Would you be interested in a monthly amateur speedrunning competition?

[smileyhead]

This is an idea that was brought up in this thread, and I think I should make it a reality, but I'll ask your opinion first.
The point of this competition is to have fun and maybe get some people interested in speedrunning for real.
The game would be structured similarly to KYT, meaning every round will get its separate thread for people to discuss in. Every month, a new game will be selected randomly from a list. People would be able to submit games through a Google Forms application. On the first day of the month, the game will be announced, along with the timer start point (if the game doesn't have its own timer). From then on, people could start their runs. People should record and upload their runs to YouTube, uncut, preferably with a timer overlay (you can set this up in OBS, an easy-to-use recording and streaming programme); this could be left out if the game has its own speedrun timer or if the person can't set OBS up for some reason. In this case, the judges would measure the time of the run.
The deadline would be the 25th. From then on, the runs would be distributed evenly between the judges, who can watch them, to measure them and look for anything questionable.
The monthly leaderboard would then be posted on the 30th, and then we can move on to the next game (if the moth consists of 31 days, that day will be treated as a free day).
I would be the one posting threads, announcements and such. If you're interested, this first month will be used to set everything up, name the event, collect judges, etc.

So, what do you think?

UPDATE: This will be a thing. Please PM me if you want to be a judge (you can still submit runs if you're a judge, you just can't review your own submissions).

 

[Deleted User]

Now, will these games be any%, or will we have to 100% them? Or is it on a title by title basis?

 

[smileyhead]

Now, will these games be any%, or will we have to 100% them? Or is it on a title by title basis?

Any%. Until the player reaches the ending. (And bad endings don't count.)

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Any%. Until the player reaches the ending. (And bad endings don't count.)

Sonic the hedgehog "Bad ending" is due to not collecting chaos emeralds, so would that mean is required to get them? Also there is various games with such rules, to what contributes a bad ending.

 

[smileyhead]

Sonic the hedgehog "Bad ending" is due to not collecting chaos emeralds, so would that mean is required to get them? Also there is various games with such rules, to what contributes a bad ending.

Fair enough, I'll make it case-by-case then.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

I think that potential runners should be able to vote on what games are being done each month, but otherwise I like the idea

 

[smileyhead]

I think that potential runners should be able to vote on what games are being done each month, but otherwise I like the idea

I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Scarlet]

Running full games would probably be a turn off for some. It'd also limit your possible games greatly since I doubt people would be willing to commit to anything above two hours (maybe I'm wrong there though). You'd probably end up getting more interest with unique runs, like World 3 of Yoshi's Island. Parts of a game.

Just my two cents, the idea in itself isn't bad.

Edit:
If you want to test the waters on this, do Kirby's Dream Land Any%. It's 30 minutes if you play casually, 12-15 if you learn to play fast. Would probably be a nice intro.

 

[APartOfMe]

Would you limit these to games you can emulate, or would you also include newer games?

 

[smileyhead]

Would you limit these to games you can emulate, or would you also include newer games?

I'd include newer games too.

 

[_Chaz_]

No, but thanks for asking.

 

[FAST6191]

"uncut"

While I might agree a full bore TAS* (tool assisted speedrun for those familiar with the concept**) would first limit the players and then prove boring I can see some value in savestated games, or lightly savestated (X per level, single slot, only on start of levels). You might even be able to enforce it in emulators if you want to get really into it.

At least have split categories.

*at least until we hit


**crash course on speedrunning.
If there are games you can make a contest on the fastest to play, or play a certain way (the completion percentage stuff mentioned above). Speedrunning is then the name given to it, I am unsure of the origin of said term.
Emulators are a thing so you can then do savestates, record controller inputs for later replay, do macros, see upcoming stats on things (it is right there in the memory maybe), set gameplay speed and any number of other things to get even better results than plain old meat can do, or can even hope to do. This would be the tool assisted speedrun side of things.
However it is not that simple as there are all sorts of different definitions which vary between speedrunning communities on what counts as what. Or if you prefer I could have purchased a rapid fire controller during the NES lifetime, maybe even one from Nintendo themselves, does that count as enhancement? While I might not count automated input and do it all via my own hands might I be allowed to put together my best runs for a given level/segment?

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Oh yeah, I guess I should ask; would emulators be legal? Or, at the very least, have the option to race against other people running the same emulator as you (with no cheats or speedups enabled)?

 

[Deleted User]

Also, something came to mind.

Let's say we decide to do a speedrun of a Pokemon game (for the sake of this example, let's say Ruby/Sapphire). Are we allowed to play the game at 2x speed? Would this just double the time increase?

Also, if we do decide to speedrun an RPG, would we do it in parts? Seems like that would be most appropriate for 2-hour play sessions.

 

[smileyhead]

Oh yeah, I guess I should ask; would emulators be legal? Or, at the very least, have the option to race against other people running the same emulator as you (with no cheats or speedups enabled)?

You'd be able to use an emulator. It's your choice.

Also, something came to mind.

Let's say we decide to do a speedrun of a Pokemon game (for the sake of this example, let's say Ruby/Sapphire). Are we allowed to play the game at 2x speed? Would this just double the time increase?

Also, if we do decide to speedrun an RPG, would we do it in parts? Seems like that would be most appropriate for 2-hour play sessions.

Sure, I'll allow 2x speed, but the timer will run at that speed too.
Also, I think I should go with @Scarlet's idea and only have parts of a game (except if a game is short to speedrun), so RPGs would be fine. Not a whole game in parts, just the first two chapters, or something like that.

 

[VinsCool]

Segment speedruns would be really cool.
I remember seeing TAS of Zelda segments with arbitrary objectives, and that was short and darn cool to watch.

 

[Scarlet]

You'd be able to use an emulator. It's your choice.

Sure, I'll allow 2x speed, but the timer will run at that speed too.
Also, I think I should go with @Scarlet's idea and only have parts of a game (except if a game is short to speedrun), so RPGs would be fine. Not a whole game in parts, just the first two chapters, or something like that.

For what it's worth, speed modifications are a bad idea. You'd be allowing something difficult to moderate and compare against those not using them. It also gives people little reason to play on console.

 

[smileyhead]

For what it's worth, speed modifications are a bad idea. You'd be allowing something difficult to moderate and compare against those not using them. It also gives people little reason to play on console.

Fair enough.

 

[smileyhead]

Update

Alrighty, this will be a thing. I am now collecting judges. It would be nice to have at least 3 judges (including me) before this starts. PM me if you want to apply.
Also, being a judge does not disqualify you from submitting runs, you just can't review your own runs.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Update

Alrighty, this will be a thing. I am now collecting judges. It would be nice to have at least 3 judges (including me) before this starts. PM me if you want to apply.
Also, being a judge does not disqualify you from submitting runs, you just can't review your own runs.

Would it be possible to judge on an on-again-off-again basis? Like do it one month, run the next month, take a break a a few months, etc?