ZONE / Zone Battle thread of vEry awEsomEnEss

[afatsuoM]

First of all: you guys seriously own the Zone.

My Zone score on Anulpha Pass forward is graduatly increasing. My main problem is consistency. Sometimes I slam the walls hard, and then the next two laps are perfect and then I slam the walls again. Also, my line is different almost every lap (especially past zone 50).

Can any of you guys give me some tips on how to get more consistent lines / laps? Here's a video. A good example is between Zone 70 and 76. First a hard crash at zone 70, then two perfect laps and then I fly off twice at Zone 76. I think 90+ should be possible for me, if I get more consistent.

[ProblemSolver]

Is zone 150+ too much for a Playstation 3? Two month ago my two years old launch-PS3
(warranty expired) died due to the YLOD (an overheating issue in my case). After setting my
latest ZONE records, two days ago, my two months old PS3 also died by the YLOD a few
hours thereafter. *sigh*

It might be a coincidence but playing ZONE may put a heavy load onto the Cell processor
as well as the RSX processor such that both are working on their temperature limit which
may likely break your system over time. I don't know.... I'm going to buy a new one and
send the broken one in for an replacement.

@afatsuoM: Nice videos. Looks good.
On a quick note I would say that you lack a little bit behind, meaning, you start to react
when the action already took place, which is too late. You have to react at least one step
ahead of time. For example, there is a situation in zone 83 where you jumped off of the
overpass to the left. One could already predict that the trajectory of the craft will lead to the
left right before the boost pad. Secondly, it seems like that you don't know just yet how
the bends are going to curve while running through them, leading to too much steering
while going into and out of a corner.

To go for very high zones one has to put a big emphasis on predicting the curvature of
the next corner ahead of time with respect to the craft. A good prediction will lead to fewer
steering inputs and as a result to a much smoother and stable run. Well, the general problem
is that humans are not good at predicting (estimating) curvature. One of the key ingredients
to curvature is to have a good orientation.

[afatsuoM]

Good to read from "the expert".

I'm not too late, the craft moves too fast lol. Seriously, this is exactly what makes Zone so hard. When you start to lag behind, you're too late. One needs to be very quick and, as you said, predict what's going to happen before hand. I guess I need some more practice with this.

Also, I think I do know how to take the corners. I've done some occasional perfect laps on Zone 80+. And I've managed to get the first 40 zones perfect a few times. But, I lack the precision with the PS3 controller to do a corner consistently every lap. I have this problem with more games (like aiming with Killzone 2). I know exactly what to do, but my thumb (or index finger for the airbrakes) moves a little bit too much, and I end up compensating. This is what happened at zone 83. I was going a bit too far to the right, compensated to the left (way too much) and flew off. If my line had been better in the first place, I wouldn't have had to compensate, and I would stay on track.

Well, the general problem is that humans are not good at predicting (estimating) curvature.

LOL, this game is not for humans, but for robots like you. I'm off practicing some more. I want to do 100+, so that will take some time I guess. Thank you very much for the tips.

[Reezy]

One problem I fnd lately is when I get to high zones, the controller starts to move out of my hands, and my thumb is slipping off the left stick. I am still using a sixaxis so no vibration, but especially on tracks like pro tozo and corridon 12, I'm having to do alot of hard turns. I don't know if its the stress of approaching a new record (so its a mental problem), or if the physical aspect of almost constantly turning is doing this. Do I just need to relax more?

[Lance]

ProblemSolver, I found a great video on how to fix the YLOD on YouTube. This guy explained and showed in good visuals exactly how to do it, and what material is needed. It was a set of six videos, of about eight or nine minutes each, IIRC. I wish I'd bookmarked it so I could give a link. I watched the whole thing because it was interesting, even though I don't even own a PS3! He showed the entire process on camera. It should be fairly easy to find with 'YLOD repair' as the the search parameter. I found it while looking for tutorials on SketchyPhysics without even looking for YLOD.

