Why is speedrunning so popular Era?

[NovumVeritas]

Hi Era,

was asking myself why speedrunning is so popular? Was speedrunning always that popular or went it more popular with streaming services?

 

[DanteMenethil]

It's fun to see a game get completely deconstructed

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

It's fun.

 

[AshenOne]

Is it? If so then I for one am shocked because its not even close to being remotely popular on era IMO.

 

[Saikyo]

Its a way to be competitive in single player games, also its fun seeing games being destroyed and if you keep watching for years new strats and stuffs.

But yeah imo it was more popular before, people arent that hyped for GDQ for example.

 

[Valcon]

I recommend watching this video to get a better idea

 

[Fat4all]

it's fun to watch your favorite games be destroyed in various ways

 

[Deleted member 23046]

It's e-sport for geeks.

I also enjoy [anything] run. blindfold run, konga run, toes run etc.

Blindfold run

Click to shrink...

 

[Nayishiki]

It's fun to do and also fun to watch.

 

[Platy]

Hi Era,

was asking myself why speedrunning is so popular? Was speedrunning always that popular or went it more popular with streaming services?

Click to shrink...

While it became MUCH more popular with streaming and the games done quick, I do remember downloading a Mario Bros 3 TAS video before even youtube existed

 

[StallionDan]

Speed running always had a fanbase, but I think games these days offer less other ways to challenge the player outside of basics like no damage, knife only runs etc type stuff.

 

[ichigoww]

I like watching the game breaking bugs
Also, there's no way I'd be able to grind away all the hours these people put in just one game without losing my mind, respect to them for that

 

[Fanto]

I do think streaming definitely helped increase the popularity of it, it's a lot of fun to watch people do live runs.

Otherwise, I just think it's fun to watch people blast through my favorite games. In some cases you'll even learn some technical trivia about how it's movement code works or how the levels are designed, and I think stuff like that is interesting too.

 

[Lant_War]

Speedrunning popular on Era? What?

 

[Metal Slugger]

bc two minutes of joy is what most ERA members can handle before nap time

Spoiler

It's just for fun, same as trying to glitch the game out for giggles.

 

[Deleted member 15428]

Hi Era,

was asking myself why speedrunning is so popular? Was speedrunning always that popular or went it more popular with streaming services?

Click to shrink...

 

[skeezx]

i have a co worker that knows fuck all about games but annoyingly sends me videos of speedruns every day. dude is completely obsessed

it's been a popular 'thing' for like 15 years now, not even factoring in the enthusiast sphere

 

[NovumVeritas]

Speedrunning popular on Era? What?

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I never stated that speedrunning is popular on Era. I asked the question at the Era members.

 

[DrKelpo]

It's fun seeing people bash in the face of some NPC at the exact right pixel with a bronze statue to launch themselves across the entire map right in front of the final boss.

 

[Ayirek]

Watch a Link to the Past rando race and tell me it wasn't a blast.

 

[Porygon]

Have you seen speedruns? They are fun and interesting as hell

 

[dmr87]

Nostalgia and competition.

 

[Angie]

Is fun to watch.

I do think streaming definitely helped increase the popularity of it, it's a lot of fun to watch people do live runs.

Otherwise, I just think it's fun to watch people blast through my favorite games. In some cases you'll even learn some technical trivia about how it's movement code works or how the levels are designed, and I think stuff like that is interesting too.

Click to shrink...

Ypu changed your avatar. For shame....

 

[Silver-Streak]

Time Attack competitions has been a thing since before video games. See the Olympics or any of the SCCA Time Attack racing leagues. It's popular because it's interesting to see someone strive for a new record, and to see someone extremely skilled at a specialized task.

 

[Lua]

Not always as popular as it is today, it exploded in 2013 onwards, but it was very present during all 00's and a little bit on late 90's. It was also very very easy to cheat, vide the case of Mike "TSA" Damiani and the ocarina of time splices( but since no one knew, it actually helped create the scene long term).

