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Aeroblast March 18th, 2014 8:31 PM

RNG Manipulation
 
RNG Manipulation involves using software to manipulate the random numbers that determine well... everything that can be determined by using random numbers, including the stats of Pokemon. This means it's possible to use these types of software to generate flawless/near flawless/shiny Pokemon to your heart's content. (if you know how to do it, that is)

Here's more detail given from Smogon if you're interested: http://www.smogon.com/ingame/rng/emerald_rng_intro

Spoiler:
Ironically, it is currently impossible to create a software random number generator that generates random numbers. The best these types of random number generators (or RNGs for short) can hope for is to output numbers that appear to lack any sort of pattern. In the world of Pokémon, these numbers are used to determine the outcome of any action that should be inherently "random", from which way a non-player character should turn, to whether or not a Pokémon is frozen, to the IVs and natures of wild Pokémon. All Pokémon games from Ruby and Sapphire onwards use a certain formula to generate these pseudo-random numbers.

Each time a game boots up, or is soft reset, a number known as a "seed" is plugged into this formula, in a process fittingly known as "seeding". The seed gets its name because all of the other pseudo-random numbers "grow" out from this seed. Since true random numbers cannot be generated, any given seed will always output the same numbers in the same order. Therein lies the foundation of Emerald’s RNG.

Instead of choosing a different seed each time the game boots up (and by extension, a different sequence of pseudo-random numbers), Emerald always sets its seed as 0. This means that every time the game starts, the same numbers are always output in the same order. In an attempt to hide this, Emerald asks its RNG to spit out numbers at a considerable pace; approximately 60 times per second. Each of these instances is known as a "frame".

A frame is an instant that holds all the "random" numbers given by the RNG. These numbers are then used to decide whatever they are asked to; if you are near an NPC, the frame dictates which way they turn. If a Pokémon is frozen, the frame decides whether or not it will thaw. If a wild Pokémon is encountered, the frame decides what its nature is, and how its IVs are distributed.

Since all the numbers are generated in the same sequence, frames will always occur at the same time, each time you reset the game. That means if you take a certain action at the same time after the game loads, the outcome will always be the same. Think of this like pausing a movie; the action that is shown on the screen is the same each time you pause in a specific place. However, since the movie’s frames move very quickly (it is a motion picture after all), it is difficult to always pause in the same place.

Unlike a movie, you cannot alter the pace of Emerald's RNG by choosing to rewind or fast-forward, but the basic analogy holds. By taking an action to create a wild Pokémon on a certain frame, you will always get the IV spread of that frame. By extension, the spreads of Eggs and legendary Pokémon can also be manipulated by calling upon the RNG to set them on a certain frame. It is difficult to stop on a specific frame, as they are passing by at a rate of approximately 60 per second, but if you do, you will always get the results associated with that frame.

We can convert the frame into a time by dividing it by 60. By aiming to create a Pokémon at the time a frame with a desirable spread occurs, you can obtain almost any Pokémon you want. It is a simple matter of waiting for a frame to occur, then giving an input to create a spread. This is how you can eventually manipulate Emerald's RNG to create your dream Pokémon.

The one downside to Emerald’s RNG is that you may have to wait a while for a frame with a good spread to roll around. In fact, a flawless spread on a wild or legendary Pokémon can take weeks to occur, thus it is all but impossible to obtain. Nonetheless, very good spreads can be found within the first hour and a half of the game's time, after hundreds of thousands of frames have advanced. In the case of Pokémon hatched from Eggs, it is possible to hatch a completely flawless Pokémon with less than an hour's wait.

How do you obtain a flawless Pokémon? It depends on how the Pokémon is created; the same frame yields different spreads depending on how a Pokémon is generated by the game. There are three categories of Pokémon: bred Pokémon, method 1 Pokémon, and wild Pokémon. Bred Pokémon are self-explanatory; these are the Pokémon you hatch from Eggs "mysteriously" found at the Day Care. Method 1 Pokémon mostly occur in set locations, such as the invisible Kecleon, or Rayquaza. Wild Pokémon are the critters that lurk in the tall grass, and other such places. Each category of Pokémon has a different way of manipulating the RNG to give you the spread you want, but they all have things in common. Read on to learn the basics of RNG manipulation, then check out each respective section to learn the specifics on manipulating different Pokémon to get the spreads you want.


