Speed running is the art of playing a videogame with the intent to complete it as fast as possible. This often includes completing it in its entirety – finishing every level, finding every secret, completing every side quest – but this is not necessary. The reason speed running has exploded in popularity recently is because streaming technology has advanced enough to make real-time viewing of the gameplay possible. It’s easier than ever for someone who’s never seen it before to click “Watch on Twitch ” and be instantly hooked watching an expert play through a game they’ve maybe never played before at speeds they can’t comprehend. Even if you’re familiar with how a game works, seeing someone fly through zones so effortlessly you could barely even see them may be mind-blowing.
Though many viewers may not completely understand what’s going on, seeing a skilled speedrunner fly through a game they’ve never seen before can be extremely exciting. The art of making it look easy is part of the appeal. It brings new players into the fold and gives them an avenue to see a game in a way that’s much more accessible than actually playing it themselves, which holds true even if their skill level makes completing the game at all seem nearly impossible.
Working Of Speed Running
Every speed run will vary depending on the game being played, which means there isn’t one correct way to play any given title. A basic explanation of general principles would include using every tool available to complete levels as quickly as possible, from built-in abilities to glitches. In addition, the route being taken through a game is determined by which will be the quickest and efficient path between start and finish. Of course, there are always exceptions as some may prefer to complete every side quest even if it means going out of their way for a few extra minutes at the expense of time saved later. It’s also worth noting that any strategy used must be done without dying or reloading a save file. That means all mistakes can’t be undone, but instead impact future attempts in a unique way. And isn’t that part of what makes speed running fun? The fact that each attempt is different from the last.
Speed Running Has Been Around
Speed running has existed in some capacity since the release of The Legend of Zelda, which included a way to speed up the text by pressing A repeatedly. Since then, it’s only gotten bigger and more accessible thanks to increased interest from video game live-streaming sites like Twitch. tv. Though there are numerous examples of people breaking off parts of games to be completed faster – Quake speed runs being one example that comes to mind – it wasn’t until Twitch. tv started gaining popularity and the idea became widespread. Early on, players began exploiting glitches in Half-Life 2 intended for developers to use for testing purposes, which quickly evolved into completing the entire game as fast as possible after its release.
As a result, early speed running involved using exploits or glitches, which led to some speedrunners being banned. Over time, the rules for what would be deemed a valid run began to take shape on individual games’ forums. Those who followed them were allowed to continue streaming their attempts while others were given the boot. Though fans of various games may disagree on what constitutes a “true” speed running experience, it’s generally agreed that an attempt should avoid only using built-in tools or abilities present in the game itself.
