Speedrun: Difference between revisions

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A '''speedrun''' entails completing a game, or an objective within a game, as quickly as possible within a prescribed ruleset. Performing a speedrun is known as speedrunning, and someone who speedruns is called a speedrunner, or simply runner. Although video games often track the time spent playing, many, including Pokémon, do not explicitly encourage the player to complete them promptly, and speedrunning is not officially recognized.


Speedrunning is the practice of completing a game, or an objective within a game, as quickly as possible within a prescribed ruleset. Speedruns are often recorded or played live on the Internet, both for the purposes of verification and as entertainment for viewers.
Speedruns are often recorded or played live on the Internet, both for the purposes of verification and as entertainment for viewers. While [[Pokémon Red and Blue Versions]] are consistently popular, many Pokémon games, including [[core series]], [[side series]], and [[spin-off Pokémon games]] have been played as speedruns. Pokémon games are played at many speedrunning marathons and events, such as {{wp|Games Done Quick|GDQ}}, as well as Pokémon game-specific events.
 
The {{v|Red and Blue|s}} are consistently popular, but many Pokémon games, including [[core series]], [[side series]], and [[spin-off Pokémon games]] have been played as speedruns. Pokémon games are played at many speedrunning marathons and events, such as {{wp|Games Done Quick|GDQ}}, as well as Pokémon game-specific events.


As RPGs, core series Pokémon games tend to have more variance throughout different speedrun attempts compared to games in other genres. This is in part due to the battle system's use of [[Pseudorandom number generation in Pokémon|randomness]] to determine outcomes such as the amount of damage dealt by a [[move]], whether or not a move inflicts an [[additional effect]], or whether or not a move is a [[critical hit]]. Because of this, speedrunning Pokémon games is often more demanding of the runner's risk management skills than speedrunning games in other genres, as the runner must be conscious of how variance can affect the current game state and must prepare alternatives in routing to account for contingencies.
As RPGs, core series Pokémon games tend to have more variance throughout different speedrun attempts compared to games in other genres. This is in part due to the battle system's use of [[Pseudorandom number generation in Pokémon|randomness]] to determine outcomes such as the amount of damage dealt by a [[move]], whether or not a move inflicts an [[additional effect]], or whether or not a move is a [[critical hit]]. Because of this, speedrunning Pokémon games is often more demanding of the runner's risk management skills than speedrunning games in other genres, as the runner must be conscious of how variance can affect the current game state and must prepare alternatives in routing to account for contingencies.
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==Types/rulesets==
==Types/rulesets==


In addition to choosing a game to play, speedrunners will choose a specific category or categories for their speedrun as defined by the speedrunning community. Categories may limit the strategies available to a speedrunner, which results in different strategies employed by speedruns in disparate categories. There may be many different categories of speedrun for a single game.
In addition to choosing a game to play, speedrunners will choose a specific category or categories for their speedrun as defined by the speedrunning community. Categories may limit the strategies available to a speedrunner, which results in different strategies employed by speedruns in disparate categories. There may be many different categories of speedrun which may or may not overlap for a single game.


