Gaming/Speed Running Survey for SDA members UPDATE: Paper finished!

2013-02-12 04:42:20 pm

1-Up!

Questions:

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
Flip. My real name is all over the site but I typically just use Flip in a weak attempt to keep my professional life separate from my social life for as long as possible Smiley

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
Earliest gaming memory for me is playing Super Mario Bros. on NES.
3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming? How do they react to your speedrunning?
My friends and family have a casual interest. Some of my friends have dabbled in speed running and my family really got interested after I participated in AGDQ 2011
4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
I enjoyed playing Super Mario World and Link to the Past as fast as I could when I was much younger. I discovered SDA back in 2006 when I was directed here from a GameFAQs thread.
5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
Basically I tell them that we try to play games from start to finish as fast as we can, using whatever tricks or glitches we can find.
6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
My accepted speed runs are Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Vesperia, and Wario Land: Shake It!! I currently have a so-so run of Tales of Graces F in submission. I really enjoy platformers more than RPGs but I can't compete at the high level that the guys here do.
7. What was your most memorable run? What made it memorable?
Definitely Tales of Symphonia. Memorable for so many reasons. It was a 4-player co-op run, SDA's first multiplayer console run. The four of us played almost nightly for months trying to crank the run out before some of us had to go back to university.
8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
It's massively time consuming. I love it but between administrating this site, married life and my job it's really hard to find time to speed run much any more :/
9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like? How does it fit into your daily schedule?
Most recently, I practiced Tales of Graces F a ton over the summer while I tried to arrange for a multiplayer run that didn't pan out. Over my Christmas vacation, I put that practice to use and cranked out a segmented NG+ run to demonstrate how low the time can go in that game.
10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
I think everybody agrees that speed running makes you think about all games in terms of speed running. You can't help but think about it when you play a game for the first time, even if you never intend to run it.
11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person? What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
I attended ADGQ 2011. My most memorable experience was not running my game, rather it was just hanging with some awesome people (notably stanski, trihex, funkdoc, Rane and others) and having a good time. Oh and extreme sleep deprivation and the flu lol. Wink

12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?
The speed running community is a growing body of gamers with a common goal to grow our common hobby and, of course, break every game.
13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
Speedrunning gives you a whole new appreciation for games that you love to play. It also provides us with an opportunity to have this awesome community full of awesome people.

Questions:

[b]1. What name do you prefer to go by?[/b]
Flip. My real name is all over the site but I typically just use Flip in a weak attempt to keep my professional life separate from my social life for as long as possible :)
[b]2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)[/b]
Earliest gaming memory for me is playing Super Mario Bros. on NES.
[b]3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming?  How do they react to your speedrunning?[/b]
My friends and family have a casual interest. Some of my friends have dabbled in speed running and my family really got interested after I participated in AGDQ 2011
[b]4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?[/b]
I enjoyed playing Super Mario World and Link to the Past as fast as I could when I was much younger. I discovered SDA back in 2006 when I was directed here from a GameFAQs thread.
[b]5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?[/b]
Basically I tell them that we try to play games from start to finish as fast as we can, using whatever tricks or glitches we can find.
[b]6. What games do you primarily speedrun?[/b]
My accepted speed runs are Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Vesperia, and Wario Land: Shake It!! I currently have a so-so run of Tales of Graces F in submission. I really enjoy platformers more than RPGs but I can't compete at the high level that the guys here do.
[b]7. What was your most memorable run?  What made it memorable?[/b]
Definitely Tales of Symphonia. Memorable for so many reasons. It was a 4-player co-op run, SDA's first multiplayer console run. The four of us played almost nightly for months trying to crank the run out before some of us had to go back to university.
[b]8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?[/b]
It's massively time consuming. I love it but between administrating this site, married life and my job it's really hard to find time to speed run much any more :/
[b]9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like?  How does it fit into your daily schedule?[/b]
Most recently, I practiced Tales of Graces F a ton over the summer while I tried to arrange for a multiplayer run that didn't pan out. Over my Christmas vacation, I put that practice to use and cranked out a segmented NG+ run to demonstrate how low the time can go in that game.
[b]10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?[/b]
I think everybody agrees that speed running makes you think about all games in terms of speed running. You can't help but think about it when you play a game for the first time, even if you never intend to run it. 
[b]11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person?  What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?[/b]
I attended ADGQ 2011. My most memorable experience was not running my game, rather it was just hanging with some awesome people (notably stanski, trihex, funkdoc, Rane and others) and having a good time. Oh and extreme sleep deprivation and the flu lol. ;)
[b]12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?[/b]
The speed running community is a growing body of gamers with a common goal to grow our common hobby and, of course, break every game.
[b]13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?[/b]
Speedrunning gives you a whole new appreciation for games that you love to play. It also provides us with an opportunity to have this awesome community full of awesome people.

Vucious Creed

2013-02-12 07:25:46 pm

Glad my fanboy lvls aren't THIS high

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
I generally go by Vucious Creed, but I also go by Lord Vucious, LVCreed, or just either LV or Creed. Whichever suits your fancy.

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
It's been a long time thinking about it, but I suppose my earliest memory of gaming had to be when I was really young, probably about 5 years of age playing the Atari 2600 and Combat, if I recall correctly. (Honestly, it's amazing that I can even remember having an Atari lasting around the mid-80s, personally.)

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming? How do they react to your speedrunning?
As far as gaming goes, the reaction is varied. While some are gamers and don't mind at all, others have expressed concern about my gaming hobby since it takes a lot more of my time than it probably should, so stuff like outdoor activity and whatnot seems to be brought up as a result.

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
I was first aware of speedrunning around my Junior year of college, so around 2005/2006. I was just randomly surfing the internet when I came across the concept of speedrunning, and then discovering SDA came right after, though I was a complete lurker just looking at videos at that time.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
Well, first, I would tell them what "speedrunning" is, in general. Once that's out of the way, then I'll tell them that it is a fun challenge that expands the replay value of a game aside from playing it casually.

