The Biggest Myth in Speedrunning History

LunaticJ

6 Mar 202419:37

Summary

TLDRThis script delves into the widely circulated myth surrounding a mysterious upwarp glitch in a 2013 Super Mario 64 speedrun, which was initially theorized to be caused by a cosmic ray flipping a bit in the game's memory. It examines the origins of this cosmic ray theory, the subsequent $1,000 bounty offered for replicating the glitch, and the skepticism from experts who provided more plausible explanations, such as hardware malfunctions or memory errors. The script ultimately exposes how poor gaming journalism and the spread of misinformation propelled this unsubstantiated cosmic ray theory into a viral phenomenon, frustrating the speedrunning community who recognized it as an unfounded myth.

Takeaways

😬 Misinformation about a cosmic ray causing an upwarp glitch in a Super Mario 64 speedrun has spread widely online, despite lack of evidence.
🤔 The upwarp glitch in question occurred during a 2013 speedrun race and involved Mario warping straight up through a ceiling unexpectedly.
🕵️ Investigations by speedrunners and experts could not replicate the exact upwarp glitch or definitively confirm the cause.
⚡ The leading hypothesis was a bit flip in memory, possibly due to hardware issues like a faulty cartridge or console, rather than a cosmic ray.
📰 A 2020 article from The Gamer claimed the upwarp was confirmed to be caused by a cosmic ray, sparking widespread misinformation.
🌐 The cosmic ray myth spread rapidly across the internet, social media, and pop culture outlets, fueled by inaccurate reporting.
😠 The speedrunning community has been frustrated by the persistence of this myth and the spread of misinformation surrounding the unsolved glitch.
🔍 Similar unexplained glitches and bit flips have occurred, likely due to hardware issues, further debunking the cosmic ray theory.
📚 Extensive research and documentation by the speedrunning community has failed to find evidence supporting the cosmic ray claim.
❓ The true cause of the upwarp glitch remains a mystery, but cosmic rays are considered an unlikely explanation by experts.

Q & A

What is the 'Cosmic Ray Theory' in the context of speedrunning?
-The 'Cosmic Ray Theory' refers to the idea that a cosmic ray from outer space caused a spontaneous upward warp ('upwarp') that saved time in a Super Mario 64 speedrun. This theory emerged as an explanation for an anomalous upwarp that occurred during a speedrun race between DOTA teabag and midboss in 2013.
Why is the Cosmic Ray Theory considered a myth among the speedrunning community?
-The speedrunning community, particularly the Super Mario 64 experts, consider the Cosmic Ray Theory to be a myth because there is no concrete evidence to support it. Several more plausible explanations, such as hardware malfunctions or memory errors, have been proposed and investigated, making the cosmic ray explanation highly unlikely.
How did the Cosmic Ray Theory gain widespread attention and acceptance?
-The Cosmic Ray Theory gained widespread attention and acceptance due to a combination of factors, including an article published on The Gamer website that confidently claimed the upwarp was caused by a cosmic ray, a viral tweet spreading the article's claim, and coverage from popular media outlets and YouTubers like Veritasium, who cited the same flawed sources.
What alternative explanations have been proposed for the anomalous upwarp?
-Some alternative explanations proposed by the speedrunning community include faulty cartridge connections, hardware malfunctions, memory errors, or other hardware-related issues. Specific examples like cartridge tilts, cart slaps, and bit flips caused by electromagnetic interference have been investigated and found to be more plausible causes.
Why is the Cosmic Ray Theory considered a myth that continues to annoy speedrunners?
-The Cosmic Ray Theory is considered a myth that continues to annoy speedrunners because it has been widely spread and accepted as fact, despite the lack of evidence and the availability of more plausible explanations. Memes and misinformation about the theory keep resurfacing, perpetuating the myth and frustrating the speedrunning community.
What role did the gamer article play in the spread of the Cosmic Ray Theory?
-The article published on The Gamer website titled "How an ionizing particle from outer space helped a Mario speedrunner save time" played a significant role in the spread of the Cosmic Ray Theory. The article confidently claimed that the upwarp was caused by a cosmic ray, despite the theory being considered unlikely by the speedrunning community.
How did the speedrunning community attempt to investigate and replicate the anomalous upwarp?
-The speedrunning community, particularly experts like pannenkoek2012 and the Mario 64 tasking community, attempted to investigate and replicate the upwarp by analyzing DOTA teabag's hardware, testing bit flips, and offering a bounty for anyone who could recreate the upwarp in an emulator. However, their efforts were unable to definitively solve the mystery.
What is the significance of the dup doome incident in relation to the Cosmic Ray Theory?
-The dup doome incident, where he experienced graphical glitches and a moving bar warp in Tick Tock Clock, provided evidence that bit flips and hardware errors were more likely causes of such anomalies than cosmic rays. The community was able to recreate some of dup doome's glitches by flipping specific bits, further discrediting the cosmic ray explanation.
How did the Veritasium video contribute to the spread of the Cosmic Ray Theory?
-The Veritasium video titled "The Universe is Hostile to Computers" briefly covered the Tick Tock Clock upwarp and cited the flawed gamer article and pannenkoek2012's proof of concept video as evidence that the upwarp was caused by a cosmic ray. Given Veritasium's popularity and credibility as an educational channel, this segment helped further spread the myth.
Why is the ian1 1243 down warp incident considered evidence against the Cosmic Ray Theory?
-The down warp experienced by speedrunner ian1 1243 in Bowser in the Fire Sea is considered evidence against the Cosmic Ray Theory because the displacement of Mario was estimated to be around 900 units, which does not align with the expected behavior of a bit flip caused by a cosmic ray. Bit flips typically result in displacements that are clean powers of two, making a bit flip an unlikely cause for ian1 1243's down warp.