* '''Any%:''' Speedruns that attempt to finish the game without achieving optional objectives. This is usually defined as reaching the game's ending credits. In [[Generation II]] and [[Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions|its remakes]], this entails defeating {{OBP|Red|game}}.
* '''Any%:''' Speedruns that attempt to finish the game without achieving optional objectives. This is usually defined as reaching the game's ending credits. In [[Generation II]] and [[Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions|its remakes]], this entails defeating {{OBP|Red|game}}.
* '''Glitchless:''' Speedruns that do not use [[glitch]]es. Whether an aspect of a game is considered a glitch or an intended mechanic can vary depending on the community. For example, {{DL|List of battle glitches (Generation I)|ghost Marowak bypassing}} is often allowed in glitchless runs of {{2v2|Red|Blue}}.
* '''Glitchless:''' Speedruns that do not use [[glitch]]es. Whether an aspect of a game is considered a glitch or an intended mechanic can vary depending on the community. For example, {{DL|List of battle glitches (Generation I)|ghost Marowak bypassing}} is often allowed in glitchless runs of {{2v2|Red|Blue}}.
* '''Manipless:''' Speedruns that do not use {{DL|Pseudorandom number generation in Pokémon|RNG abuse}}. These speedruns may require different strategies to account for the decrease in consistency.
* '''Manipless:''' Speedruns that do not use {{DL|Pseudorandom number generation in Pokémon|RNG abuse}}. RNG abuse or manipulation is not considered a glitch and manipless runs may or may not also be glitchless.
* '''RTA/TA:''' RTA is short for Real Time Attack, which refers to runs played continuously from beginning to end, with pauses counting towards the final time. TA is short for Time Attack, which refers to speedruns completed in non-contiguous segments. RTA and TA runs may be referred to as single-segment and segmented runs, respectively. TA/segmented runs were more common prior to the 2010s, though RTA/single-segment speedruns are considered the modern standard.
* '''RTA/TA:''' RTA is short for Real Time Attack, which refers to runs played continuously from beginning to end, with pauses counting towards the final time. TA is short for Time Attack, which refers to speedruns completed in non-contiguous segments. RTA and TA runs may be referred to as single-segment and segmented runs, respectively. TA/segmented runs were more common prior to the 2010s, while RTA/single-segment speedruns are considered the modern standard.
* '''TAS:''' TAS is short for Tool Assisted Speedrun, which is a speedrun that employs software emulation and external tools to achieve a speedrun that may be beyond human capabilities. TAS runs may manipulate the RNG to a great extent or perform glitches that would otherwise be difficult to consistently trigger.
* '''TAS:''' TAS is short for Tool Assisted Speedrun, which is a speedrun that employs software emulation and external tools to achieve a speedrun that may be beyond human capabilities. TAS runs may manipulate the RNG to a great extent or perform glitches that would otherwise be difficult to consistently trigger.
* '''Category extensions:''' Speedruns that attempt to achieve specific optional objectives. In Pokémon, this could include an objective such as capturing certain Pokémon, such as all of the [[legendary Pokémon]] available, or defeating optional boss Trainers, such as the {{DL|Rematch|Pokémon League rematches}}.
* '''Category extensions:''' Speedruns that attempt to achieve specific optional objectives. In Pokémon, this could include an objective like capturing certain Pokémon, such as all of the [[legendary Pokémon]] available, or defeating optional boss Trainers, such as the {{DL|Rematch|Pokémon League rematches}}.
* '''Alt main:''' In the context of Pokémon speedrunning, a "main" is a certain Pokémon used for the majority of the speedrun. Playing with an alt main means playing through the game with a less optimal Pokémon species or evolution line than those that would be typically used in the speedrun.
* '''Alt main:''' In the context of Pokémon speedrunning, a "main" is a certain Pokémon used for the majority of the speedrun. Playing with an alt main means playing through the game with a less optimal Pokémon species or evolution line than those that would be typically used in the speedrun.


