Super Mario Bros. (NES) - Timer Glitch

[ColecoFan1981]

For players of Super Mario Bros. (NES) and Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan) (FDS): Has anyone been able to execute the timer glitch wherein you try to get Mario (or Luigi) to touch the flagpole the instant the timer reaches 000 (at which point you normally die)? If successful, the timer will count down all the way from 999 ticks, giving you a total of 50,000 points to your score.

I've heard people say this glitch can be done on Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) versions of SMB and SMB2J at the end of all castle levels (when you touch the axe as the timer reads 000), but I wonder why it doesn't work the same for the non-castle levels (meaning no points at all when you touch the flagpole)?

What would the instructions be to make the timer think it's counting down from 1000 ticks? A Game Genie code would probably help for the non castle levels.

~Ben

[stardust4ever]

If you touch the flagpole at zero time remaining, you get zero bonus. There is no time bonus in castles for Super Mario Bros however you do get a time bonus in the All Stars remake. In Super Mario Brothers you can however, die by touching the axe and Bowser simultaneously. Mario dies and falls off screen, Toad/Peach will thank you even though you're not dead, and you automatically advance to the next level. I'm not sure if the glitch subtracts one from your life counter or not and it would be interesting to try this glitch out when you overflow the lives counter by abusing Koopa shell (this results in automatic Game Over if you die).

Also it may be possible that an additional glitch occurs if you touch the flagpole at the exact same frame the timer expires. Many TAS tricks rely on collision detection and other events coinciding at the exact same time frame.

[ColecoFan1981]

If you touch the flagpole at zero time remaining, you get zero bonus. There is no time bonus in castles for Super Mario Bros however you do get a time bonus in the All Stars remake. In Super Mario Brothers you can however, die by touching the axe and Bowser simultaneously. Mario dies and falls off screen, Toad/Peach will thank you even though you're not dead, and you automatically advance to the next level. I'm not sure if the glitch subtracts one from your life counter or not and it would be interesting to try this glitch out when you overflow the lives counter by abusing Koopa shell (this results in automatic Game Over if you die).

Also it may be possible that an additional glitch occurs if you touch the flagpole at the exact same frame the timer expires. Many TAS tricks rely on collision detection and other events coinciding at the exact same time frame.

No, you don't actually lose a life when you execute both death and touch the axe (if your life counter reads 2 or more on the status screen before the level). But if you have no lives left when you attempt this (on your last life, life counter reads 1 on screen before you play this level), you will definitely get Game Over.

~Ben