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
I primarily speedrun Megaman-styled games, be it either from the official Capcom series or made by Doujin/Indie programmers. Right now, I've done Mega Man X (X Collection), Rokko Chan, and Rosenkreuzstilette Freudenstachel (Freudia mode)

7. What was your most memorable run? What made it memorable?
At first, I didn't have a run that instantly came to mind, until I remembered this run:
http://www.nicozon.net/watch/sm17037382

This above link was the catalyst of me actually attempting speed runs. This video of a Rokko Chan RTA was one I grinded on heavily before trying to do a run of the game myself. This led to Rokko Chan being my very first game to speed run, and I owe this video a lot to getting me started in knowing the gist of how to run it, and, overall, getting me started in speedrunning at all and not just be another spectator.

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
Probably the biggest challenge in doing speedrunning is one that I've dealt with thoughout my life: "accepting one's failures, and keep going to improve yourself." While this has always been a life-long lesson, it still hits home in that despite how much you keep missing that jump, not hitting that enemy, letting items mess with your movement, and things of the like; you still find the will to accept the loss and continue to work hard to get that time you desire; be it getting that elusive World Record, or just working hard to beat your own personal best. This is lesson is still a continuously on-going adventure, but, in the end, all it will do is just build you up and make you stronger.

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like? How does it fit into your daily schedule?
Practice times vary from day to day. Sometimes, I can only get about an hour to an hour and a half of practice time before stopping for the day (usually weekday evenings, before dinner). Other times it's an all day or all night grindfest to learn and apply what you've learned (usually weekends). It just depends on the mood whether this kind of schedule sticks or not.

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
To be frank, speed running hasn't changed my views about gaming at all. I've always viewed the gaming community, in general, as a mixed bag filled with a variety of personalities with different opinions on gaming. The speedrunning community is no exception. The only difference may be that a speedrunner will have a different mentality of how gaming works as opposed to the casual player. Then again, even with that being said, I wouldn't think that the opinion would differ that much.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person? What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
Unfortunately, I have not, even though I would really want to. If not just to play my specific game and show it off to those who haven't experienced it before, then just to actually meet up with my fellow peers face-to-face rather than simply chatting online. Doing that alone will bring a completely new experience to my involvement in the speedrunning community.

12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?
"A growing and friendly community that tears games apart at the 'Speed of Gaming.'"

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
Simply put, it's the challenge. The challenge of trying to become one of the best, if not, THE best at something. Sure, it may not be the most important thing, but having that satisfaction of being acknowledged as one of the top players of your game is something to experience. Besides, it's just plain fun to work hard on something that is actually, you know, fun to do! Grin

[b]1. What name do you prefer to go by?[/b]
I generally go by Vucious Creed, but I also go by Lord Vucious, LVCreed, or just either LV or Creed.  Whichever suits your fancy.

[b]2. How did you first get into gaming?[/b] (when, and what system/game)
It's been a long time thinking about it, but I suppose my earliest memory of gaming had to be when I was really young, probably about 5 years of age playing the Atari 2600 and Combat, if I recall correctly.  (Honestly, it's amazing that I can even remember having an Atari lasting around the mid-80s, personally.)

[b]3. How do the people around you [/b](friends, family, classmates) [b]react to your interest in gaming?  How do they react to your speedrunning?[/b]
As far as gaming goes, the reaction is varied.  While some are gamers and don't mind at all, others have expressed concern about my gaming hobby since it takes a lot more of my time than it probably should, so stuff like outdoor activity and whatnot seems to be brought up as a result.

[b]4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?[/b]
I was first aware of speedrunning around my Junior year of college, so around 2005/2006.  I was just randomly surfing the internet when I came across the concept of speedrunning, and then discovering SDA came right after, though I was a complete lurker just looking at videos at that time.

[b]5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?[/b]
Well, first, I would tell them what "speedrunning" is, in general.  Once that's out of the way, then I'll tell them that it is a fun challenge that expands the replay value of a game aside from playing it casually.

[b]6. What games do you primarily speedrun?[/b]
I primarily speedrun Megaman-styled games, be it either from the official Capcom series or made by Doujin/Indie programmers.  Right now, I've done Mega Man X (X Collection), Rokko Chan, and Rosenkreuzstilette Freudenstachel (Freudia mode)

[b]7. What was your most memorable run?  What made it memorable?[/b]
At first, I didn't have a run that instantly came to mind, until I remembered this run:
[url]http://www.nicozon.net/watch/sm17037382[/url]

This above link was the catalyst of me actually attempting speed runs.  This video of a Rokko Chan RTA was one I grinded on heavily before trying to do a run of the game myself.  This led to Rokko Chan being my very first game to speed run, and I owe this video a lot to getting me started in knowing the gist of how to run it, and, overall, getting me started in speedrunning at all and not just be another spectator.

[b]8. What are some of the biggest challenges [/b](in-game and/or in real life) [b]you have faced since you began speedrunning?[/b]
Probably the biggest challenge in doing speedrunning is one that I've dealt with thoughout my life: "accepting one's failures, and keep going to improve yourself."  While this has always been a life-long lesson, it still hits home in that despite how much you keep missing that jump, not hitting that enemy, letting items mess with your movement, and things of the like; you still find the will to accept the loss and continue to work hard to get that time you desire; be it getting that elusive World Record, or just working hard to beat your own personal best.  This is lesson is still a continuously on-going adventure, but, in the end, all it will do is just build you up and make you stronger.

[b]9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like?  How does it fit into your daily schedule?[/b]
Practice times vary from day to day.  Sometimes, I can only get about an hour to an hour and a half of practice time before stopping for the day (usually weekday evenings, before dinner).  Other times it's an all day or all night grindfest to learn and apply what you've learned (usually weekends).  It just depends on the mood whether this kind of schedule sticks or not.

[b]10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?[/b]
To be frank, speed running hasn't changed my views about gaming at all.  I've always viewed the gaming community, in general, as a mixed bag filled with a variety of personalities with different opinions on gaming.  The speedrunning community is no exception.  The only difference may be that a speedrunner will have a different mentality of how gaming works as opposed to the casual player.  Then again, even with that being said, I wouldn't think that the opinion would differ that much.

[b]11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person?  What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?[/b]
Unfortunately, I have not, even though I would really want to.  If not just to play my specific game and show it off to those who haven't experienced it before, then just to actually meet up with my fellow peers face-to-face rather than simply chatting online.  Doing that alone will bring a completely new experience to my involvement in the speedrunning community.