==Early history==
==Early history==


In the English-speaking community, discussion of Pokémon speedrunning appears on the Twin Galaxies forums in early 2004.<ref>[https://www.twingalaxies.com/archive/index.php/t-111116.html "Pokemon Speed Run", Twin Galaxies] forum archives</ref> The first recorded speedrun of a Pokémon game is a segmented run of Pokémon Red by 'Cygnus' in May of 2005, which was listed as 2:40 based on the in-game timer.<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews05q2.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from April through June, 2005.</ref> This was followed in August by a segmented speedrun of Pokémon Yellow by 'DTaeKim,' which got a time of 2:28.<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews05q3.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from July through September, 2005.</ref> Notably, this is the first recorded run to {{DL|List of battle glitches (Generation I)|Ghost Marowak bypassing|bypass ghost Marowak}}, as well as the first to use {{p|Nidoking}} as the main Pokémon. In October of 2005, a tool-assisted run of Pokémon Blue was uploaded by 'Titus,' who completed the game in 1:51 without taking damage by aggressively manipulating the RNG.<ref>[https://tasvideos.org/428M SGB Pokémon: Blue Version by Tilus in 1:51:06.50], TASVideos</ref> A segmented run of Pokémon Gold by 'Brown Bomber' was uploaded in February of 2006.<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews06q1.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from January through March, 2006.</ref> In July of 2007, 'Thomaz' uploaded a segmented run of Pokémon Blue that achieved a time of 1:26 through the use of various glitches, including the [[Pewter Gym skip glitch]], [[Mew glitch]], {{DL|Experience|Experience underflow glitch}}, {{DL|Glitch City|accessing Glitch City}}, and [[walking through walls]].<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews08q1.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from January through March, 2008.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLUh_evaY6s&list=PLC155EC8561B9709D Pokemon Blue speedrun (old run)], ThomazSDA on YouTube</ref> The first recorded RTA run of a Pokémon game was done by 'Jacob91', who completed Pokémon Red in 2:39 in June of 2008.<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews08q2.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from April through June, 2008.</ref>
In the English-speaking community, discussion of Pokémon speedrunning appears on the Twin Galaxies forums in early 2004.<ref>[https://www.twingalaxies.com/archive/index.php/t-111116.html Pokemon Speed Run, Twin Galaxies] forum archives</ref> The first recorded speedrun of a Pokémon game is a segmented run of [[Pokémon Red and Blue Versions|Pokémon Red]] by 'Cygnus' in May of 2005, which was listed as 2:40 based on the in-game timer, counting the hours followed by the minutes played.<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews05q2.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from April through June, 2005.</ref> This was followed in August by a segmented speedrun of {{game|Yellow}} by 'DTaeKim,' which got a time of 2:28.<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews05q3.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from July through September, 2005.</ref> Notably, this is the first recorded run to {{DL|List of battle glitches (Generation I)|Ghost Marowak bypassing|bypass ghost Marowak}}. In October of 2005, a tool-assisted run of Pokémon Blue was uploaded by 'Titus,' who completed the game in 1:51 without taking damage by aggressively manipulating the RNG.<ref>[https://tasvideos.org/428M SGB Pokémon: Blue Version by Tilus in 1:51:06.50], TASVideos</ref> A segmented run of [[Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions|Pokémon Gold]] by 'Brown Bomber' was uploaded in February of 2006.<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews06q1.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from January through March, 2006.</ref> In July of 2007, 'Thomaz' uploaded a segmented run of Pokémon Blue that achieved a time of 1:26 through the use of various glitches, including the [[Pewter Gym skip glitch]], [[Mew glitch]], {{DL|Experience|Experience underflow glitch}}, {{DL|Glitch City|accessing Glitch City}}, and [[walking through walls]].<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews08q1.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from January through March, 2008.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLUh_evaY6s&list=PLC155EC8561B9709D Pokemon Blue speedrun (old run)], ThomazSDA on YouTube</ref> The first recorded RTA run of a Pokémon game was done by 'Jacob91', who completed Pokémon Red in 2:39 in June of 2008.<ref>[https://speeddemosarchive.com/oldnews08q2.html Speed Demos Archive - Old News], News from April through June, 2008.</ref>


==Common strategies==
==Common strategies==
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* The overworld is navigated precisely, and the speedrunner avoids talking to extraneous [[non-player character]]s or picking up unneeded [[item]]s.
* The overworld is navigated precisely, and the speedrunner avoids talking to extraneous [[non-player character]]s or picking up unneeded [[item]]s.
* Speedrunners will often use one Pokémon found early in the game and concentrate [[experience]] on that Pokémon, though they may sometimes "pivot" to using another Pokémon later in the game if a sufficiently strong one becomes available, such as a [[legendary Pokémon]].
* Speedrunners will often use one Pokémon found early in the game and concentrate [[experience]] on that Pokémon, though they may sometimes "pivot" to using another Pokémon later in the game if a sufficiently strong one becomes available, such as a [[legendary Pokémon]].
* Because speedrunners often avoid battling optional {{pkmn|Trainer}}s, [[battle item]]s are often used to strengthen Pokémon during {{DL|Appendix:Fan terminology|boss}} fights.
* Depletion of the main Pokémon's [[HP]] and [[PP]] is carefully monitored and the use of {{cat|HP-restoring items}} and {{cat|PP-restoring items}} is deliberately planned to avoid using [[Pokémon Center]]s.
* Depletion of the main Pokémon's [[HP]] and [[PP]] is carefully monitored and the use of {{cat|HP-restoring items}} and {{cat|PP-restoring items}} is deliberately planned to avoid using [[Pokémon Center]]s.
* When possible, opposing Pokémon may be defeated with neutrally effective moves instead of super effective moves to avoid additional text.
* When possible, opposing Pokémon may be defeated with neutrally effective moves instead of super effective moves to avoid additional text.
* While using [[starter Pokémon]], a speedrunner may deliberately keep their main Pokémon at low health in order to take advantage of {{a|Torrent}} or {{a|Blaze}}. If a speedrunner is playing [[Generation I]], in which [[Ability|Abilities]] do not exist, they may keep their main Pokémon at low health in order to take advantage of the {{DL|List of glitches (Generation I)|Red Bar Glitch}}.
* While using [[starter Pokémon]], a speedrunner may deliberately keep their main Pokémon at low health in order to take advantage of {{a|Torrent}} or {{a|Blaze}}. If a speedrunner is playing [[Generation I]], in which [[Ability|Abilities]] do not exist, they may keep their main Pokémon at low health in order to take advantage of the {{DL|List of battle glitches (Generation I)|red bar glitch}}.
* Because speedrunners often avoid battling optional {{pkmn|Trainer}}s, [[battle item]]s are often used to strengthen Pokémon during {{DL|Appendix:Fan terminology|boss}} fights.
* Some bosses carry HP-restoring items that they use when their Pokémon's HP is low. To avoid leaving boss Pokémon with low health, which would prompt the boss to use a healing item, speedrunners may use weaker moves to inflict damage before using a stronger move to knock out the Pokémon.


