Starlight Highway

This is a race track on the popular computer game Super Monkey Ball. A small subculture has grown up around this track, with extensive research going in to perfecting racing technique and therefore getting the fastest time. This obsession began in Norwich.

The reasons for an obsession with this particular track are not clear, although it has been claimed to be the most enjoyable track to race. The simple structure of the course also means that great attention can be given to specific racing tactics in order to increase lap times by milliseconds at a time.

Ground Rules

When competing for the record time (both lap time and total time), there are a few ground rules which have been adopted:

Ai Ai is always used. Players take it in turns to compete on the Time Trial version of Starlight Highway. This requires them to complete 2 laps, and gives them 3 boosts to use from the start. There are no more items on offer.

Basic Theory

It's necessary to hit most of the small boosts on this course. The exception is in the run up to the big boost before the final ramp. If all small boosts are hit, the monkey will bounce over the big boost, and this will cause the assent of the ramp to be unnacceptably slow.

When completing the section dotted with bumpers, it's necessary to corner on the right hand side of them. This seems natural to most racers, but early experimenters sought to improve their time by cornering to the left. This proved to be their undoing.

Boost Theory

The theory behind when and where to use the 3 boosts is still a topic of much controversy in the Starlight Highway community. There are several main schools of thought:

The Classical Method

Also called the Orthodox Method, this involves using Boost (B)1 early (e) on in Lap (L) 1 (as opposed to late (l)) during the first long, slow corner (C1). This maximises the benefit gained from hitting all the small boosts. B2 is used immediately after (a) (as opposed to immediately before (b)) the first sharp corner (C2) in L1. B3 is used in the same place as B1, but in L2. The method can be formulated like so:

B1 L1 eC1 B2 L1 aC2 B3 L2 eC1

The Corner Boost Method

This involves using the Boosts to power round corners. There are many different approaches to this. A typical one might look something like:

B1 L1 bC1 B2 L2 bC1 B3 L2 bC4 (the very last sharp corner of the track)

The idea behind this approach is to increase the benefits gained from the natural increase in speed proper cornering can produce. It also just speeds up that which is normally quite slow. Controversial exponent of this method, Ben Hall, favours 'riding high' on C2 using the boost method. This enabled him to secure a record total time. However, this is a very risky strategy.

The Inside Corner Boost Method

Racers use at least one Boost to power round the inside corner (for which the Community is still debating notation) just before the Finish line. This not only cuts out a lot of the track, but helps the ball to cling to the track due to the speed increase. Previous efforts to do this corner without a boost were occasionally fruitful, but unreliable.

New Boost Theories are springing to life every second!

[...]-Edge Theory

It would take a dedicated novel to document every aspect of Starlight Highway theory, so here is just an example of theories that are currently being tested at the moment.

The Bumper is your Friend Theory

This highly unorthodox theory was originally laughed out of the Meeting when it was first announced. The idea is to hit one of the last 3 bumpers (which form a sort of barrier) in such a way as to increase the speed of the ball, rather than fly off the track. Current research is proving unsuccessful, but some theorists believe that this is currently the only way to significantly improve lap times. Critics deride this theory as treachery.

Multi-Boost Theory

Although technically a Boost Theory, this has gained a reputation all of its own. Traditional Boost theorists describe it as "possibly blasphemy" as it denies the separation of the Boosts. Instead, all 3 Boosts are used at once. This does not increase speed, but does increase duration of the boost. However, it's currently not clear when the best time to hit B1 is.