Outlines

00:00

📽️ The Mysterious TTC Upwarp in Super Mario 64 Speedrunning

This paragraph introduces the topic of a mysterious upwarp (an unexpected vertical teleportation) that occurred during a Super Mario 64 speedrun race in the Tick Tock Clock level on September 21, 2013. It describes how the runner, DotaTeabag, experienced Mario warping straight up through the ceiling unexpectedly, an anomaly that was saved as a highlight but did not gain much attention at first. Nearly two years later, in 2015, veteran speedrunner Puncayshun noticed the clip and was intrigued by the unusual upwarp, as it did not seem to match any previously known upwarp glitches. Seeking answers, he sent the clip to pannenkoek2012, who is known for the A Button Challenge project, with the hope that if the upwarp could be replicated and understood, it could potentially be used as a new trick to save A presses.

05:01

🔍 Investigating the TTC Upwarp and the Cosmic Ray Theory

This paragraph discusses the initial theories and investigations into the cause of the TTC upwarp. After pannenkoek2012 offered a $1,000 bounty for anyone who could recreate the upwarp, YouTube commenters theorized that a bit flip (a single bit changing state in the game's memory) may have caused the upwarp, possibly due to a cosmic ray. Pannenkoek2012 tested the bit flip hypothesis by modifying Mario's height value, which resulted in a visually similar but not identical upwarp. While the bit flip theory became the leading hypothesis at the time, it was acknowledged that assuming a cosmic ray as the cause was a bit of a leap in logic. The paragraph also mentions DotaTeabag's comment suggesting that his faulty cartridge and console may have been a factor, hinting at potential hardware issues.

10:02

💻 Hardware Issues and Alternate Explanations

This paragraph explores alternative explanations for the TTC upwarp beyond the cosmic ray theory. It discusses how hardware issues, such as faulty cartridge connections or console malfunctions, could lead to anomalies and glitches in Super Mario 64. Examples are provided, including a Japanese speedrunner experiencing a level warp due to hitting their console, and another speedrunner encountering a glitchy sky effect likely caused by loose cartridge connections. The paragraph also mentions that while cart tilts and slaps themselves do not typically cause upwarps or bit flips, they could potentially contribute to memory errors or other hardware-related issues. The possibility that the TTC upwarp may not have involved a bit flip at all is raised, considering the condition of DotaTeabag's cartridge and console, as well as the opinions of experts who found the cosmic ray theory unlikely.

15:03

🌐 The Spread of Misinformation and the Cosmic Ray Myth

This paragraph delves into how the cosmic ray theory for the TTC upwarp gained widespread attention and became a persistent myth, despite being considered unlikely by experts. It traces the origin of the misinformation to a 2020 article on The Gamer website that confidently claimed, without evidence, that the upwarp was "100% confirmed" to be caused by a cosmic ray. This claim then spread across social media, news articles, and even a popular educational YouTube channel, perpetuating the myth as if it were a proven fact. The paragraph highlights the frustration felt by members of the speedrunning community as they watched the misinformation spread, with memes and articles continuing to propagate the cosmic ray theory as the accepted explanation for the TTC upwarp, despite the actual cause remaining unsolved.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Speedrunning

Speedrunning is the act of completing a video game as quickly as possible, often utilizing glitches and advanced techniques to bypass intended gameplay and shave off time. In the context of this video, speedrunning is a core aspect, as it discusses an anomaly that occurred during a Super Mario 64 speedrun race, and how this anomaly became a widespread myth within the speedrunning community.

💡Glitch

A glitch refers to an unexpected and unintended behavior in a video game, often caused by programming errors or exploits. The video script discusses various glitches in Super Mario 64, such as the infamous 'upwarp' glitch, where Mario warps to unintended locations. The myth surrounding the 'TTC upwarp' is a central focus of the video, with debates on whether it was caused by a glitch or other factors.

💡Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS)

A Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS) is a speedrun where the player uses external tools or software to achieve frame-perfect input and manipulate the game beyond human capabilities. The video mentions pannenkoek2012, a well-known TASser known for the 'A Button Challenge' in Super Mario 64, which aims to collect all 120 stars with as few 'A' button presses as possible. TAS runs are often used to discover and document new glitches and techniques.