==References==
==References==
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*[https://gist.github.com/0xabad1dea/0e2ac7119a543547e05cb51ed1aa5601 Speedrunning FAQ/Glossary by 0xabad1dea]
*[https://gist.github.com/0xabad1dea/0e2ac7119a543547e05cb51ed1aa5601 Speedrunning FAQ/Glossary by 0xabad1dea]


[[:Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Fanon terminology]]
[[:Category:Pokémon meta]]
[[Category:Pokémon meta]]

Revision as of 00:19, 18 November 2023

A speedrun entails completing a game, or an objective within a game, as quickly as possible within a prescribed ruleset. Performing a speedrun is known as speedrunning, and someone who speedruns is called a speedrunner, or simply runner. Although video games often track the time spent playing, many, including Pokémon, do not explicitly encourage the player to complete them promptly, and speedrunning is not officially recognized.

Speedruns are often recorded or played live on the Internet, both for the purposes of verification and as entertainment for viewers. While Pokémon Red and Blue Versions are consistently popular, many Pokémon games, including core series, side series, and spin-off Pokémon games have been played as speedruns. Pokémon games are played at many speedrunning marathons and events, such as GDQ, as well as Pokémon game-specific events.

As RPGs, core series Pokémon games tend to have more variance throughout different speedrun attempts compared to games in other genres. This is in part due to the battle system's use of randomness to determine outcomes such as the amount of damage dealt by a move, whether or not a move inflicts an additional effect, or whether or not a move is a critical hit. Because of this, speedrunning Pokémon games is often more demanding of the runner's risk management skills than speedrunning games in other genres, as the runner must be conscious of how variance can affect the current game state and must prepare alternatives in routing to account for contingencies.

Types/rulesets

In addition to choosing a game to play, speedrunners will choose a specific category or categories for their speedrun as defined by the speedrunning community. Categories may limit the strategies available to a speedrunner, which results in different strategies employed by speedruns in disparate categories. There may be many different categories of speedrun which may or may not overlap for a single game.

  • Any%: Speedruns that attempt to finish the game without achieving optional objectives. This is usually defined as reaching the game's ending credits. In Generation II and its remakes, this entails defeating Red.
  • Glitchless: Speedruns that do not use glitches. Whether an aspect of a game is considered a glitch or an intended mechanic can vary depending on the community. For example, ghost Marowak bypassing is often allowed in glitchless runs of Red and Blue.
  • Manipless: Speedruns that do not use RNG abuse. RNG abuse or manipulation is not considered a glitch and manipless runs may or may not also be glitchless.
  • RTA/TA: RTA is short for Real Time Attack, which refers to runs played continuously from beginning to end, with pauses counting towards the final time. TA is short for Time Attack, which refers to speedruns completed in non-contiguous segments. RTA and TA runs may be referred to as single-segment and segmented runs, respectively. TA/segmented runs were more common prior to the 2010s, while RTA/single-segment speedruns are considered the modern standard.
  • TAS: TAS is short for Tool Assisted Speedrun, which is a speedrun that employs software emulation and external tools to achieve a speedrun that may be beyond human capabilities. TAS runs may manipulate the RNG to a great extent or perform glitches that would otherwise be difficult to consistently trigger.
  • Category extensions: Speedruns that attempt to achieve specific optional objectives. In Pokémon, this could include an objective like capturing certain Pokémon, such as all of the legendary Pokémon available, or defeating optional boss Trainers, such as the Pokémon League rematches.
  • Alt main: In the context of Pokémon speedrunning, a "main" is a certain Pokémon used for the majority of the speedrun. Playing with an alt main means playing through the game with a less optimal Pokémon species or evolution line than those that would be typically used in the speedrun.