 

[Lant_War]

I never stated that speedrunning is popular on Era. I asked the question at the Era members.

Click to shrink...

I swear there was an on on the title

 

[NovumVeritas]

Interesting to hear about your opinions. I recently started to speedrun Resident Evil 1 on PC. I like to watch AGDQ and SGDQ.
I remember that speedrunning was not that huge in the Justin.tv days. But maybe I never knew it existed before then.

 

[PRBoricua23]

It's e-sport for geeks.

I also enjoy [anything] run. Blind run, konga run, toes run etc.

Click to shrink...

That last one is a joke, right? .... right?

 

[Fanto]

Ypu changed your avatar. For shame....

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It hasn't even been a day and you already caught me lol.

 

[Firemind]

It's e-sport for geeks.

I also enjoy [anything] run. Blind run, konga run, toes run etc.

Click to shrink...

Blindfold run

 

[refusi0n1]

My earliest memory of it was challenging friends to beat super mario bros on nes as fast as possible or with one life no warp pipes etc. Always figured others did the same and it snowballed into speedrunning

 

[Daniel Westlake]

Its a way to be competitive in single player games, also its fun seeing games being destroyed and if you keep watching for years new strats and stuffs.

But yeah imo it was more popular before, people arent that hyped for GDQ for example.

Click to shrink...

It has dips here and there but I think speedrunning as a whole is only getting more popular. I'm pretty sure GDQ has been trending larger overall.

 

[NovumVeritas]

That last one is a joke, right? .... right?

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No only feet runs are a thing. JroctheGod on Twitch is doing these.

 

[Achtung]

I mean you get to see people who are amazing at our favorite hobby do amazing things in games we love.. hell even games I dont like I enjoy a good speedrun of. Not sure why its a mystery.

 

[Daniel Westlake]

It's nice to watch someone do something very well.

 

[Gunny T Highway]

It's fun to see a game get completely deconstructed

Click to shrink...

This. Seeing other people completely wreck a game you used to play is entertaining to watch.

 

[Blue Sky Noise]

gotta go fast

 

[Rhete]

Twitch definitely helped a lot, streaming live attempts and building a community to chat with while doing so

 

[Garrod Ran]

it helps make some games better overall too

Sonic 06 is a pretty bad game casually, but it's a fantastic speedrun game
i love watchin' 06 runs

 

[NovumVeritas]

Twitch definitely helped a lot, streaming live attempts and building a community to chat with while doing so

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That is the thing I observed. On Justin.tv speedrunning was not so obvious to see. The first time I have seen speedruns were when I watched Resident Evil streams on Twitch.

 

[Bulebule]

I love it them to see when players break the game in ways I didn't know it was possible and use secrets I didn't know about. I don't watch them that much anymore, just randomly when I find someone find new ways to break the game I like.

 

[Deleted member 679]

Fun things are fun and dogs eat dog food.

 

[Hecht]

Watch a Link to the Past rando race and tell me it wasn't a blast.

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God I love playing these (and watching them)

 

[TimeFire]

Adding more videos to the thread

 

[Deleted member 28523]

doing the impossible is fun.

 

[Yoshimitsu126]

I learned from a windwaker speed run that ice arrows can freeze flying rocket butts moths in air and they drop down and break instantly.

 

[Tygre]

People like watching difficult things done well.

They especially like watching things they can actually try themselves done well.

See also: Sports

 

[Deleted member 61326]

It's fun. The first thing I do after beating game X is going to YouTube and search for "X speed run"

 

[Deleted member 61326]

The only thing I don't like about speed runs are seeing some people playing for hours and hours every day trying to break the next milestone. I sincerely hope they are happy, but I sometimes get the feeling that they use speed runs to escape from "real life".

 

[Giga Man]

Speedrunning has always been popular. It's fun to watch someone who has immense knowledge of game also have the skill the totally break it into pieces, whether it's through glitches and exploits, or just being really really good at using the game's tools to maximum effect.