Anatomy of a Potential 1.2 Million Point Game

[stella_blue]

During the early morning hours of March 17th, as the DK Wildcard Tournament Rematch #2 was winding down, Dean Saglio was quietly putting up the scaffolding for a possible 1.2m monster score.  At the end of Level 15, the overall pace was close to 1.213m, with an average of 59.7k needed over the final 6 levels to bring it home.  Unfortunately, it all came to an end on L16-5, where a wild barrel and a 2-barrel running jump proved to be an unfriendly mix.  The final score was 883,700.

The game featured several highlights:

• An elevator stage just shy of 10k (9,700 on L03-3)
• Nearly 16k on a barrel board (15,900 on L06-5)
• A pair of huge 65k levels (L06 and L15)
• A nifty rivet escape on L14, with consecutive jumps over 2 fireballs in 2 seconds, both on the top girder

I missed most of the session, witnessing it live only from Level 14 onward.  Later in the day, I watched the video in its entirety, recording the scores for each individual stage.  Those raw numbers, along with a few pace calculations and L5+ statistics, are shown below:

[hchien]

15,900 barrel board in a real game.  Insane!  Looks like 1.2M is near.  Very impressive level average as well.

[marinomitch13]

Haha, wow, Scott! Ironically, I actually did the same exact thing while Dean was playing but using my friend's and my site for calculating pace (using an algorithm), here: www.alexwgold.com/dk

Funny to know somebody else actually did the same thing too. Cool! T'was a big game indeed!

[marinomitch13]

Here is a picture of the data from Dean's biggest game I have ever seen: https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/315084_3806592964810_1652231363_n.jpg

He was on pace for 1.237m for most of the game (1.265m for a couple levels, I believe, due to some huge early levels) up until the last 3 boards where it slipped down to a measly 1.221m game. Just look at the death scores!!!!

[TheSunshineFund]

Cool post, thanks Scott!   

[Bliss1083]

15,900 barrel board and 10,200 pie factory almost had a 10k elevator stage. Dude is beyond belief. He might not have been in the tournament but he sure was playing like he was in one.

[stella_blue]

For those of you who missed it, Dean's Sunday night session was outrageous.  It could easily have been the big one.

Unfortunately, it was game over during the Level 16-5 barrel board, the same stage that ended a similarly strong effort last month.  Despite coming up short, it was an exciting ride.  The pace was jaw-dropping, with an unheard of 400k score at the end of Level 08 (and 0 deaths).

Here's a portion of a comment I posted less than 3 hours before the game began:

By the way, it looks like Dean is due for another huge game any day now.  April seems to be "World Record Month", if the past 3 years are any indication.

Prophetic words, if only he had taken it to the end.  But hey, April still has a week to go, so who knows?

Ok, now I'll shut up and let the numbers speak for themselves.

[d3scride]

Crazy after level 8 he was on a 1.275m pace not including deaths? Hugeeeeeee

[ChrisP]

By the way, it looks like Dean is due for another huge game any day now.  April seems to be "World Record Month", if the past 3 years are any indication.

Prophetic words, if only he had taken it to the end.  But hey, April still has a week to go, so who knows?

Now see here, Scott, there's only room for ONE Oracle of Donkey Kong!

[marinomitch13]

I think we are starting to see, that with using Dean's current style of play, every now and then, big levels happen -and that this happens more than people think. I typically say that 1.235m is a realistic max for this game, but that is factoring in the diminishing returns of going for the record when there is competition and expecting there to be people giving up. But, if everyone was like Dean, Vincent and I agreed a while ago that the practical max would be more like 1.265m.

After level 8, if Dean had 3 good deaths each over 10k, he'd be at a 1.29m pace. With normal play, he'd reach 1.265m nicely. It just takes 1 or 2 big levels, and then the game becomes phenomenal. I wonder if someday Dean will have to  start, not only going for a huge start, but also a 68k+ level 5?!

Anyway, this is just incredible, Dean! Keep at it!

[xelnia]

What a great game to watch. Even though I'm nowhere close to his level, it's inspiring to see such high-level play.

[stella_blue]

Crazy after level 8 he was on a 1.275m pace not including deaths? Hugeeeeeee

Points from deaths (actual or estimated) are included in the pace calculation, Craig.

I only calculate pace at the end of each completed level, to ensure that the game summary fits nicely on one screen (without the need for horizontal and/or vertical scrolling).

There are 4 components:

• The total score at the end of the current level, including points from deaths that have already occurred
• The average level score (L05 to current), which does not include "death points", multiplied by the number of remaining levels
• An estimate of 5000 points for each future death (0 to 3), not including Level 22-1
• An estimate of 700 points for the killscreen itself

So, at the end of Level 08 the calculation becomes:

400,100 + ( 66,150 x ( 21 - 8 )) + ( 3 x 5000 ) + 700 = 1,275,750  (rounded to 1,275,800)

My personal preference is to display the pace, and all averages, as even multiples of 100 points.  I just divide the result by 100, round to 0 decimal places, then multiply back by 100.  Only the final result is rounded; all intermediate calculations are precise.

[stella_blue]

Now see here, Scott, there's only room for ONE Oracle of Donkey Kong!

Right you are, Chris.  Sorry for the unwarranted presumption.  I got a bit carried away, fueled by visions of a conveyor pie icon appearing below my forum name in the near future.   

[danman123456]

12,000+ on a PF is insane. Yeah its a matter of time I think. I need to dramatically improve my game to have any chance at all of these scores.... :^)