The history of speedrunning: How did it all start?

Are you a fan of video games? Do you enjoy pushing yourself to achieve the fastest completion time of a game? Do you know what speedrunning is? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you are in the right place!

Speedrunning is a phenomenon that has taken the gaming world by storm, with thousands of people attempting to beat the fastest completion times of their favorite video games. But where did this all start? How did speedrunning come into existence? Let's dive into the history of speedrunning and find out.

The Early Days

Speedruns have been around pretty much since the very first video games hit the market. In the 1980s, players began competing against each other to see who could beat games the fastest, and this trend continued as gaming became more popular in the following decades.

One of the earliest recorded speedruns is of the game "Pac-Man." In 1982, an arcade in New Jersey held a tournament to determine who could beat the game the fastest. The winner, Billy Mitchell, completed the game in less than five minutes.

But it wasn't until the early 2000s that speedrunning really started to take off.

The Emergence of Speedrunning Communities

With the rise of the internet, video gamers began to connect with each other online, sharing strategies, techniques, and tips for completing games faster. In 2003, the website Speed Demos Archive was launched, which allowed players to upload videos of themselves completing games at record speeds.

This led to the formation of many online communities dedicated to speedrunning. These communities included places such as SDA, Twin Galaxies, and YouTube channels like Scotty's later named World Record Videos.

These communities hosted forums where gamers could discuss strategies and share their records, and they also started hosting live events where the best speedrunners could compete against each other in front of an audience.

Modern Day Speedrunning

Today, speedrunning has become a huge part of the gaming world. Video games are designed with speedrunning in mind, providing players with tools and tricks to complete the game quickly.

The speedrunning community has grown exponentially, with major speedrunning events being held all over the world, such as "AGDQ," or "Awesome Games Done Quick," which raises money for charity by having speedrunners stream live speedruns of various games.

There are even websites dedicated entirely to speedrunning, where players can submit their records and track the progress of others.

How to Become a Speedrunner

If you're interested in speedrunning and want to try it yourself, here are a few tips:

• Start small. Choose a game that you're familiar with and that has a short completion time.
• Watch other speedrunners. Pay attention to their techniques and strategies, and try to incorporate them into your own gameplay.
• Practice, practice, practice. Speedrunning takes a lot of practice and dedication, so be prepared to spend a lot of time on it.
• Join a community. Join an online forum or chat room of other speedrunners. They can offer you tips and guidance, as well as motivate you to keep going.

Final Thoughts

Speedrunning is a thrilling way to play video games, pushing yourself to complete them as fast as possible. It's a community-driven activity that has become increasingly popular over the years, with players from all over the world competing against each other and sharing their records.

The history of speedrunning may have started in the 1980s, but it's far from over. With new games being released all the time and speedrunners continuing to innovate, there's no doubt that speedrunning will remain a major part of the gaming world for years to come.

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