Welcome to the information thread for the greatest leaderboard in the history of leaderboards
The DK Masters
DK Masters Leaderboard (https://donkeykongforum.net/index.php?topic=1994.0)
Donkey Kong High Score List (https://donkeykongforum.net/index.php?topic=366.0)
Donkey Kong Jr. High Score List (https://donkeykongforum.net/index.php?topic=373.0)
Donkey Kong 3 High Score Lists (https://donkeykongforum.net/index.php?topic=1170.0)
Crazy Kong High Score List (https://donkeykongforum.net/index.php?topic=661.0)
Here we examine a player's performance across 4 classic, official games of the Donkey Kong series: Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong 3, and Crazy Kong. Don't like the inclusion of Donkey Kong 3 and/or Crazy Kong? Then you're not cut out for this leaderboard. The requirements for this leaderboard are brutal and perfect. SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT.
Each player on the leaderboard will be given a Rank and a Rank Score. The Rank serves to separate players into different categories of mastery, while the Rank Score is used to determine the standings of each player within those categories.
There are 5 ranks, from lowest to highest: D, C, B, A, and S. You will find the requirements for each rank in the following post.
Rank D will have no Rank Score. Ranks C, B, and A will have a Rank Score based on the number of days it takes the player to meet the Rank requirements. For C, B, and A, a lower Rank Score is better. Rank S will have a Rank Score based solely on the number of times a player has achieved the requirements for that rank. For Rank S, a higher Rank Score is better. Players will only be ranked in their highest qualifying rank.
For example, Andrew Barrow scores 1M on DK. 2 days later he scores 1.1M on DKJR. Another 2 days later he scores 1M on DK3, and another 2 days later scores 650k on CK. He has now achieved all the requirements for Rank C. It took him 7 days, including the first achievement, so he is ranked C-7.
Brian Allen scores 1M on DK. The following day he scores 1.1M on DKJR. The day after that he scores 1M on DK3 and the next day he scores 650k on CK. He would be ranked C-4.
Allen Staal achieves all four Rank C requirements in one day. His rank would be C-1, the highest possible C rank.
The three players would be ranked thusly:
C-1 - Allen Staal
C-4 - Brian Allen
C-7 - Andrew Barrow
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT:
The Rank Score is NOT determined by a player's first ever achievement of the requirements...it is determined by the smallest amount of time between ANY achievement of the requirements.
Players must post in this thread if they feel they have met the requirements for a particular Rank. All scores must meet the submission standards for their respective games.
The DK Masters Rank Requirements
******Rank D******
(https://donkeykongforum.net/awards/42.png)
Congratulations! You've demonstrated a basic level of competency on all four games. Will you stay here, counting your killscreens, or will you take the next step?
To achieve Rank D, players must:
- Achieve a killscreen in Donkey Kong
- Achieve a killscreen in Donkey Kong Jr.
- Achieve 1,000,000 points in Donkey Kong 3, on Easy/Difficulty 1, with 3 starting lives, and bonus lives every 30,000 points
- Achieve a killscreen in Crazy Kong
Players in this category will be ranked by the date when they achieve the ranking, earliest first.
******Rank C******
(https://donkeykongforum.net/awards/43.png)
Congratulations! You've taken the next step towards your DK Mastery. You've put in some extra time and shown some potential. Where you go from here will tell us if you got here by brute force and luck, or by skill.
To achieve Rank C, players must:
- Achieve 1,000,000 points in Donkey Kong
- Achieve 1,100,000 points in Donkey Kong Jr.
- Achieve 1,000,000 points in Donkey Kong 3, on Hard/Difficulty 3, with 3 starting lives, and bonus lives every 30,000 points
- Achieve 650,000 points in Crazy Kong
Players in this category will be ranked by the number of days that have elapsed between obtaining the first and last achievement. In the case of ties, players who achieved the rank sooner will be given precedence. Beyond that, players will be sorted alphabetically by name.
******Rank B******
(https://donkeykongforum.net/awards/44.png)
Congratulations! You've honed your skills and have shown that you truly have what it takes to be a master. However, there is always room to grow...
