speedrun com

October 28, 2024

### **Speedrun.com: The Central Hub for Speedrunners**

Speedrunning has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, where players attempt to complete video games as quickly as possible, challenging records and sharing their achievements with a vibrant community. At the heart of this thriving culture is **Speedrun.com**, the go-to platform for tracking speedrun records, hosting leaderboards, and connecting players from around the globe. This article explores the key features, history, and significance of Speedrun.com in the speedrunning community.

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### **What is Speedrun.com?**

Founded as a community-driven platform, Speedrun.com serves as the premier destination for speedrunners to showcase their achievements, learn new strategies, and engage with others who share a passion for breaking time-based records. The site provides **leaderboards for thousands of games**, detailed statistics on top players, and various game categories. Beyond serving as a competitive platform, it acts as a **repository of resources**, including tutorials and guides to help new speedrunners improve their skills.

From **classic titles** like *Super Mario 64* and *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* to modern games such as *Minecraft: Java Edition*, the platform offers leaderboards for an incredible variety of games and genres. Each game’s page on the site includes its categories, best times, and details about specific runs, such as the techniques used by the runners.

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### **The Growth of Speedrun.com**

Speedrun.com has been instrumental in the growth of the speedrunning scene. As early as the 1990s, speedrunners shared their accomplishments through forums and small communities. However, with the rise of **Twitch** and **YouTube**, the community needed a centralized platform to store records, organize leaderboards, and provide game-specific resources. Speedrun.com filled this gap, becoming the **definitive platform for speedrunning enthusiasts**.

The community on the site is inclusive and encourages participation. Anyone can **create an account, submit their runs, and compete in various categories**. If a game or category is not listed, users can request its inclusion. This open approach has contributed to the platform’s immense database, covering everything from indie titles to blockbuster franchises.

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### **Features and Tools on Speedrun.com**

Speedrun.com offers a host of features that make it the ideal platform for speedrunners and spectators alike:  

1. **Leaderboards:**  
   Each game on the site has **categories with detailed leaderboards**, such as "Any%" (completing the game as fast as possible without restrictions) or 100% (achieving all in-game objectives). Players can compare times globally or by region.

2. **Submission System:**  
   Players can submit their speedruns directly through the website. The submission process requires **proof in the form of video recordings**, and runs are verified by community moderators to maintain the integrity of the leaderboards.

3. **Game Categories and Variations:**  
   Many games on Speedrun.com have **multiple categories** based on different objectives, such as glitchless runs, no-hit challenges, or character-specific runs. This diversity allows runners to explore multiple facets of the games they love.

4. **Community Forums:**  
   The platform hosts **discussion boards** where users can ask for help, share insights, and connect with other players. These forums foster collaboration and encourage newcomers to join the speedrunning scene.

5. **API and Integration:**  
   Speedrun.com provides a **public REST API**, allowing developers to access data about games, runs, and players. This feature has been used to create tools and applications that enhance the speedrunning experience, such as LiveSplit—an advanced timer software for tracking split times during runs.

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### **How Speedrunning is Changing the Gaming World**

Speedrunning has evolved from a niche hobby into a recognized aspect of gaming culture, thanks in part to Speedrun.com. Events such as **Games Done Quick (GDQ)**, which raise millions of dollars for charity, have further propelled the popularity of speedrunning. Speedrun.com serves as a backbone for these events, where runners showcase their skills live to a global audience.

The **competitive aspect of speedrunning** appeals to gamers who enjoy pushing their limits. Beyond competition, speedrunners also engage in **collaborative efforts to discover new strategies, glitches, and routes** to optimize game completion. For many players, the thrill comes not only from setting new records but also from finding innovative ways to improve their performance.

Speedrun.com’s **integration with other platforms like Twitch** allows users to link their profiles, promoting streams and enabling spectators to watch live runs. This connectivity has helped transform speedrunning into an engaging spectator sport, with communities forming around popular games and individual runners.

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### **Notable Speedruns and Records**

Some games have become **iconic within the speedrunning community** due to the creativity and dedication of the runners. For example:  

- **Super Mario 64** is a staple in the community, with categories like "16-Star" and "70-Star" offering different challenges.  
- **The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild** speedrunners utilize glitches and physics exploits to achieve stunningly fast completion times.  
- **Minecraft: Java Edition** runs often depend on randomness, as players must find essential resources quickly to finish the game.

Speedrun.com also highlights **world records** and significant achievements, making it easy for users to stay updated on the latest milestones. The community takes pride in continuously improving these records, with some games seeing world records broken within hours of each other.

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### **Challenges and Controversies**

Like any competitive platform, Speedrun.com has faced challenges. **Verification disputes** occur occasionally when runs are suspected of being faked or altered. The site relies on community moderators to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of submissions, but disagreements sometimes arise over the validity of certain techniques or the use of tools like emulators.

The platform has also had to address issues related to **website performance**. In October 2020, Speedrun.com experienced downtime, which sparked discussions about the site’s stability and the need for backup systems to ensure that the speedrunning community remains active even during technical difficulties.

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### **The Future of Speedrun.com**

Looking ahead, Speedrun.com aims to continue evolving with the needs of the community. With new games releasing constantly and old games being revisited by runners, the platform’s database will only grow. There are also opportunities for **further integration with streaming platforms** and **enhanced analytics tools** to help runners improve their performances.

Moreover, as **speedrunning becomes more mainstream**, Speedrun.com may explore partnerships with game developers to promote official speedrun modes in new titles. This collaboration could further cement the platform’s role in shaping the future of speedrunning.

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### **Conclusion**

Speedrun.com stands at the forefront of the speedrunning community, providing an essential platform for players to compete, learn, and connect. Its comprehensive leaderboards, community forums, and developer-friendly tools have made it the central hub for speedrunning enthusiasts worldwide. As the gaming landscape evolves, Speedrun.com will remain a vital part of the speedrunning scene, fostering innovation and camaraderie among players determined to push the limits of what’s possible in gaming.