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THE VIDEO SHELF · tool-assisted speedruns

TasBlock at AGDQ 2017: TASBot

A recording of the TASBot block at Awesome Games Done Quick 2017, where a robot plays games via tool-assisted speedruns, including Super Mario 64 and Portal on an SNES via arbitrary code execution, and ending with a Twitch Plays segment. It showcases console exploits and creative hardware hacking.

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Why HN readers recommended it

HN commenters rate it a great GDQ watch and point to its feats, such as streaming video and Skype through controller ports, as inspiring hacks.

This is a summary from the source dataset, not an endorsement by Hacker News or the video creator.

Video & recommendation details

Creator / channel
TASVideosChannel
Topic
tool-assisted speedruns
Format
demo
Level
general
HN recommenders in dataset
3
HN mentions in dataset
5
Recommendation years in dataset
2019–2025

These counts and years describe the included Hacker News records; they are not YouTube views or the video’s publication date.

From the original HN conversations

Excerpts from the recorded comments. Follow each source for the full comment and surrounding discussion.

  • LOL... from "Reverse emulating the NES to give it SUPER POWERS!"[1] (which is insa^Wbizza^Wa very creative hack): "The cartridge is the dual of the Nintendo." [1] [LINK] edit: for a very impressive variation on the SMW "joke" in [1], I recommend this[2] video of TASbot …

    pdkl95 on Hacker News · 2019-11
    In NaN Gates and Flip FLOPS

  • I absolutely love speed runs and think they’re a great expression of the hacker mentality. To take a subtle bug in something like a physics engine and bend it to your will to eek out another 5s save off the world record is absolutely fascinating. …

    zer01 on Hacker News · 2022-06
    In Super Mario Bros. 3: “Game End Glitch” in 00:00.216

  • He was the public figure for TASBot and TASVideos for a while (see [LINK] ). TASBot is really a beautiful idea to help visualize what tool assisted speedruns are doing via the controller button lights in TASBot's hands. I think DwangoAC and TASBot represented the …

    gmueckl on Hacker News · 2025-02
    In Diablo hackers uncovered a speedrun scandal

Summaries, classifications and recommendation records are from the HackerTube source dataset. Read about this library and its limitations.

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