1. Policy
  2. General Gameplay Global Rules and Guidelines for all Submissions

This page is a chapter in 'Policy Official Book of TG Guidelines'



GENERAL GAMEPLAY GLOBAL RULES AND GUIDELINES (GRG)

Twin Galaxies is focused on recognizing video game player achievement and elevating those achievements for the entire world to see!

As part of its function, Twin Galaxies establishes and maintains official competitive video game rules that player performances are measured/adjudicated against. Twin Galaxies provides structure and parameter to video game playing achievement. Every game is different, and there are many ways to track achievement within a game, so each game and variation of play requires its own specific rule set. These specific game rule sets are found directly in the Twin Galaxies database and are embedded / listed within each competitive leaderboard.

However, in addition to these specific leaderboard rule sets, there are General Competition Gameplay Global Rules and Guidelines (GRG) that apply to ALL Twin Galaxies competitive platforms and leaderboard submissions that are required to be considered by both the submitter and the adjudicators. All leaderboards listed and provided under the Twin Galaxies' SPEEDRUNS platform are exempt from the GRG. For game tracks/variations listed under the SPEEDRUNS platform, only the track specific rule sets apply.

BELOW ARE THE GLOBAL RULES AND GUIDELINES THAT APPLY TO ALL SUBMISSIONS:

  • Unless otherwise specified in the game's leaderboard variation rule set, the general rule is that all games are to be played with original hardware, with original game software.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the game's leaderboard variation rule set, console games must be run on official hardware. However, modifications needed to support the use of external storage devices such as the PlayStation 2 HDD, PS2 HD Loader, Everdrive or other mechanisms are considered generally acceptable unless otherwise prohibited by track specific rules, or the discovery and documentation of definitive unfair advantage of use for that game track during an adjudicative score verification process. This section does not apply to PC games, as they have no stock hardware.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the game's leaderboard variation rule set, removing or altering any part of a game's software is forbidden. Examples include software mods, third party interface devices (Game Genie, ProAction Replay, etc), the crooked cartridge trick, or disk streaming. Editing config files and console commands for PC games beyond the scope of the in-game settings are only allowed for purely cosmetic changes that grant no gameplay advantages.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the game's leaderboard variation rule set, console players may use third-party controllers, but may not use features not present on controllers bundled with the system. For example, auto- or turbo-fire controllers are banned, except for the TurboGrafix-16 where stock controllers have it. Pressing up and down or left and right simultaneously on a dpad is not allowed as it requires hardware modification in order to do so. PC gamers may use any reasonable input device and remap keys, but may not use macros, scripts or programmable keyboards to automate button-presses.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the game's leaderboard variation rule set, emulation submissions are only accepted on platforms/tracks that are specifically set up for that purpose. If a game track rule set or platform category does not expressly mention or imply that emulation submissions are acceptable, then the default general rule is that emulation will not be accepted on that track.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the game's leaderboard variation rule set, the use of "glitches" or "glitch tactics" that defeat the generally accepted understanding of the spirit of the game / or reasonable interpretation of the intention of the game's designers are disallowed as a general rule.
  • "Leeching" tactics are banned, with the exception of a game track/variation that explicitly overrides this general rule with its own rules governing the matter within its specific listed rule set. Please see the "What is Leeching?" category help index for more information regarding TG policy on leeching in general.
  • The use of cheat codes, cheat devices, in-game codes and continues are disallowed as a general rule. Any and all passwords are forbidden. The only exceptions to this rule are: Any game track/variation that explicitly overrides this general rule with its own rules governing the matter within its specific listed rule set.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the game's leaderboard variation rule set, the actual submitting player does not need to be visible within a performance video, and only gameplay will be examined to determine validity of a score performance submission.
  • If a game track rule set or platform category does not expressly mention or imply that pausing gameplay is acceptable, then the default general rule is that pausing will not be allowed on that track.
  • Twin Galaxies recommends that you record your platform being plugged in, turned on from a cold start, the game being inserted/loaded, demonstrating that all game settings are set according to the stated rules, and starting the game without any break/edit in the entire recorded sequence as described above. However, Twin Galaxies recognizes that it is not always possible or convenient to follow this recommendation, therefore it is NOT A REQUIREMENT to show system boot up and game application launch/startup.

    If you are submitting to a specific game track that does contain specific rules that require showing system boot up and game application launch/startup, then you ARE REQUIRED to follow those rules of that specific game track if you want to submit to it.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the game's leaderboard variation rule set, on computers running EMU, the EMU software launch and game application launch/startup should be shown in any video provided.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the games leaderboard variation rule set, on computers running native game applications, game application launch/startup should be shown in any video provided.

PROHIBITED LEADERBOARDS

Under no circumstances will Twin Galaxies allow user establishment of any leaderboards or track rule requirements that relate to a submitter's age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, physical attributes, health or disability.


Join us