[b]12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?[/b]
"A growing and friendly community that tears games apart at the 'Speed of Gaming.'"

[b]13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?[/b]
Simply put, it's the challenge.  The challenge of trying to become one of the best, if not, THE best at something.  Sure, it may not be the most important thing, but having that satisfaction of being acknowledged as one of the top players of your game is something to experience.  Besides, it's just plain fun to work hard on something that is actually, you know, [u][b]fun to do![/b][/u]  ;D

Cranson

Edit history:

Cranson: 2013-02-14 07:31:35 am

2013-02-14 07:30:31 am

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
Cranson (My name's Chris Hanson, it was just a nickname that a friend came up with combining my first and last names)

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
My grandma was a huge gamer. She had some of the original Nintendo Power issues, and she wrote out her own maps for Zelda 2 when it was a new game, and you couldn't look up maps on the internet. By the time I was born, she had kind of retired from gaming, but she still owned all of her game systems. Some of my first games were either NES games like Super Mario Bros, or Zelda 1, or N64 games like Ocarina of Time, and Pokemon Stadium. The first game system I owned was getting a Gameboy Color at around 7 years old, with Link's Awakening DX.

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming? How do they react to your speedrunning?
I have a definite split in my groups of friends. I'm a music major in college, and most of my friends in school don't play video games, let alone speedrun/know about speedrunning. The reactions range from kind of a "Oh, ok, that's cool", to "I don't understand why you'd waste your time with that stuff". The other half of my friends, I've mainly made through playing video games, and they're the ones that actually got me into speedrunning in the first place.

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
My roommate last year had been watching Cosmo's Ocarina of Time world record attempts in December of '11, and sent me a link over Winter Break. I was hooked ever since.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
Try and finish a game as fast as you can, essentially.

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. It was one of my first video games ever, which is why I picked it.

7. What was your most memorable run? What made it memorable?
Probably my current Personal Best time. It has me placed 2nd on the route I'm running, which I never thought I'd manage to do, let alone after a month or two of running.

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
Mainly keeping it balanced with classes, studying, practicing, hanging with friends, etc.

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like? How does it fit into your daily schedule?
Pretty much whenever I have free time. It usually fits in around 8 or 9pm, where I'll run or practice for a few hours.

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
First of all, it's showed me that gamers can really support a cause that they believe in, and make a real difference. Specifically, the fact that AGDQ this year raised over $400,000 (both of my parents survived cancer, so it really meant a lot to see that). It's also striking that the community is so closely knit for individual games, and that the people who are the best at games are willing to give advice to newbies. With gaming itself, it's really increased the replay value of games to me, because you can challenge yourself to beat it faster than you thought possible.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person? What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
I have not yet, but I'm hoping to possibly attend AGDQ next year, even if I don't run, so I can help the event however I can.

12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?
A relatively small community that beats a lot of games really quickly, and is actually interested in expanding and being accessible to the general public.

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
The challenge of trying to beat your own time, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible by finding new tricks and glitches in the game. Streaming is also really fun. Just playing a game, and talking with friends or even people you don't know, just talking about whatever.

[b]1. What name do you prefer to go by?[/b]
Cranson (My name's Chris Hanson, it was just a nickname that a friend came up with combining my first and last names)

[b]2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)[/b]
My grandma was a huge gamer.  She had some of the original Nintendo Power issues, and she wrote out her own maps for Zelda 2 when it was a new game, and you couldn't look up maps on the internet.  By the time I was born, she had kind of retired from gaming, but she still owned all of her game systems.  Some of my first games were either NES games like Super Mario Bros, or Zelda 1, or N64 games like Ocarina of Time, and Pokemon Stadium.  The first game system I owned was getting a Gameboy Color at around 7 years old, with Link's Awakening DX.

[b]3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming?  How do they react to your speedrunning?[/b]
I have a definite split in my groups of friends.  I'm a music major in college, and most of my friends in school don't play video games, let alone speedrun/know about speedrunning.  The reactions range from kind of a "Oh, ok, that's cool", to "I don't understand why you'd waste your time with that stuff".  The other half of my friends, I've mainly made through playing video games, and they're the ones that actually got me into speedrunning in the first place.

[b]4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?[/b]
My roommate last year had been watching Cosmo's Ocarina of Time world record attempts in December of '11, and sent me a link over Winter Break.  I was hooked ever since.

[b]5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?[/b]
Try and finish a game as fast as you can, essentially.

[b]6. What games do you primarily speedrun?[/b]
Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.  It was one of my first video games ever, which is why I picked it.

[b]7. What was your most memorable run?  What made it memorable?[/b]
Probably my current Personal Best time.  It has me placed 2nd on the route I'm running, which I never thought I'd manage to do, let alone after a month or two of running.

[b]8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?[/b]
Mainly keeping it balanced with classes, studying, practicing, hanging with friends, etc.

[b]9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like?  How does it fit into your daily schedule?[/b]
Pretty much whenever I have free time.  It usually fits in around 8 or 9pm, where I'll run or practice for a few hours.

[b]10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?[/b]
First of all, it's showed me that gamers can really support a cause that they believe in, and make a real difference.  Specifically, the fact that AGDQ this year raised over $400,000 (both of my parents survived cancer, so it really meant a lot to see that).  It's also striking that the community is so closely knit for individual games, and that the people who are the best at games are willing to give advice to newbies.  With gaming itself, it's really increased the replay value of games to me, because you can challenge yourself to beat it faster than you thought possible.

[b]11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person?  What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?[/b]
I have not yet, but I'm hoping to possibly attend AGDQ next year, even if I don't run, so I can help the event however I can.

[b]12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?[/b]
A relatively small community that beats a lot of games really quickly, and is actually interested in expanding and being accessible to the general public.

[b]13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?[/b]
The challenge of trying to beat your own time, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible by finding new tricks and glitches in the game.  Streaming is also really fun.  Just playing a game, and talking with friends or even people you don't know, just talking about whatever.

Alko

2013-02-14 12:54:48 pm

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
Alko. I don't like my real name too much, and most, if not all of my friends will use a nickname derived from the common root 'Alkoholtorte'.

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
I do remember playing backgammon and Police Quest on Windows 3.something in the mid-nineties, but the first time I could actually play all by myself and whenever I felt like it (well, almost) was with the SNES I got in ninety-…*thinking* 96?

