Quick definition:A speedrun is an attempt to finish a video game, or a set part of it, in the shortest time possible, usually under rules agreed by a community of players.
Meaning
A speedrun is a playthrough of a video game where the aim is to reach the end, or a chosen goal, as quickly as possible. Runners practise the same route many times, learning the quickest paths, the safest ways to handle enemies and the exact timing of each action.
Most games have several categories, each with its own rules. Any percent runs aim to finish the game by any means allowed, while 100 percent runs require every collectable or objective to be completed. Some categories ban glitches, and others are built around using them.
Times are usually tracked on community leaderboards, and runs are often submitted with video evidence so that other players can check them. Speedrunning is both a competition and a kind of performance, since many runners stream their attempts live and explain each trick to an audience as they go.
Origin:Recorded fast runs appeared in the 1990s, when Doom players shared demo files of levels completed at great speed. The Quake Done Quick project in 1997 pushed the idea further by finishing Quake in under twenty minutes. Online video and live streaming later brought speedrunning to a far larger audience. Example:A runner attempts a platform game in the any percent category. After hundreds of practice attempts, they skip a section using a known glitch and shave eight seconds off their best time. They upload the run with video proof so that the leaderboard moderators can verify it. Did you know?Games Done Quick, a series of charity speedrunning marathons that began in 2010, brought the hobby to a much wider audience. Runners play through games live for days, while viewers donate money to the causes the events support.