[QjonPL]

PS, like I promised:
http://i33.tinypic.com/okwh92.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/242zh8w.jpg
(I dunno if this score will update on Scoreboard, so I'm showing cellphone-screenshots)

I ruined the ending (I got pinballed in a stupid way at 2 first corners), so this'll be easy to beat up (I have 6k points more - it's 1 more perfect lap), but it's great feeling to be the first in the world

[Darkdrium777]

Perhaps it is how your PS3 is placed in your house that causes the YLOD.

[QjonPL]

You mean Feng Shui? xD

[jed_tb]

zone 50 last night and got perfect laps up to phantom. thats good for me! its like a 20 zone increase in a week.

[Darkdrium777]

I can perhaps probably do 100 eventually some day on Syncopia. Just did 94 and I paused to change the music. If I get a playlist, that might work.

Ok **** this game seriously. I'm on my way to 100, clearly ahead of my previous attempt in energy levels. I press LEFT twice while in the air. Barrel Roll. **** you.

[ProblemSolver]

Back from a strong cold, fever, and headaches, which took me down the last four days....
Three more days to go and I should be fine again.

@Lance: I considered repairing my old 60GB model that way, but I don't have the
equipment and it's also rather unlikely to be successful in every case, since the so-called
YLOD can have many instances. I'm going to sell my 60GB in parts and keep some things
for myself, for example, I always wanted to have the Cell processor on my fingertip, so I'm
going to isolate the Cell chip, the die, out of its covering. My broken 40GB model will be
replaced without any issues.

PS, like I promised:
http://i33.tinypic.com/okwh92.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/242zh8w.jpg ...

So all your work on Moa Therma was worth the effort. Well done!

... it's great feeling to be the first in the world

I hope you had a great week staying there once. Seems like you have to go with me into
the nineties.

[QjonPL]

Seems like you have to go with me into
the nineties.

After you, Master
To infinity and beyond!!!!

[ProblemSolver]

... After you, Master

Watch the leaderboard.... Now it's your turn.

[QjonPL]

Yeah, I've noticed it today, but I have other games to work out at the moment (WET <3 ) and I cannot focus on WHD only, but I'll try to keep up with you

[ProblemSolver]

'Now it's you turn.' is meant more in a metaphorical sense.

[yeldar2097]

i'm getting into really into zone mode nowadays. on moa i managed to get to 88 on psp (it's easier i know...) so maybe i'll come join the fun
offline real zone battle = win

[ProblemSolver]

...
@sh1kamaru-: Ah Anulpha Pass -- the old story. Once the leaderboard gets fixed (<-- I
lol'd) I'll give Anulpha Pass another try. I think I can do a 130+/105+ (possibly a 132 /
106) but this would be rather close to the maximum. I think a 135 / 110 is the ultimate
limit for Anulpha Pass. ...

It took about ten month, starting from 'cheating the ZONE', to fix the leaderboard on
Anulpha Pass. Pfeww ... quite a long time. However, in general, I hope that the
competition will reignite once again as it should be. And actually, it does. Even Wellington86,
who was absent for quite a long time, has set a new number one record on TDR Reverse.
And I did what I had promised long before; AP, rk.1, 478k, 133 / 98 -- which wasn't a
superior run to say at least. On a good day I might be able to do a 140 / 110.

[Vartazian]

So PS. How does it feel to Finally own Anulpha Pass?

like super legitly, Does it feel like... HEAVEN?

[ProblemSolver]

I have to admit that I was bothered quite for a long time seeing all the glitched records
on the board and being in second place without doing anything against it (due to the
leaderboard issue). But I always knew that I would come back again once the board is
fixed. To answer your question; I felt virtually nothing going to zone 130+ on AP and
being on top again. My only thought was; thanks god that madness is over.

However, my interest for AP grows up again. It's a pretty interesting track for ZONE.
The feeling running along the overpass and going around first corner without a scratch,
past zone 100, is breathtaking. And last but not least, the sense of speed is just awesome.

[Vartazian]

Thats sad I thought it would be a great day for you... Finally getting back what was rightfully yours....

oh well, keep kicking our asses!

~Var