Early history

In the English-speaking community, discussion of Pokémon speedrunning appears on the Twin Galaxies forums in early 2004.[1] The first recorded speedrun of a Pokémon game is a segmented run of Pokémon Red by 'Cygnus' in May of 2005, which was listed as 2:40 based on the in-game timer, counting the hours followed by the minutes played.[2] This was followed in August by a segmented speedrun of Pokémon Yellow by 'DTaeKim,' which got a time of 2:28.[3] Notably, this is the first recorded run to bypass ghost Marowak. In October of 2005, a tool-assisted run of Pokémon Blue was uploaded by 'Titus,' who completed the game in 1:51 without taking damage by aggressively manipulating the RNG.[4] A segmented run of Pokémon Gold by 'Brown Bomber' was uploaded in February of 2006.[5] In July of 2007, 'Thomaz' uploaded a segmented run of Pokémon Blue that achieved a time of 1:26 through the use of various glitches, including the Pewter Gym skip glitch, Mew glitch, Experience underflow glitch, accessing Glitch City, and walking through walls.[6][7] The first recorded RTA run of a Pokémon game was done by 'Jacob91', who completed Pokémon Red in 2:39 in June of 2008.[8]

Common strategies

Speedrunners will meticulously plan their progression throughout the game, including both overworld movement and in-battle strategies, in a practice known as "routing." A speedrun route may be highly specific to the point of dictating the exact steps a speedrunner will take while navigating the overworld and every move used during battle. Generally, speedrun routes should be able to be executed consistently, although speedrun attempts following the prescribed route may still fail as a result of either the speedrunner's inability to execute the route properly or because of bad luck.

  • At the start of the game, speedrunners will usually enter the game's options to set the game's text speed to high, the battle style to set, and the battle effects off.
  • Frequently used Pokémon are given nicknames of only a single character in order to reduce the amount of text displayed.
  • The overworld is navigated precisely, and the speedrunner avoids talking to extraneous non-player characters or picking up unneeded items.
  • Speedrunners will often use one Pokémon found early in the game and concentrate experience on that Pokémon, though they may sometimes "pivot" to using another Pokémon later in the game if a sufficiently strong one becomes available, such as a legendary Pokémon.
  • Depletion of the main Pokémon's HP and PP is carefully monitored and the use of HP-restoring items and PP-restoring items is deliberately planned to avoid using Pokémon Centers.
  • When possible, opposing Pokémon may be defeated with neutrally effective moves instead of super effective moves to avoid additional text.
  • While using starter Pokémon, a speedrunner may deliberately keep their main Pokémon at low health in order to take advantage of Torrent or Blaze. If a speedrunner is playing Generation I, in which Abilities do not exist, they may keep their main Pokémon at low health in order to take advantage of the red bar glitch.
  • Because speedrunners often avoid battling optional Trainers, battle items are often used to strengthen Pokémon during boss fights.
  • Some bosses carry HP-restoring items that they use when their Pokémon's HP is low. To avoid leaving boss Pokémon with low health, which would prompt the boss to use a healing item, speedrunners may use weaker moves to inflict damage before using a stronger move to knock out the Pokémon.

References

  1. Pokemon Speed Run, Twin Galaxies forum archives
  2. Speed Demos Archive - Old News, News from April through June, 2005.
  3. Speed Demos Archive - Old News, News from July through September, 2005.
  4. SGB Pokémon: Blue Version by Tilus in 1:51:06.50, TASVideos
  5. Speed Demos Archive - Old News, News from January through March, 2006.
  6. Speed Demos Archive - Old News, News from January through March, 2008.
  7. Pokemon Blue speedrun (old run), ThomazSDA on YouTube
  8. Speed Demos Archive - Old News, News from April through June, 2008.

External links