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming? How do they react to your speedrunning?
Friends, classmates and the like are all 90's kids, so they generally play games themselves, and realise that I don't overdo anything, so they're fine. My parents will add that I play too much regardless of the actual amout of time I spend in front of any console, so I ignore their comments. I don't get any real reaction to speedrunning except for one friend saying that she thinks it's stupid.

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
I think, I was searching for Minesweeper records in the mid-2000's, and somehow I found a defintion, which was probably on Wikipedia or somewhere very close to it. Before that, I had casually run through Zelda games (attempting to finish LttP within one day or OoT within one week including school; opening every chest, destroying every vase, throwing away every rock; sorta extreme-100%) but never really attempted to go for pure speed.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
'To beat a game as fast as possible.' Which usually results in a 'what the heck, that's weird' kind of face, so I don't feel the need to go into details. But if I do, it depends on the conversation going on.

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
I've tried (and failed) taking up some speed in Zelda OoT and SMW. I've been successful in Goof Troop and in Asterix and Obelix (both SNES), and I'm getting the hang of Final Fantasy IX.

7. What was your most memorable run? What made it memorable?
I don't seriously speedrun long enough to have created a run of my own that deserves the term 'memorable'

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
Finding time to do so (real life) and getting the hang of tricks (in-game, mainly OoT).

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like? How does it fit into your daily schedule?
There is no such thing as 'usual', nor did I truly own a 'daily schedule' until January. But if I decide to practise a game, I pick a time slot long enough to account for errors and just go for it. Practising Goof Troop, a game finished within 30 mins was easy. It's a lot harder to find time slots for Final Fantasy IX (especially if you spend many week-ends travelling through half the country). But yes, generally it ends up happening on evenings, week-ends and public holidays.

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
I used to sit through the slower-paced, more boring parts of games thinking that it's okay, or has to be that way. I now start to get nervous, if I can't make things speed up. But, I have also regained my appreciation for really slow-paced gaming to relax as in the Settlers II. I never had a view on 'the gaming community', and I still try not to have one.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person? What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
The European Speedster Assembly 2012. The whole thing was just great, I couldn't name a most memorable experience, because I would have to make the whole marathon a highlight.

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
It's fun, and when you're done, you can sit back and enjoy an achievement.

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
Alko. I don't like my real name too much, and most, if not all of my friends will use a nickname derived from the common root 'Alkoholtorte'.

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
I do remember playing backgammon and Police Quest on Windows 3.something in the mid-nineties, but the first time I could actually play all by myself and whenever I felt like it (well, almost) was with the SNES I got in ninety-…*thinking* 96?

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming?  How do they react to your speedrunning?
Friends, classmates and the like are all 90's kids, so they generally play games themselves, and realise that I don't overdo anything, so they're fine. My parents will add that I play too much regardless of the actual amout of time I spend in front of any console, so I ignore their comments. I don't get any real reaction to speedrunning except for one friend saying that she thinks it's stupid.

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
I think, I was searching for Minesweeper records in the mid-2000's, and somehow I found a defintion, which was probably on Wikipedia or somewhere very close to it. Before that, I had casually run through Zelda games (attempting to finish LttP within one day or OoT within one week including school; opening every chest, destroying every vase, throwing away every rock; sorta extreme-100%) but never really attempted to go for pure speed.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
'To beat a game as fast as possible.' Which usually results in a 'what the heck, that's weird' kind of face, so I don't feel the need to go into details. But if I do, it depends on the conversation going on.

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
I've tried (and failed) taking up some speed in Zelda OoT and SMW. I've been successful in Goof Troop and in Asterix and Obelix (both SNES), and I'm getting the hang of Final Fantasy IX.

7. What was your most memorable run?  What made it memorable?
I don't seriously speedrun long enough to have created a run of my own that deserves the term 'memorable'

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
Finding time to do so (real life) and getting the hang of tricks (in-game, mainly OoT).

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like?  How does it fit into your daily schedule?
There is no such thing as 'usual', nor did I truly own a 'daily schedule' until January. But if I decide to practise a game, I pick a time slot long enough to account for errors and just go for it. Practising Goof Troop, a game finished within 30 mins was easy. It's a lot harder to find time slots for Final Fantasy IX (especially if you spend many week-ends travelling through half the country). But yes, generally it ends up happening on evenings, week-ends and public holidays.

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
I used to sit through the slower-paced, more boring parts of games thinking that it's okay, or has to be that way. I now start to get nervous, if I can't make things speed up. But, I have also regained my appreciation for really slow-paced gaming to relax as in the Settlers II. I never had a view on 'the gaming community', and I still try not to have one.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person?  What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
The European Speedster Assembly 2012. The whole thing was just great, I couldn't name a most memorable experience, because I would have to make the whole marathon a highlight.

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
It's fun, and when you're done, you can sit back and enjoy an achievement.

VGFM

2013-02-14 05:03:50 pm

Thanks to everyone who's responded so far! I finally got the chance to read through each one that's been posted so far and I've definitely liked what I've seen. Lately I've been gathering up my research and spent an unhealthy amount of time watching SDA livestreams and going through archived footage of AGDQ13.

Next week I'm going start writing my report, though the final turn-in date isn't until early March, so feel to keep submitting responses for those of you who haven't already.

AlecK47

2013-02-14 11:41:38 pm

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
AlecK47, AlecK, or just Alec

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
My parents bought me an NES at age 5. I went from wondering whether I would ever beat 1-1 to fearing bosses to doing crazy things just to see if they worked. I also developed a completionist complex early on.

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming? How do they react to your speedrunning?
AFAIK they're all cool with it, even if they don't share the interest. I've been doing it for so long that it's a part of my identity (I consider myself a metalhead/gamer/intellectual).

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
I'm almost ashamed to admit this, but I saw Morimoto's TAS of SMB3 on Ebaumsworld back in '05 or so. Youtube searches then lead me to SDA and TASvideos.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
It's like being a ruthless social climber in that you will do anything to finish the game as fast as possible. But you don't have to be a douche for a variety of reasons, including the fact that collaboration is a good thing, and you have at least some common ground with other speedrunners.