To achieve Rank B, players must:
- Achieve 1,100,000 points in Donkey Kong
- Achieve 1,200,000 points in Donkey Kong Jr.
- Reach the repetitive blue screen in Donkey Kong 3 on Easy/Difficulty 1, with 3 starting lives and bonus lives every 30,000 points
- Achieve 715,000 points in Crazy Kong
Players in this category will be ranked by the number of days that have elapsed between obtaining the first and last achievement. In the case of ties, players who achieved the rank sooner will be given precedence. Beyond that, players will be sorted alphabetically by name.
******Rank A******
(https://donkeykongforum.net/awards/45.png)
Congratulations! You have mastered all four games and can now officially call yourself a DK Master!
To achieve Rank A, players must:
- Achieve 1,130,000 points in Donkey Kong
- Achieve 1,300,000 points in Donkey Kong Jr.
- Reach the repetitive blue screen in Donkey Kong 3 on Hard/Difficulty 3, with 3 starting lives and bonus lives every 30,000 points
- Achieve 750,000 points in Crazy Kong
Players in this category will be ranked by the number of days that have elapsed between obtaining the first and last achievement. In the case of ties, players who achieved the rank sooner will be given precedence. Beyond that, players will be sorted alphabetically by name.
******Rank S******
(https://donkeykongforum.net/awards/46.png)
The superfecta. You are the best of the best.
To achieve Rank S, players must:
- Achieve all Rank A requirements in a 24-hour period
The 24-hour clock starts running as soon as one achievement is reached. Keep in mind: the clock starts the moment the achievement is reached, even if that isn't the end of the game. Players must then meet the remaining 3 requirements within 24 hours. This is a hard cutoff. All achievements must be met in that 24-hour window.
Player rankings will be slightly different in this category. Players will be ranked by the shortest, real-world time it takes them to achieve Rank S. This ranking will include the total game time of the first achievement. In other words, to achieve Rank S you have a cushion and some leeway in choosing the first game to play to make the most of your 24 hours...but when it comes to time be ranked, the entire span of time will be included: from the moment you press start in the first game to the moment the last achievement is reached. In the case of an unlikely tie, players will be ranked by the number of times they have achieved Rank S, then by the earliest first Rank S, then by name.
As a special reward, anyone who reaches Rank S will receive a physical certificate commemorating their achievement!
I'm sure there will be questions and disagreements about the requirements for each Rank. Please know that I put a serious amount of thought into it. Also, allow me to quote two opinions that are hard to argue with:
Welcome to the information thread for the greatest leaderboard in the history of leaderboards
The requirements for this leaderboard are brutal and perfect.
Kappa
I really like this idea, but I wanted to suggest you expand on it. As it sits I think this is a missed opportunity.
Offering some levels like:
******Rank Amateur******
Congratulations! You've demonstrated a VERY basic level of competency on all four games. Will you stay here, counting your high scores, or will you take the next step?
To achieve Rank Amateur, players must:
- Achieve 600,000 points in Donkey Kong
- Achieve 700,000 points in Donkey Kong Jr.
- Achieve 600,000 points in Donkey Kong 3, on Easy/Difficulty 1, with 3 starting lives, and bonus lives every 30,000 points
- Achieve 400,000 points in Crazy Kong
Players in this category will be ranked by the date when they achieve the ranking, earliest first.
******Rank Challenger******
Congratulations! You've demonstrated a VERY basic level of competency on all four games. Will you stay here, counting your high scores, or will you take the next step?
To achieve Rank Challenger, players must:
- Achieve 800,000 points in Donkey Kong
- Achieve 900,000 points in Donkey Kong Jr.
- Achieve 800,000 points in Donkey Kong 3, on Easy/Difficulty 1, with 3 starting lives, and bonus lives every 30,000 points
- Achieve 525,000 points in Crazy Kong
Players in this category will be ranked by the date when they achieve the ranking, earliest first.
This would get people who can't compete with the top players to push themselves just to get on the list. This in turn gets them involved and leads to more people playing more DK. Some of them may stick around and push up the ranks. Etc..Etc..
Yes it is a bit more effort to track the additional scores but if the idea is to promote DK play, then it should be worth the effort!
PS - Come on, you know you love the "Rank Amateur" category!!