💡Bit Flip

A bit flip is a phenomenon where a single binary digit (bit) in a computer's memory or data storage is unexpectedly flipped from 0 to 1 or vice versa. The video explores the theory that the 'TTC upwarp' anomaly was caused by a bit flip, potentially due to cosmic radiation. However, this theory is largely debunked, as the experts in the community provide more plausible explanations related to hardware issues.

💡Cosmic Rays

Cosmic rays are high-energy particles from outer space that can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and potentially cause bit flips in electronic devices. The video discusses the widespread myth that a cosmic ray caused the 'TTC upwarp' glitch during a Super Mario 64 speedrun. While this theory was initially proposed, the video ultimately debunks it as an unlikely explanation based on expert analysis and more plausible hardware-related causes.

💡Bounty

A bounty is a reward offered for a specific achievement or task. In the context of the video, pannenkoek2012 offered an $11,000 bounty to anyone who could recreate the 'TTC upwarp' glitch in an emulator and provide the necessary input data. The bounty was an attempt to uncover the underlying cause of the anomaly, but it ultimately remained unsolved.

💡Cartridge

A cartridge is a removable storage device used in older video game consoles, such as the Nintendo 64. The video discusses the possibility that a faulty or loosely connected cartridge could have caused the 'TTC upwarp' anomaly, as well as other glitches and errors documented in the community. Hardware issues like cartridge connections are considered more plausible explanations than cosmic rays.

💡Single Event Upset (SEU)

A Single Event Upset (SEU) is a type of error caused by ionizing radiation, such as cosmic rays, flipping bits in a computer's memory or logic. The video mentions SEUs as a potential cause for the 'TTC upwarp,' but ultimately dismisses the cosmic ray theory as an unlikely explanation due to the rarity of visually observable SEUs and the presence of more plausible hardware-related causes.

💡Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) refers to the disruption of electronic devices caused by electromagnetic radiation from external sources. The video briefly considers EMI, such as power surges, as a potential cause for bit flips or glitches in Super Mario 64 speedruns. However, attempts to recreate the 'TTC upwarp' using EMI were unsuccessful, further dismissing this as a likely explanation.

💡Misinformation

Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information that is spread, regardless of intent. The video highlights how misinformation about the 'TTC upwarp' being caused by cosmic rays spread rapidly across the internet due to inaccurate reporting and viral memes. Despite the speedrunning community's efforts to debunk this myth, it persists as a widespread belief among casual audiences unfamiliar with the factual details.

Highlights

Misinformation and myths are common in the speedrunning community, such as the belief that glitches are cheating, that 'speedrun' is two words, and a particularly widespread myth about a cosmic ray causing an upwarp in a Super Mario 64 speedrun.

In September 2013, during a 70-star speedrun race between DOTA teabag and midboss, a strange upwarp occurred where Mario warped straight up past the ceiling in the Tick Tock Clock level, skipping a section.

In 2015, veteran speedrunner Kimanwas intrigued by the upwarp clip and sought explanations, leading to a $1,000 bounty from pannenkoek2012 for anyone who could recreate the upwarp.

One theory proposed that a bit flip in the game's memory caused the upwarp, which pannenkoek2012 tested by modifying Mario's height value, resulting in a visually similar but not exact upwarp.

YouTube commenters hypothesized that a cosmic ray could have caused a bit flip, leading to the upwarp, but this theory was considered outlandish and unlikely by experts.

In 2018, DOTA teabag commented that his cartridge and console were faulty, suggesting hardware issues as a more plausible cause for the upwarp.

Cartridge tilts, slaps, and loose connections have been known to cause glitches and warps in other instances, providing evidence for hardware-related issues being the likely cause.

In 2020, an article from The Gamer falsely claimed the cosmic ray theory as a confirmed fact, leading to the spread of misinformation across the internet and news articles.

The cosmic ray theory gained further traction after being featured in a popular Veritasium video, despite experts refuting the theory and lacking definitive evidence.

Members of the Mario 64 speedrunning community are annoyed by the persistent spread of the cosmic ray myth, as the true cause behind the upwarp remains unsolved.

Bit flips and hardware errors have been documented as more plausible causes for similar glitches and warps, including a moving bar warp experienced by speedrunner dup_doome.

A recent unexplained downwarp experienced by speedrunner ian11243 is unlikely to have been caused by a bit flip due to the displacement distance not aligning with powers of two.

Electromagnetic interference or power surges are suggested as potential alternative causes for bit flips, but attempts to recreate the upwarp through interference were unsuccessful.

The video highlights the importance of accurate reporting and fact-checking in gaming journalism to prevent the spread of misinformation and myths.

The Super Mario 64 speedrunning community's extensive documentation and research efforts are commended for their work in investigating and understanding the unsolved upwarp glitch.