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
I'm running FFXII with Nitrodon at Crystals for Life in March. I also run Sonic 2 casually (PB under 20 min. SDA timing - it would probably be under 19 if I could find my cart, because I've done that on emulator), I'm doing a segmented any% run of Pokemon XD (on hold), and I have plans for NSMB DS and Mass Effect 100% down the road.

7. What was your most memorable run? What made it memorable?
I remember runs of games I love most fondly (the SMB progression, Genesis Sonic runs, SM64, almost any Zelda game, etc. - there are a lot of them), but I also enjoy runs of games I haven't played that much, like SotN.

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
Getting my freaking BA. Holy crap. When a university bureaucracy messes up your transcript, and you have to fix things... I also found out that I have some sort of gluten intorlerance, which means I can't eat some of my favorite foods (cinnamon buns, I will remember you fondly) or drink beer (I was a beer snob, damnit!). And I lost the tip of my left ring finger. I'm probably going to sell my guitar stuff now, even though there are ways to keep playing.

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like? How does it fit into your daily schedule?
I find something difficult to do and practice it repeatedly. Then I combine it with the things that surround it in the game. I probably spend 15 min. to 2 hours per day on speedrunning stuff, although lately stress (casual gaming is a stress reliever) and things related to getting my BA have made my daily routine suboptimal. Tongue

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
This one is easy. The speedrunning community is a cool place full of nice people, whereas society in general and the online communities for, say, Call of Duty are, to put it nicely, hit and miss. For every competent and courteous person I've played Black Ops Zombies with, I've played with about 30 or 40 who were only one or neither.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person? What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
Well, I've watched at least part of all the SDA marathons, ESA, and #SMW (unfortunately I missed the Spooktacular and Sandython). Otherwise I'm going to be at CfL, as I mentioned, and I want that to be a starting point for more charitable speedrunning. Smiley

12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?
I'd love to create some crazy run on sentence full of game references here, but I'm lazy. It's awesome and inclusive.

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
It looks freaking cool. Seriously, a person can be good at the silliest, most irrelevent thing and they get respect for it. Video games are big now, and playing them well - be it through speedrunning or headshotting everything visible (or both) - is pretty badass. The challenge is fun, the result is awesome, and unlike a great many things on the internet, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
AlecK47, AlecK, or just Alec

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
My parents bought me an NES at age 5.  I went from wondering whether I would ever beat 1-1 to fearing bosses to doing crazy things just to see if they worked.  I also developed a completionist complex early on.

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming?  How do they react to your speedrunning?
AFAIK they're all cool with it, even if they don't share the interest.  I've been doing it for so long that it's a part of my identity (I consider myself a metalhead/gamer/intellectual).

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
I'm almost ashamed to admit this, but I saw Morimoto's TAS of SMB3 on Ebaumsworld back in '05 or so.  Youtube searches then lead me to SDA and TASvideos.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
It's like being a ruthless social climber in that you will do anything to finish the game as fast as possible.  But you don't have to be a douche for a variety of reasons, including the fact that collaboration is a good thing, and you have at least some common ground with other speedrunners.

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
I'm running FFXII with Nitrodon at Crystals for Life in March.  I also run Sonic 2 casually (PB under 20 min. SDA timing - it would probably be under 19 if I could find my cart, because I've done that on emulator), I'm doing a segmented any% run of Pokemon XD (on hold), and I have plans for NSMB DS and Mass Effect 100% down the road.

7. What was your most memorable run?  What made it memorable?
I remember runs of games I love most fondly (the SMB progression, Genesis Sonic runs, SM64, almost any Zelda game, etc. - there are a lot of them), but I also enjoy runs of games I haven't played that much, like SotN.

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
Getting my freaking BA.  Holy crap.  When a university bureaucracy messes up your transcript, and you have to fix things...  I also found out that I have some sort of gluten intorlerance, which means I can't eat some of my favorite foods (cinnamon buns, I will remember you fondly) or drink beer (I was a beer snob, damnit!).  And I lost the tip of my left ring finger.  I'm probably going to sell my guitar stuff now, even though there are ways to keep playing.

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like?  How does it fit into your daily schedule?
I find something difficult to do and practice it repeatedly.  Then I combine it with the things that surround it in the game.  I probably spend 15 min. to 2 hours per day on speedrunning stuff, although lately stress (casual gaming is a stress reliever) and things related to getting my BA have made my daily routine suboptimal. :P

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
This one is easy.  The speedrunning community is a cool place full of nice people, whereas society in general and the online communities for, say, Call of Duty are, to put it nicely, hit and miss.  For every competent and courteous person I've played Black Ops Zombies with, I've played with about 30 or 40 who were only one or neither.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person?  What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
Well, I've watched at least part of all the SDA marathons, ESA, and #SMW (unfortunately I missed the Spooktacular and Sandython).  Otherwise I'm going to be at CfL, as I mentioned, and I want that to be a starting point for more charitable speedrunning. :)

12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?
I'd love to create some crazy run on sentence full of game references here, but I'm lazy.  It's awesome and inclusive.

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
It looks freaking cool.  Seriously, a person can be good at the silliest, most irrelevent thing and they get respect for it.  Video games are big now, and playing them well - be it through speedrunning or headshotting everything visible (or both) - is pretty badass.  The challenge is fun, the result is awesome, and unlike a great many things on the internet, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

Piston

2013-02-15 10:24:41 pm

Heh, amateurs...

1. Patrick or Courtney works.

2. I was 4 the first time I played video games. The first game I ever played was Casper (1996) for PS1. After that was a flurry of Croc, Frogger, Rugrats, and other stuff like that.

3. They just assume I'm a loser who plays video games way too much. I never mention the term 'speedrunning'. My mom knows, but I told her I do this because if I get enough WRs, I would get partner LOL. Although that will probably never happen.

4. I was looking up games, let's plays, etc. on YouTube and one of the related videos was something called a 'speedrun'. It was an amazing feeling. I frantically searched 'speedrun' with every game I had owned and discovered a new world beyond imagination.

