This dispute review has uncovered a great deal of technical evidence and presented a wide range of expert analysis - extremely compelling.
I was conducting research into a parallel dispute, and there were two points I want to hopefully (briefly) address. The following would fall into the category of "just talk," but hopefully a little more on the side of "analysis of previous points of discussion."
Ninglendo's posed the question back in post #182 - Who verified the run? Jace followed up with a hypothetical scenario that would result in an instant disqualification of the run. In turn, Lopes addressed these points in post #211, "Metroid
Team Referees and Disputes." To recap, Jace stated disqualification would happen if the following conditions proved true:
1) Metroid team verified their own scores
2) they were not allowed to verify their own scores
3) This [Zelda run] was specifically verified by them
In response, Lopes wrote in order
"1 - Never happened, not even a single bad score!"
"2 - I know the Referee rules, verify own scores on a Metroid Team score is wrong"
"3 - Do it, talk with TI and do a large
search on database, if you find a simple mistake, ONE MISTAKE, please ban me forever"
In a thread "New WR - Fastest Perfect Pitfall Atari 2600," RTM celebrated a new WR on Pitfall achieved by Lopes. However, the discussion soon turned on a series of questions about method of verification and means gameplay (
emulation or NTSC/PAL). On the final pages of the thread, RTM confirms directly that he was one of the two refs to verify the
submission (he explained he reached out to Todd Rogers who was the Atari 2600 ref to confirm this arrangement). The second was TRB_MetroidTeam, who posted "FYI, I also verified Rodrigo's record, and I can confirm this is a near-perfect run." (Post #13)
https://www.twingalaxies.com/showthr...(LOCKED)/page2
Returning to Ninglendo's query, recall that this Pitfall discussion is happening virtually at the same time that Lopes post-bombed Ureta's Zelda announcement to claim he had a faster time, and was going to send the tape directly to RTM. Flewin subsequently "blessed" this arrangement, echoing what happened with the Pitfall revi. Based on the close timing of the Pitfall and Zelda submissions, it seems very likely that the same process - verification by MetroidTeam, verification by RTM - was followed with Z1 as well.
My last point is commentary on Lopes' stance that he either has no stake or moral obligation to share his Zelda run in the name of community responsibility and participation. In January 2009, Lopes created a thread entitled "Question about INPs," where he asked why the INP files for two TG members weren't available, writing "I can't see if he used leech in this game because the inps is not available to us." When reminded that TG members had the option at that time to keep their INP files private, Lopes argued "this is wrong. The inps must be available for everyone...he have fear to show us?"
Further, Lopes wrote, "I don't understand the policy that the Player can hide his record. -- A few months ago, I found 2 incorrect scores in TG records, one was Air Attack record done by Vicent Moreles (one of the guys that hide inps) I found the mistake because I checked the snapshot that showed different scores between the the snapshot and the record verified and other score was Armed Police Batrider, the record was done in wrong variation and I found because I watched the inp that is available, if not, the record still be there wrong."
When reminded that console videos were hidden, Lopes clarified, "James, it is impossible TG to let available all console runs for download, it is tons of video tapes, if you wish to see console runs, go to SDA, there you will find!I not have fear to show my records, many of them I have available in Youtube...peoples that hide his scores is just one reason, FEAR!"
Lopes' last post on the topic (#65) may also capture how many of us feel about his Zelda run: "Well, I won't talk anything more, if the player have the opportunity to hide...ok, hide, feel happy if the TG rules have this option. But, who hide have FEAR to lose his record, the player that is considered the best is his game doesn't have fear of showing. "Oh..Please...hide my record, PLEASE...PLEEEEESE" God...this is ridiculous!"
https://www.twingalaxies.com/showthr...out-INPs/page7
The opportunity is still there to set aside fear and put everything out in the open.