The opponents
There is also a flip side of the coin, and this counts for the
opponents of the technique, the PRB opponents who do not want this
technique allowed, no matter what. After analysis of their views
and some thinking, what I have found is that there are three or
four main points thrown into every PRB banning argument. They are:
1- It isn't natural to Prolong the rocket boost so you can cut
corners! True, to an extent. But it is true that it's natural to
keep the boost going as long as possible, right? That forms the
entire concept of using SSMTs, 'snaking' as it is called. You
couldn't imagine someone being told to not mini-turbo just because
to someone else it is unnatural! And obviously, me knowing this by
now, it is perfectly usual to try and cut corners in racing games.
This is based on common sense logic that the fastest route between
points is a straight line, and that cutting corners tighter is
faster than going wide. Diagram please:
As you can see, the top diagram shows a normal line around the
bend. Most common sense would indicate this to be slower than
cutting the corner.
However, below, saying PRB or extensive mini-turbos are used, the
line cuts across the corner. This should be faster.
Now, the proof to this:
The two lines have been put side by side. The corner cutting line
is slightly shorter than the non-corner cutting line making it
seem the most natural route.
Take this to a Mario Kart course. Cutting the first three bends
and the end of Mario Circuit 1 is perfectly natural, and is just
the same logic. It is only elitism stopping some people from
accepting it.
2- PRB is a glitch! You should be allowed to use it!
This is also quite wrong. While it sounds like a glitch and first,
and may be to some people, to most it's just a technique. Were
mini-turbos designed for use on straight ways in a snake like
alternating pattern? Don't know and possibly not. But it's fair
because it is just using skill to improve your times, and it seems
natural to improve your times by using more power-slides to get
more boosts. Limiting that is just limiting your potential time. I
think it is the same with PRB. I also think it may not be a glitch
as such. And I have some evidence to back this up:
A glitch is something unintended. This is a neat definition until
something minor occurs to causes such a hassle. Lets have a look
at some definite glitches, from other games that I have found or
used:
Dark Room of Death
You slide through a corner wall in the last room before Bowser and
appear in an invisible room. You can't escape and must quit or
turn off the power. A photo of this:
That is a real glitch.
Now, PRB on the other hand doesn't do something like go through a
wall, or allow you to fly. In fact, it's only a minor glitch, if
not just a trick. Besides, the way they made 'snaking' easier is
actually the cause of PRB, and no one seriously knows whether the
removal of having to space mini-turbos was intended.
Extra Notes on spacing of mini-turbos:
If this is a glitch, then you could technically say SSMTs
constantly for snaking is. Therefore that argument should, to
avoid major changes, be considered void.
3- It isn't natural to exploit zippers in such a way!
This could be considered true if you play like the people who say
this. But for some people, it is natural. Like if you can't
mini-turbo there, then you will skim the zipper (various places)
and if you find it is faster to mini-turbo constantly after the
zipper, you will probably do just that. It's human nature to try
to be better than others, it's also natural to complain or blame
an easy target if you get beaten.
4- Nintendo didn't say it was intended! You lot are so cheap! You
go against how the game was meant to be played! This is such a
beginner argument. Sure, they might not say it's intended, but
that depends on who asks them in the first place. If a Prolonged
rocket boosting fan said they used it and explained it, then they
may be told it was meant to be used, but if an opponent said it
was unfair, Nintendo may say it is! This is because the company
does want to make money, which it does by selling to customers,
and therefore needs the fans to keep buying the games. So it
generally changes what may be true to please the fans or larger
market who buy the game. An example is this; since the majority of
players who now mention 'snaking' think it's intended or fair,
Nintendo now supports it. I can almost bet that if many, many
people wanted PRB, Nintendo would send out some article saying
it's fair. For proof intended means nothing, look at these true
examples:
Example Does Nintendo say it's intentional?
Frappe Snowland lap skip in Mario Kart 64 Yes
Wario Stadium shortcuts Yes
'Snaking' Yes
Sky Garden uber shortcut Yes
Safari Zone and Missingno tricks in Pokemon games Yes
All the above are true. For the Frappe Snowland and other Mario
Kart 64 shortcuts, they were included in Nintendo Official
Magazine and Nintendo Power, and the official strategy guide had
all the shortcuts in. For 'snaking' look at these three links:
NOA Andy snaking article
Official Snaking topic
Common Questions and Answers
For the uber shortcut, again, the snaking video uses it. And for
the Pokemon glitches, I read them in the Nintendo Official
Magazine UK strategy guide for that game. They may not have once
been intended, for Nintendo sure is eager to jump on the intended
bandwagon quickly.
The Time Trial Site mods and half allowed rules team
Now, with what I call half implemented measures, there is another
team. Those who support the half allowing of PRB where Mario Kart
64.com staff say it's natural. You can read the rules page here:
http://www.mariokart64.com/mkds/faq.php
Now, to cut a long story short, they want it only allowed in
certain places, like the Choco Island intentional shortcut. Now
this may sound understandable, but I know a loophole in some of
their ideas. On the joining page and FAQ, they say it's a glitch,
but some staff and supporters say it was intended there! Wait, so
it's a glitch, AND intended in some places. Wrong. Impossible.
That is impossible. Either someone hasn't got a dictionary, or
someone is lying and get tangled in a mess of arguments.
The other thing, is this. When exactly is it natural to stop PRB?
You can't just do this:
This is because it's not natural either. You can't just draw a
line onto a map and say:
'Start spacing all mini-turbos past this line!'
That is unnatural. I'm also going to say this:
You say a patch of sand or grass makes it clear boundary, but
isn't that the corner you're supposed to cut in the first place?
You can't just make them slow down and lose like 2 seconds by
going;
1...2...3....4
It's easier to cheat if PRB is allowed!
Not true one bit. It is actually easier to cheat something if it
isn't allowed than if it is. Odd? No. It's happened many times in
history and also undermines laws. If people are not supposed to do
it, they probably will and that gets them to do it rather than
deters them. In fact, it's more of a thrill breaking a rule and
getting away with it. A good example is prohibition:
When beer was allowed in the early USA, not many people broke the
law to get it. But when it was banned, everyone wanted it more and
started trying to get it or make it themselves which worsened the
situation. Look, allowing people this technique could stop a flood
of fake screenshots and edited videos, and people using it just
past where they aren't meant to seeing if they get away with it.
It's down to this
Okay, now I've identified the groups of people, the conclusion
will say why I think it should be allowed. The first thing I will
say is this bit is personal opinion and there is no right or wrong
answer. The second thing I will say are the two possible and
better suggestions for fair rules. Okay, lets begin this:
Prb is a fair tactic in my opinion because I don't actually think
it's a glitch. Sorry if anyone disagrees, but I know enough about
glitches in other games like Mario 64 DS and the like to comment
on this, and while some may consider it an exploit, I don't
consider it a glitch.
I think that allowing it is in public interest as it would stop
rule breakers more than banning it would.
In all though, I think it's legal. But I've actually came up with
three big suggestions for clear and fair rules relating to this
matter. I agree with one but partially agree with logic in all of
them.
1- It should be allowed to stop cheating, and you allow people to
race in a natural racing line.
2- It should be totally banned and that the site should clamp down
on the legal shortcuts as well. Back to basics.
3- The legal shortcuts should be in, but PRB extended to cover the
whole lap or 3 laps of courses where it is a natural and valid
racing line.
