Speedrun facts for kids

A speedrun is when a player tries to finish a video game, or a part of it, as fast as possible. People do this for fun and to compete with others. The word "speedrun" is a mix of "speed" and "run" (where "run" means playing the game).

Speedruns are usually for games where finishing quickly isn't the main goal. For example, you wouldn't "speedrun" a racing game. In those games, the fast-time challenge is called a "time attack" or "time trial."

Players record their speedruns as videos or digital files. This helps others watch and enjoy them. It also lets people check if the player really finished the game in the time they said. Speedrunning started when people began sharing videos of their game skills online. They wanted to see who could beat games the fastest.

Speedrunning began as a small hobby. A few people shared their game runs online. Now, it has become a big thing. Many active websites discuss speedrunning. You can find lots of speedrun videos shared for free on the internet.

What are Tool-Assisted Speedruns?

Tool-Assisted Speedruns, or TAS, are played using a computer program called an emulator. The player records their game actions on the emulator. They can go back in time in the game. This helps them find the fastest ways to react to enemies or other things.

TAS runs often beat games in times that game creators never thought possible. These types of speedruns take a long time to make. This is because players carefully plan every move. They aim for perfect timing.

How Do Normal Speedruns Work?

Normal speedruns are played on a game console, a computer, or even mobile devices. Players record these runs using special equipment. For consoles, they might use a capture card or a DVD recorder. PC games are recorded with high-quality software like FRAPS or OBS.

Two popular websites for normal speedruns are speedrun.com and Speed Demos Archive. Speedruns are often put into different groups:

• Any% NMS: The player must finish the game as fast as possible. They cannot use any major glitches that skip big parts of the game.
• 100%: The player must complete every single part of the game. They try to get a 100% completion ending as fast as they can.
• Any%: The player can use big glitches that skip parts of the game. These glitches sometimes need very precise timing.

Before a speedrun is put on Speed Demos Archive, other players check it. They make sure the player did not cheat or use any game hacks.

Using Game Glitches in Speedruns

Many speedruns use bugs or glitches found in video games. A common type of glitch is a "clipping problem." This lets a player walk through walls or other objects. Using these glitches can help players finish games much faster. They find shortcuts that the game developers did not plan.

Images for kids

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  Speedrunners at Summer Games Done Quick in 2019.

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  Example tool-assisted speedrun input file, showing which buttons will be pressed at which point in the sequence

See Also

In Spanish: Speedrun para niños