Question becomes, where do you stand on this? Do you think this is fair? Is this a form of cheating? Discuss away.

Flushed March 18th, 2014 9:10 PM

I view cheating as using an external device to alter. As such, RNG is coded into the game, and any strategies revolving around it merely take advantage of it, as opposed to altering the data.

It's sorta irrelevant now for me, I've only messed with RNG in the 4th gen. Was able to hatch shiny Pokemon, though it took an insane number of Magikarp coin flips haha.

TwilightBlade March 21st, 2014 10:20 AM

I believe it is an acceptable and legitimate method to obtain shiny/flawless Pokemon because RNG abuse doesn't alter nor modify what already exists in the game. It took a considerable amount of research and effort to crack the RNG mechanics, and it takes a tedious amount of time to achieve your own results. I don't consider the RNG Reporter as an external device. It only reveals what is in the game and it's your own effort to hit the seed and advance to the frame.

I even picked up on some RNG mechanics before using/knowing the RNG programs. Emerald has a looping RNG (where if I soft reset somewhat slowly and find a shiny 40.83 seconds after turning on the game, I will find another shiny at 40.83 seconds if I continue to soft reset at this same pace). I noticed Black's egg inheritance patterns when I changed the DS clock time. Other players discovered egg inheritance patterns in X/Y without any fancy gadgets.

If I consider cheating as taking shortcuts, then it is likely cheating, to casual players.

HereFishyFishy March 21st, 2014 5:01 PM

Which is why tool-assisted speedruns are a thing. I don't see anything wrong with exploiting the RNG. After all, you're still working within the game's intentional programming (that is to say, not abusing a glitch or oversight).

Pendraflare March 21st, 2014 6:12 PM

I don't RNG abuse, but as for my stance on it? If people want their Pokémon to be as battle ready as possible, I don't care. Especially if it's something that can only be obtained in a previous generation. I just can't understand RNG worth a crap. ;_;

Polonaise March 21st, 2014 10:15 PM

Basically what Crackle said. Honestly, I don't see it as a form of cheating, because RNG can never do something the game can't. I always try to learn how to RNG myself, but I always get confused and stop. :D And if the official VGC allows RNG Pokemon, why should they be considered cheating?

Gulpin March 22nd, 2014 5:26 AM

For me personally, RNG abuse just adds to the fun of the games. I prefer learning how to manipulate the seemingly random features of the game to find flawless shiny Pokemon rather than hunting for hours with a very slight chance of finding a shiny Pokemon at all. For those who do RNG abuse for competitive reasons, I don't see the RNG Reporter as an external device because it still requires an bit of skill and knowledge to be able to produce the results it gives on any given search.

Puddle March 22nd, 2014 5:30 AM

I kinda view it as cheating. I view any game-altering external force as cheating such as hacking in Pokemon, Action Replays, all that jazz. I think that the only external thing you should be able to do is trade, however most of those Pokemon have been cheated somehow. I love seeing dedicated breeders who make their own perfect Pokemon, rather than just hack it.

Just play the game how it's supposed to be played is all I'm saying.

KostK2Boss March 22nd, 2014 4:20 PM

I find it more acceptable than straight-up hacking, because at least RNG manipulation still takes time and effort to effectively pull off, as opposed to just magicaly creating a perfect Pokemon out of thin air. Moraly, I'd put it on the same level as abusing the Missingno glitch in R/B for infinite Rare Candies (which EVERYONE did back in the day), or the cloning glitches in G/S/C and Emerald (which also everyone did), in the sense that you take advantage of a hole in the game's programming to save on time. Also, soft-reseting is basicaly RNG-ing while wearing a blindfold. Also, unlike hacking, RNG-ing can only be used to get you Pokemon that you can actualy find in-game, so no stupid stuff like shiny Gen 5 legendaries, or Pokemon with event-only moves can come out of it. So overall, I don't really mind people who do that sort of thing.


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