5. It's like e-sports, except its actually a sport.

6. I love Top-down Frogger's (Frogger: He's Back and Frogger 2 Swampy's Revenge), GUN (Western), Spider-Man (2000), Harry Potter (CoS, POA), Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit, Croc and Croc 2, Driver 1 (You Are The Wheelman) and Driver 2 (The Wheelman Is Back), L.A. Noire, Bugs Bunny Lost In Time, Spyro The Dragon

7. I haven't had any 'god' runs as of yet. The WRs I do hold are pretty much meaningless.

8. I like speedrunning too much. I lack motivation to do anything BUT speedrun.

9. It usually takes me about 40 minutes to warm up for a good run. I'm usually not reset-heavy unless the category is 40 minutes or less. I don't have a schedule, but that would greatly benefit me.

10. Speedrunning hasn't changed my view of gaming. I love video games just as much as I do now as before speedrunning. I wasn't well endowed with money as a child, so I very rarely had new games or consoles. I actually haven't owned a console since having a PS1. Its a shame the fuse fried on it.

11. I would love to attend speedrunning events in person. Better yet, I'd love to participate in one.

12. Its not much, but its home.

13. Being able to enjoy the game thousands of times without regret, even through its flaws, bugs, or glitches.

1. Patrick or Courtney works.

2. I was 4 the first time I played video games. The first game I ever played was Casper (1996) for PS1. After that was a flurry of Croc, Frogger, Rugrats, and other stuff like that.

3. They just assume I'm a loser who plays video games way too much. I never mention the term 'speedrunning'. My mom knows, but I told her I do this because if I get enough WRs, I would get partner LOL. Although that will probably never happen.

4. I was looking up games, let's plays, etc. on YouTube and one of the related videos was something called a 'speedrun'. It was an amazing feeling. I frantically searched 'speedrun' with every game I had owned and discovered a new world beyond imagination.

5. It's like e-sports, except its actually a sport.

6. I love Top-down Frogger's (Frogger: He's Back and Frogger 2 Swampy's Revenge), GUN (Western), Spider-Man (2000), Harry Potter (CoS, POA), Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit, Croc and Croc 2, Driver 1 (You Are The Wheelman) and Driver 2 (The Wheelman Is Back), L.A. Noire, Bugs Bunny Lost In Time, Spyro The Dragon

7. I haven't had any 'god' runs as of yet. The WRs I do hold are pretty much meaningless.

8. I like speedrunning too much. I lack motivation to do anything BUT speedrun.

9. It usually takes me about 40 minutes to warm up for a good run. I'm usually not reset-heavy unless the category is 40 minutes or less. I don't have a schedule, but that would greatly benefit me.

10. Speedrunning hasn't changed my view of gaming. I love video games just as much as I do now as before speedrunning. I wasn't well endowed with money as a child, so I very rarely had new games or consoles. I actually haven't owned a console since having a PS1. Its a shame the fuse fried on it.

11. I would love to attend speedrunning events in person. Better yet, I'd love to participate in one.

12. Its not much, but its home.

13. Being able to enjoy the game thousands of times without regret, even through its flaws, bugs, or glitches.

161803398874989

Edit history:

161803398874989: 2013-02-16 05:33:08 am

2013-02-16 05:32:53 am

MATHEMATICS

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
Obviously 161803398874989, but that doesn't lead itself well to pronounciation. So typically Phi, Numbers, Digits, or whatever identifies me.

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
PSX my brothers and I got from my parents. Started off with Rayman 1, Tarzan and Gran Turismo, one game for each of us. I really got into Spyro 2, though.

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming? How do they react to your speedrunning?
Well, some of my friends play games, so that's positive. Noone I know in real life really cares about speedrunning.

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
Fed981 posted his AC2 run on TheHiddenBlade, an Assassin's Creed website I frequent.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
"You take a game, and then complete it as fast as possible. You can't break the rules, but the spirit of the rules of the game can go screw itself. That means you can use tricks and glitches, but no external cheating codes."

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
Assassin's Creed (working a run). I dabble in Dishonored running, though I very rarely do full runs.

7. What was your most memorable run? What made it memorable?
DemonStrate's Portal Done Pro run. First time I played Portal it took me three hours to finish, and here this guy was, finishing it in less than ten minutes. Also, Floubz very recent run of Mirror's Edge. Tight unlike any other run of that game I have ever seen before.

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
Ehh... dunno.

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like? How does it fit into your daily schedule?
I don't really practice consistently.

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
Watching 'guides' to a game I know how to run is horrible. I feel most video gaming channels don't deliver quality content anymore. They play through a mission two, three times, and then they make a video saying: "the best route is this and that", while it's neither the easiest nor the fastest route. In that sense it has changed my view for the worse. However, it has also caused me to be more stringent in asserting quality in my own play, which is a good thing.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person? What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
I don't care about marathons, just about the speedruns.

12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?
Arrogantly awesome.

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
Finding cool skips and tricks.

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
Obviously 161803398874989, but that doesn't lead itself well to pronounciation. So typically Phi, Numbers, Digits, or whatever identifies me.

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)
PSX my brothers and I got from my parents. Started off with Rayman 1, Tarzan and Gran Turismo, one game for each of us. I really got into Spyro 2, though.

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming?  How do they react to your speedrunning?
Well, some of my friends play games, so that's positive. Noone I know in real life really cares about speedrunning.

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?
Fed981 posted his AC2 run on TheHiddenBlade, an Assassin's Creed website I frequent.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?
"You take a game, and then complete it as fast as possible. You can't break the rules, but the spirit of the rules of the game can go screw itself. That means you can use tricks and glitches, but no external cheating codes."

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?
Assassin's Creed (working a run). I dabble in Dishonored running, though I very rarely do full runs.

7. What was your most memorable run?  What made it memorable?
DemonStrate's Portal Done Pro run. First time I played Portal it took me three hours to finish, and here this guy was, finishing it in less than ten minutes. Also, Floubz very recent run of Mirror's Edge. Tight unlike any other run of that game I have ever seen before.

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?
Ehh... dunno.

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like?  How does it fit into your daily schedule?
I don't really practice consistently.

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?
Watching 'guides' to a game I know how to run is horrible. I feel most video gaming channels don't deliver quality content anymore. They play through a mission two, three times, and then they make a video saying: "the best route is this and that", while it's neither the easiest nor the fastest route. In that sense it has changed my view for the worse. However, it has also caused me to be more stringent in asserting quality in my own play, which is a good thing.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person?  What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?
I don't care about marathons, just about the speedruns.

