Hiryuu's Simfile README
DOD 6th #9/#118 Rama Gardens
Version 1.5
Created this May 11th, 2006

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It's been a good long while since I've put together a Marathon file that was 
fully staged.  It just so happens that this particular song is a personal 
favorite from this author (Skaven) with only one song that I can think of that I 
find better than this one, but I wasn't in the mood to simming it just yet.  I 
figured I'd get myself back up to speed with some of the elements that I've 
learned in the past two years of simming.

This one brings everything to the table.  For those of you who liked the sims of 
mine that had the subtle BPM changes, this one is chock full of them.  I think 
the only simfile that would truly beat it out would be Can't Stop It! from DOD 
4th Mix and that mix in general is still considered unfinished.  

Still, it's nice to see that I can still put forth free time effort to crank 
something like this out.  This was quite a bit of work and the length of the 
file doesn't help matters much as well.  I had to do a lot of guesswork, note-
taking and a bunch of other things to get this to set up the way I wanted it to.  
I'm thoroughly impressed with how it came together and I doubt that many will be 
disappointed when they play it.  The only crying shame is that I have severe 
doubts that no one knows who this author is or what this song is.  I guess 
people will have to eventually find out for themselves, but I can honestly say 
that this file was worth the time.

The file was based off an IT file that was converted to OGG.  This file was 
originally done in 1993 but was redone with better sampling in 2003 by the 
author.  IT files date all the way back to the DOS days, so it's impressive to 
see how a file like this could have sounded during that time period.  Anymore, 
IT files, such as this one, are a thing of the past.  MOD/tracker files in 
general (which IT files are part of) are basically being outdated by people who 
use things such as FL Studio, Sonic Foundry, ACiD PRO, etc.  That's fine by me 
because the quality is that much superior and you don't have to rely on an MOD 
player to play the files, but it just makes me wonder how long it will be until 
these tools are obsolete.

Anyways, this should give you a lot of fun to go by.  All stages are mined, just 
so you know, but they aren't so bad until you reach Heavy.  Enjoy!

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In-depth step analysis:

BPM: 10.00-500.00
Time: 5:40

Step-charts:

Light: 4-footer; 582 steps

Right off the bat, you'll notice that there's barely any entry stream.  The 
song's pace is really slow towards the beginning and the end.  However, that 
doesn't last for very long.  Right after the set of jump freezes, you'll be 
looking at a massive speedup from the opening 94 to 250 BPM.  From there, the 
patterns are easy to figure out but you need to be ready for the speed.  If you 
aren't used to it and you're playing 4-footers by now, you need to be.

Anyways, the majority of the stream towards the first major slowdown is 
relatively easy.  There are two sets of 5s that will let you know when it's 
about to happen.  It's a gradual, but swift, slowdown to half the tempo it was 
at before so be ready for it.

Most of the stream in this section is about as weak as beforehand.  It does have 
some extra freeze formations in it, but nothing too horrifying.  There is an 
abrupt cutoff a few measures in that speeds the tempo back up that you'll need 
to be ready for, so stay alert for it.

From that point, the stream and voltage comes in.  It will start with a few 4th 
triplets and will eventually build to straight 4th note stream at that speed.  
The patterns, however, aren't too harsh.  Towards the end of the musical loop, 
the stream starts to break down (a hint of a break, since this IS supposed to be 
a 4 footer) into freeze notes.

Be warned, the mines start coming in right at this point.  Although there's not 
too many, you may want to watch so that you don't mess up.

There's a spot where it will pause for about a second and will then pick back 
up.  This is where the really hard piece of the song is for Light mode.  The 
pattern doesn't stop for several measures and it's a slightly tricky one at 
that; a mined freeze section that will slow right back down to the opening tempo 
signals the end of it.  From there, it's smooth sailing until the end and 
shouldn't prove to be much of a problem.

Standard: 7-footer; 954 steps

The start stream is very much like Light's stream is if you add just a tad more 
to it and mine it a little bit.  It's nothing too horrifying if you watch it.

After the initial speedup, the stream starts off easily with some basic 4th note 
patterns, mostly on sets of 3s and 7s.  After a while, it will start to work 
with some offbeat 8th notes to mess with you a bit.  Don't worry though; the 
offbeat fits with the music.  Be careful with the added mines in this stage, 
however.  The density picks up towards the slowdown.

The slowdown isn't much different from Light's mode except that there are some 
8th cross-sections that are mined inside.  Following that, it makes its move to 
8th notes as the base beat inside of the slowdown section but the patterns 
aren't too difficult.  The rhythm moves to double-stepping at that point.  Watch 
the mines.

At the speedup, it returns to the offbeat use of 8th notes.  After this point, 
the stream gets a kick up.  There will be several different kinds of streams 
that are challenging for this stage coming from here until the slowdown and it's 
all mined (lightly).  It will gradually get harder until you finally get there.  
After that, it's a rather easy end.  Watch out for the spike in speed at the 
very last step.

Heavy: 10-footer; 1475 steps

The mines are on high density and so are the awkward freezes.  Add the already 
insane speedup and downs and you have yourself a viable 10-footer here with the 
stream presented.

There's really nothing more to tell you other than to be alert for the mine 
density inside the stream.  By itself, the stream is a solid 10-footer, but add 
in some placed mines and you have yourself a very hard one, especially after the 
first slowdown.  If you can keep up past there, then this should be a passable 
file for you.  If nothing else, it's a well-made mined marathon, I think, at 
least for a 10-footer.  It's not especially hard that it isn't fun either.

>>>

2006 Hiryuu.

Shoutouts to my friends on BMS and Ace's and to other friends and 
family.  Thank you all for your continued support.

Mail me at: 
hiryuu_shoten_ha@yahoo.com

PM me at:
Bemanistyle.com's forum under x_Hiryuu_x
ACMLM's Board usually under Hiryuu
