The following broadcast from David M. Waters "Aquatarkus", is brought to you by Seldon's personal shielding...(posted 9154 days ago)That Phil Lamat is not recording with an acceptable framerate is no longer a theory.
In case anyone is a bit awkward with the term "framerate", it is a measurement of the number of moments, or "frames", that take place in a game during a fixed amount of real time. MAME measures this in frames per second. Most, but not all games, have an expected speed of 60 frames, or 60 moments, per second. The nature of computer hardware makes it difficult to achieve 100% speed at all times. In my experience having the speed at 100% most of the time with short "bumps" down to 95% is the best that can be expected.
It is a publicly admitted fact in the MARP forum that Phil is using a 486 class system to record games. It is unlikely that the majority of his score submissions are above 80% framerate. Many of them show signs of being below 60%. What this means is more real time to think about and act on each problem in a game.
It doesn't matter whether he's doing it intentionally or not, what matters is there's no longer any significant doubt. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time anyone is known to have cheated on more than a few games. So, MARP has changed. It will change further even if no one any further direct action. It won't stay the same as it was before even if everyone quit talking.
I see three obvious courses:
The first is to treat score entries as slightly more than mere claims. The belief would be that each score is essentially unproven anyway. From this the reasoning is that where there is no proof, there can be no cheating. The action taken against Phil will be none.
The second is to treat score entries as fact unless there is a clear reason to disbelieve the entry itself. The belief would be that irregularities will show themselves in the recording. Therefore game recordings would be routinely examined, and those that look "wrong" would be deleted. Quite a few of Phil's would disappear if this happened, but others would stay in place.
The third is to treat score entries as fact unless there is a clear reason to disbelieve the entrant. The idea would be that if someone cheats more than a few times that they've probably cheat regularly. Phil's scores would be deleted - ALL of them - and he would be barred from future score entries.
It is quite possible that a different course of action will be taken by the current tournament than by the larger MARP scoreboard.
What do I think should happen:
You just think "GrouseGod" is hostile, Mr. Pixel Perfect.
If I was running either of them Phil, the entrance screen would have a picture of me waving at your pike mounted head as a warning to future players. I would have deleted you SIX MONTHS AGO. That I'd settle for making up a cartoon in photoshop rather than saving the money up for a trip to France to come get a photo has only to do with my solid sense of right and wrong - qualities that you yourself lack. To put it in my native Texan, Mister, yer lower than a rattlesnake's belly and this town jes ain't big enuff fer da both of us.
Hopefully this will be clear enough to survive translation to Conehead...