12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?
Arrogantly awesome.

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?
Finding cool skips and tricks.

tjp7154

Edit history:

tjp7154: 2013-02-16 09:22:43 am

2013-02-16 09:22:21 am

#Casual

Quote from 161803398874989:

1. What name do you prefer to go by?
Obviously 161803398874989, but that doesn't lead itself well to pronounciation. So typically Phi, Numbers, Digits, or whatever identifies me.

Oohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

NOW I get it!

Bl00dyBizkitz

2013-02-16 11:58:04 am

1. What name do you prefer to go by?

Bl00dyBizkitz is perfectly fine. I've had so many different variations of my name at this point, (Bl00dy, Bizkitz, BB, BBizkitz, Bl00dyB, BB, etc.) I honestly don't care what you want to call me. Tongue

2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)

Probably around Kindergarden or 1st Grade, I would constantly watch my dad play Jack Nicholaus' Golf, Super Mario Bros., and Super Contra on the NES. Eventually I was allowed to play it, too, and I loved it. After that I got a Game Boy Color and Nintendo 64 and my life as a gamer had begun.

3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming? How do they react to your speedrunning?

I always had friends who played video games, so it was natural. Family would try and crack down on me playing video games at an earlier age. (No M rated games until you're older, only a few hours a day, etc.) Eventually, when I got into my teens, since I made such good grades, they let me do whatever I wanted. Everyone around me treats speedrunning like video games, so there isn't much difference. People do take more interest, however, when I mention "I speedrun video games" as opposed to saying "I play video games."

4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?

Awesome Games Done Quick 2011. One of my friends linked me to the website with the stream, and I just kept watching. I watched the OoT 4 person race, Mario 64, Kingdom Hearts 2, just about anything I could. However, I didn't keep watching after AGDQ 2011, so I completely forgot about the existence of speedrunning until recently.

5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?

That's a tough question. I'd have to explain what speedrunning is, first. Then I'd want to mention the community, talking about how there are world records and people all over the world speedrunning just about any game imaginable. It really is something else.

6. What games do you primarily speedrun?

Kingdom Hearts 2. I only just started out speedrunning 2 months ago, so I'm focusing on one game at the moment. I plan to try out other games more casually, but Kingdom Hearts 2 is where I put on my try-hard pants. Tongue

7. What was your most memorable run? What made it memorable?

I think I'd say my 4:39 run so far. My personal best is 4:29 now, but the 4:39 run was going pretty bad, so I wasn't super worried about breaking my personal best. Then I started gaining more and more time, and eventually I really buckled down for the last hour of the run. By the end, I was just laughing at horribly my strats had failed, and yet I was still able to pull out a good run. It was probably one of the most fun times I had ever played a video game. Smiley

8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?

I feel bad answering this question, because I see some of the responses before mine and it really chokes me up seeing some of the hardships that people have gone through and how speedrunning has pulled them through that. Honestly, my challenge is balancing speedrunning and real life together. It's tough, since I love to play and practice this game, and yet I clearly know that I should be focusing on something else.

9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like? How does it fit into your daily schedule?

Whenever I find free-time, or sometimes whenever I feel like it, I just play the game and try new things out. It's a hobby, so I just fit it in whenever I can.

10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?

All it does is broaden it for me, really. I realize the vastness of the internet, and it really didn't surprise me to know a community did something like this. However, what did surprise me was how nice and friendly an atmosphere it is to be around.

11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person? What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?

That's one of my goals currently. Even a small speedrun charity is something I'd love to be apart of. Probably my most memorable experience from a marathon was watching OoT being broken in 2011. The only glitches I knew at that time were ISG and Bomb Hovering. I NEVER would've believed that something like RBA was possible. Me and my friends on Skype were freaking out seeing Bottle on B. Tongue

12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?

The lighter side of the gaming community.

13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?

God, I wish I knew. I'm still trying to answer this question myself. Just the dedication that people have towards playing games. I mean, I think the real reason people speedrun is because the love the game they're playing, and they want to see that game pushed to its human limits. That's the reason I speedrun KH2, I want to see it done as quickly as possible.

[b]1. What name do you prefer to go by?[/b]

Bl00dyBizkitz is perfectly fine. I've had so many different variations of my name at this point, (Bl00dy, Bizkitz, BB, BBizkitz, Bl00dyB, BB, etc.) I honestly don't care what you want to call me. :P

[b]2. How did you first get into gaming? (when, and what system/game)[/b]

Probably around Kindergarden or 1st Grade, I would constantly watch my dad play Jack Nicholaus' Golf, Super Mario Bros., and Super Contra on the NES. Eventually I was allowed to play it, too, and I loved it. After that I got a Game Boy Color and Nintendo 64 and my life as a gamer had begun.

[b]3. How do the people around you (friends, family, classmates) react to your interest in gaming?  How do they react to your speedrunning?[/b]

I always had friends who played video games, so it was natural. Family would try and crack down on me playing video games at an earlier age. (No M rated games until you're older, only a few hours a day, etc.) Eventually, when I got into my teens, since I made such good grades, they let me do whatever I wanted. Everyone around me treats speedrunning like video games, so there isn't much difference. People do take more interest, however, when I mention "I speedrun video games" as opposed to saying "I play video games."

[b]4. How did you first become aware of speedrunning?[/b]

Awesome Games Done Quick 2011. One of my friends linked me to the website with the stream, and I just kept watching. I watched the OoT 4 person race, Mario 64, Kingdom Hearts 2, just about anything I could. However, I didn't keep watching after AGDQ 2011, so I completely forgot about the existence of speedrunning until recently.

[b]5. If you met someone who had never heard of speedrunning before, how would you best describe it to them?[/b]

That's a tough question. I'd have to explain what speedrunning is, first. Then I'd want to mention the community, talking about how there are world records and people all over the world speedrunning just about any game imaginable. It really is something else.

