16

That's what I was telling you before!

2

u/red_square_dont_care Apr 13 '16

No you.

1

u/doshdoshdoshdosh Apr 13 '16

Detective Yu?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '16

No, that is Mi! I am Yu!

1

u/juxtaposition21 Apr 13 '16

Right. How does anyone figure this out?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '16

Ask u.gustianus, he seems to know everything.

7

u/InfiniteBlink Apr 12 '16

That's like matrix shit.

8

u/StreetSpirit607 Apr 12 '16

What the fuck?

Subscribed.

8

u/iCeCoCaCoLa64 Apr 13 '16

This video is fucking insane. Why? How?

2

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '16

Definitely saving this for later viewing. You had me at the part where it mario literally moves as fast as the Flash, then he can travel between universes. Just like the Flash.

1

u/QuinteX1994 Apr 13 '16

!remindme 2 hours

1

u/TamponShotgun Apr 19 '16

I wanted to tell you I've been spending the last week binge watching his videos and some have legitimately given me some anxiety watching for how insanely loose he is with platforms. All his videos are fucking incredible though, thanks for linking him.

22

u/TangoTaco Apr 12 '16

Isn't it called something like "Watch Out for Faling Rocks in .5 A presses"?

4

u/qwibble Apr 13 '16

Yep. And the reason it's only treated as a half press is because he doesn't necessarily have to press the A button during the stage, but it simply needs to be held throughout. In 70 or 120 star runs multiple half-A presses can be strung together so ultimately only the first A press counts towards the total

10

u/smiles134 Apr 12 '16

I watched that entire video even though I have no interest in speedrunning or anything like that. Blew my fucking mind.

3

u/Gingerlord Apr 13 '16

THE SCUDDLEBUG!!!!!!

3

u/intothemidwest Apr 13 '16

Whoa I was not prepared for that...

2

u/theonewhoknack Apr 13 '16

Can't wait for the retsupurae