Speedrunning, the practice of completing video games as quickly as possible, has evolved from early arcade competitions to a diverse online community. Key milestones include the disputed Dragster record in 1982, the incentivization of fast gameplay in Metroid (1986), and the rise of Doom (1993) as a pivotal game due to its in-built replay function. The community grew with Quake's influence, leading to the creation of Speed Demos Archive in 1998. The emergence of live streaming platforms like Twitch and charity events like Games Done Quick have further popularized speedrunning. Despite instances of cheating, the community thrives on passion, precision, and a shared desire to push boundaries and support each other.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The concept of speedrunning has been around since the dawn of humankind.
2. The game "Dragster" (1977) is commonly cited as one of the first documented cases of competitive speedrunning.
3. Todd Rogers claimed to have achieved a record time of 5.51 in "Dragster" in 1982, but this was later disputed.
4. The game "Doom" (1993) is often credited with popularizing speedrunning as we know it today.
5. "Doom" introduced features like an in-game timer and replay function that made it easier for speedrunners to share their runs.
6. The website Speed Demos Archive was created in 1998 and became a hub for speedrunners to share their runs.
7. In 2003, an anonymous speedrunner known as Morimoto uploaded a speedrun of Super Mario Bros. 3 to the internet.
8. The first Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) event was held in 2011 and has been held annually since then.
9. AGDQ is a speedrunning charity marathon that raises money for various causes.
10. In 2014, AGDQ raised over $1 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
11. AGDQ has continued to grow in popularity, with 2020's event raising over $3 million.
12. The speedrunning community has expanded to include speedruns of various games, including indie games and AAA titles.
13. Speedrunning has become increasingly popular, with even mainstream media outlets like IGN covering the scene.
14. The current state of speedrunning is diverse, with speedruns available for almost any game imaginable.