[b]6. What games do you primarily speedrun?[/b]

Kingdom Hearts 2. I only just started out speedrunning 2 months ago, so I'm focusing on one game at the moment. I plan to try out other games more casually, but Kingdom Hearts 2 is where I put on my try-hard pants. :P

[b]7. What was your most memorable run?  What made it memorable?[/b]

I think I'd say my 4:39 run so far. My personal best is 4:29 now, but the 4:39 run was going pretty bad, so I wasn't super worried about breaking my personal best. Then I started gaining more and more time, and eventually I really buckled down for the last hour of the run. By the end, I was just laughing at horribly my strats had failed, and yet I was still able to pull out a good run. It was probably one of the most fun times I had ever played a video game. :)

[b]8. What are some of the biggest challenges (in-game and/or in real life) you have faced since you began speedrunning?[/b]

I feel bad answering this question, because I see some of the responses before mine and it really chokes me up seeing some of the hardships that people have gone through and how speedrunning has pulled them through that. Honestly, my challenge is balancing speedrunning and real life together. It's tough, since I love to play and practice this game, and yet I clearly know that I should be focusing on something else.

[b]9. What is your practice regimen for a speed run usually like?  How does it fit into your daily schedule?[/b]

Whenever I find free-time, or sometimes whenever I feel like it, I just play the game and try new things out. It's a hobby, so I just fit it in whenever I can.

[b]10. How has speedrunning changed your view of gaming and the gaming community, if at all?[/b]

All it does is broaden it for me, really. I realize the vastness of the internet, and it really didn't surprise me to know a community did something like this. However, what did surprise me was how nice and friendly an atmosphere it is to be around.

[b]11. Have you attended any speedrunning charity marathons in person?  What was your most memorable experience from a marathon?[/b]

That's one of my goals currently. Even a small speedrun charity is something I'd love to be apart of. Probably my most memorable experience from a marathon was watching OoT being broken in 2011. The only glitches I knew at that time were ISG and Bomb Hovering. I NEVER would've believed that something like RBA was possible. Me and my friends on Skype were freaking out seeing Bottle on B. :P

[b]12. In one sentence, how would you describe the speedrunning community?[/b]

The lighter side of the gaming community.

[b]13. What’s your favorite thing about speedrunning?[/b]

God, I wish I knew. I'm still trying to answer this question myself. Just the dedication that people have towards playing games. I mean, I think the real reason people speedrun is because the love the game they're playing, and they want to see that game pushed to its human limits. That's the reason I speedrun KH2, I want to see it done as quickly as possible.

VGFM

Edit history:

VGFM: 2013-03-30 11:25:56 pm

2013-03-30 11:24:47 pm

OK everyone, the paper's finished! It can be found here and in the first post.

I want to thank everyone again for their input and for taking the time to answer my survey!

gammadragon

2013-04-01 03:21:02 am

Might be magic...

Awesome, got a quote Smiley

Thanks VGFM

ozzy88

2013-04-01 02:09:37 pm

I enjoyed reading it, if that counts for anything ^^

Edenal

2013-04-01 02:19:30 pm

Hockey enthusiast

I'm going to apologize in advance. I enjoyed the read but...

...this comes of as a love-letter to Cosmo to me. You could at least have replaced the repeated mentions with Link or "the speedrunner".

Stormknight

2013-04-01 08:35:07 pm

Now Reap The Whirlwind!

Awesome paper, VGFM! You did a really good job with it. It made for a fun read. Congrats

I have no name

2013-04-01 08:58:40 pm

Obscure games ftw

SDA doesn't claim the runs hosted here are WRs though...

VGFM

Edit history:

VGFM: 2013-04-01 09:49:24 pm

VGFM: 2013-04-01 09:48:25 pm

2013-04-01 09:47:03 pm

Quote from Edenal:

I'm going to apologize in advance. I enjoyed the read but...

...this comes of as a love-letter to Cosmo to me. You could at least have replaced the repeated mentions with Link or "the speedrunner".

This was originally going to be a broader piece on speedrunning as a whole, but one of the requirements of the paper was to have a central, detail-oriented narrative running throughout, and trying to cover more than one runner would have involved jumping back-and-forth between multiple speed runs and games, which would break up the pacing and require even more exposition. I figured that Cosmo's OoT run served as fitting microcosm of the community's efforts to collaborate and get the best times possible.

As for changing up the language, I'll keep that in mind if I ever decide to revise this again. I tried to avoid using 'Link' to keep a sense of mystery in the beginning (in case if part of my audience was familiar with the series), and in the latter half I wanted to make it clear that it was the runner's actions that were driving the narrative, not the character's. Basically, I wanted to subvert the notion that gamers don't "do anything" when they play a game. Still, perhaps I did name-drop him a few too many times.

And thanks for the clarification on SDA records, I have no name.

[quote="Edenal"]I'm going to apologize in advance. I enjoyed the read but...

...this comes of as a love-letter to Cosmo to me. You could at least have replaced the repeated mentions with Link or "the speedrunner".[/quote]

This was originally going to be a broader piece on speedrunning as a whole, but one of the requirements of the paper was to have a central, detail-oriented narrative running throughout, and trying to cover more than one runner would have involved jumping back-and-forth between multiple speed runs and games, which would break up the pacing and require even more exposition.  I figured that Cosmo's OoT run served as fitting microcosm of the community's efforts to collaborate and get the best times possible.

As for changing up the language, I'll keep that in mind if I ever decide to revise this again.  I tried to avoid using 'Link' to keep a sense of mystery in the beginning (in case if part of my audience was familiar with the series), and in the latter half I wanted to make it clear that it was the runner's actions that were driving the narrative, not the character's.  Basically, I wanted to subvert the notion that gamers don't "do anything" when they play a game.  Still, perhaps I did name-drop him a few too many times.

And thanks for the clarification on SDA records, I have no name.

Yagamoth

2013-04-03 05:36:23 am

INTJ

I really liked reading this - the intro especially - well done in my opinion ^^

I have nothing more to add, my english isn't good enough to comment on the writing style Tongue

gia

2013-04-10 02:56:28 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Was going to state the obvious but I see someone already did lol, you made people answer too many questions for your end result I feel Smiley

Yagamoth

2013-04-10 11:15:58 pm

INTJ

Quote from gia:

Was going to state the obvious but I see someone already did lol, you made people answer too many questions for your end result I feel Smiley

I have two things to remark to this
> While by far not all information was used in the essay, having the information available to use opens up a lot of room for creativity. In the end, I feel like the essay would've been to be huge to include most of the information in it ^^
> in any case I enjoyed reading through those Tongue