Ahhh.... Thanks Jeff. I have an original manual (1st printing), and is does not have this info. I will try it and see if my score improves - I'm out of my league here with a current score of 59k
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Pole Position Training Vid for Blkdog
- Thread starter rknucklez
- Start date
Ahhh.... Thanks Jeff. I have an original manual (1st printing), and is does not have this info. I will try it and see if my score improves - I'm out of my league here with a current score of 59k
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Did the test and my accelerator shows "D1" when pressed. Anyone know what this means?
What's this being played on??
MAME. Shouldn't the ROM code be IDENTICAL?
SanTe
Well-known member
From the poster's comments on the video:
"Played on Twin Galaxies settings (120 secs, 4 laps, Practice C, Extended G) using the Atari "polepos1" ROM on WolfMAME v0.141 with mouse and
keyboard controls. Finishing with 29 seconds to spare and passing 138 cars, this is equivalent to a score of 66,710 on the coin-op (MAME awards spurious points at random); the official world record is 67,310 points set by Les Lagier in 1984."
The full comments are long but it's essential reading for top level Pole Position play.
Yes, but as we all know emulation isn't 100% perfect.
I'm interested-where are the comments.
Here's the entire thing:
Played on Twin Galaxies settings (120 secs, 4 laps, Practice C, Extended G) using the Atari "polepos1" ROM on WolfMAME v0.141 with mouse and keyboard controls. Finishing with 29 seconds to spare and passing 138 cars, this is equivalent to a score of 66,710 on the coin-op (MAME awards spurious points at random); the official world record is 67,310 points set by Les Lagier in 1984.
Normally I play on MARP settings (120,4,C,C) but having had enough of those I thought I'd give the TG ones a serious trial. It makes for a very different game with the other racers flying at you at impossible speeds. At first I disliked it because it has you jerking frantically this way and that like a demented puppet in a desperate bid to avoid a crash, but as I learned to anticipate the traffic things became calmer and the car seemed to begin to steer itself. And that's when it became addictive...
This is just about the hardest recording I've ever made. When I scored my first 28-second finish to equal Richie Knucklez (see elsewhere on YouTube) I thought it would just be a matter of a few more hours to grind out a 29-second run. As it happened it took a grand total of 40 28-seconders (all carefully logged, split times and all, on a spreadsheet) before getting this, every one of them slower than my first one(216.16s total). At 25+ tries for each 28s finish that implies 1,000+ games played. Adding my best split times together gives a 214.70s total so a 30s run is achievable, but given the agony of getting just 29s I'm putting further tries on hold, at least until I learn some handy new tricks for the game. (The world record of 67,310 equates to 31s remaining with 142 cars passed; this would need lap times of something like 56.03, 52.33, 52.52 & 52.78 which barely seems possible.)
Some tips:
1) Once you reach the top level of performance you must avoid everything that could possibly slow you down. That means not just braking, gear changes, throttle lifts, skids etc., but tyre squeals, kerbs, puddles, and (least obviously) "wafts" from veering too close to other cars. Accelerate to 244mph and stay there; watch your speedo and measure your progress against landmarks. The one place it's absolutely necessary to slow down is at the hairpin; as a benchmark accelerate back to 230mph before you pass the Atari sign on the right. In practice you'll be losing speed at Turn 1 as well (especially if you steer with the mouse), but be doing 240mph+ again by the time you pass the Centipede sign on the right.
2) Hug the inside of gentle corners when you can, but keep your nose close to the centre markings to gauge the fastest and safest line through the traffic in the Esses. This is especially important on the exit of Turn 1 and (to a lesser extent) the Hairpin. Keep your eye glued to the centre line as you exit; don't be distracted in reflex avoidance of other cars, but give yourself a moment to judge where the cars are placed before steering carefully around.
IMPORTANT The following tips only apply to MARP recordings on TG settings when you start the game from scratch each play, or after resetting the game with F3. This narrows the range of patterns you'll encounter right down.
3) You can predict the placings of the other cars to some extent. You'll notice that the cars appear in distinct groups, starting with packs of 3 in qualifying and then 4 on the first lap. It's actually the same pack every time (added to as the race progresses), and any weaving and place-changing that happens as you pass a pack will be mirrored in the next bunch you encounter. This is especially useful in getting a clean exit on the inside line of the Parabolica (the final corner).
4) There seems to be no time during the race to influence the traffic patterns, but you can make a useful difference by what you do in qualifying. Do a fast smooth lap and finish in the left-hand lane (like in this video). The racers will then appear in a close packed bunch of 4, with a probability of 75%+ (this format seems very hard to deal with at first but in the long run I find it easiest). Finish in the right-hand lane however and you'll find one of a fairly random mix of traffic patterns. Or try the "shunt" trick: as you approach the last pack before the finish line in qualifying slam on the brakes and try to almost-nudge the back of the green car in the left lane, pushing it into the right lane with an "air cushion", yourself finishing in the left lane. Most of the time this will give a race pattern with at least three cars in the right-hand lane, making passing them very easy on the first lap (though not it seems the later ones).
A lot of playing lately. Addicting as hell. I went ahead and ordered a pedal cable and the round pulley it hooks to from arcadefixit because mine's a bit rigged up.
A lot of playing lately. Addicting as hell. I went ahead and ordered a pedal cable and the round pulley it hooks to from arcadefixit because mine's a bit rigged up.
Legit scoring there pal, nice job.
I can't wait to get my PP back from mannoman.
poleposition
New member
My pedal is showing a value of 96 in self test.
The pedal is NOS.
Please post your own pedal's max value for comparison.
The pedal is NOS.
Please post your own pedal's max value for comparison.
I discovered that my machine has some sort of micro switch installed for the gas pedal instead of a normal spring and cable mechanism. A tech that I know that worked for many major ops in the 80s said they used to rig these with microswitches because the original set up would break down often. I have now ordered the correct parts and will install to see if I can report back with better scores.
I just replaced my cable and springs. I'm now maxing out at 98. It was at 95. I just got my first 65K game.
I've never once seen a 245 mph though.
Hmmm, might have to dust off my PP now.
paulliadis
Well-known member
Hey, what you do in the presence of your home is your own business.
Hahaha I had to re-read what I wrote to figure out what you were talking about! haha
This is what was on the inside of my accelerator pedal. As mentioned in another post, ops were rigging these to last longer. I have now switched to a pot, cable and spring like it's supposed to be. Now my test actually shows movement up and down on the scale depending on how hard the pedal is pressed where it didn't do that before. Mine will now go in the 90s past 99 to 9A, 9B, 9C and finally 9D when pressed all the way.
I notice my car gets up to speed a bit faster than it used to.
I notice my car gets up to speed a bit faster than it used to.
New personal best today fellas....excuse the shitty pic.
FINALLY CRACKED 64K!!!!!
FINALLY CRACKED 64K!!!!!
