RE: Farming

[david man45]

Do NOT abuse extra lives or extra continues. Anything that allows you to start an infinite or near infinite point loop or rewards you for playing badly is not accepted.

I understand that the literal farming of an opponent for points is a prime example of what shouldn't be done, if it can be done an infinite amount of time. Also, if there is an extra life in a level, you cant get the extra life then die and repeat the level an infinite amount of times. My question is does this pertain only to scenarios that 'reward you for playing badly' or that you have to play in some sort of 'loop' to accomplish? I write near infinite in bold and italicized for a reason.

For example, I just submitted a score for Super Mario Bros. 3: World 1 in which I used a spot in the second level where you can use the feather (and some timing skills) to jump on goombas that spawn in 3's to eventually 'farm' lives. Does that fall under the category of farming? I don't think it should, seeing how it doesn't reward playing poorly or initiate some infinite loop. The term 'near infinite' is oxymoronic, but I understand the meaning. In this situation I would think the time limit on the level would consider it exempt from being near infinite, or a loop, at all. I think that, and more often than not in SMB games, these games were designed in such a way to have situations like this taken advantage of.

If you've ever played SMB3 on two player, you'd know the entire game was designed for competition over key farming levels for points. Some of which I'd say should not be used one single player score mode (World 7: you can keep playing the tower that brings you from the ground to the clouds for points. In two player it doesn't use a turn, which is why the first world has two flutes, so that either player can plan ahead to use the flute should their opponent have the chance at reaching that tower.), and some that I'd find acceptable (World 1 LVL 2? where you can use the feather to repeatedly jump on goombas to gather points up to 8000, then break the chain and repeat). Does using the flute in SMB3 to repeat worlds considered farming?

Thoughts anyone? Does the perceived intention of the game design play a role in whether or not something is considered farming? And if something is considered farming, are not all forms of farming to be avoided while playing for the high score?

Also, these things don't have to be so black and white, and taken on a case to case basis. Could be something taken care of in a game mod section or x+ level forums