Speed running is like a time trial race combined with an open ended puzzle, but everyone is on the same team. People map the fastest route they can come up with and then try and execute that route as fast as possible. It’s 90% for the challenge and 10% for the personal glory (obviously this varies). Many people who are uninterested in executing routes will spend time theorycrafting new routes, learning everything they can about the game in order to find new techniques that they share with others. This creates a community in which everyone is working together to beat the game as fast as possible, encouraging and competing with each other.
Speed running only seems pointless if you’ve never challenged yourself purely for the fun of it, or taken up a hobby in order to meet people.
There are multiple ways to enjoy things, and just because you’re speedrunning a game doesn’t mean you’ve never played it normally.
A lot of the enjoyment of speedrunning comes from finding new and creative ways to get through each section of the game and perfecting your playthrough as much as possible.
Ah, it sounds like you somehow got the perception that speedrunners think that’s how the game should be played, or that the existence of speedrunning comes with some kind of expectation that normal players are inferior for not attempting it. I think I’ve been there, can’t remember. I’ve definitely felt a similar way about challenge runs.
It’s just another way to have fun with the game, to keep it interesting after you’ve beaten all the content and familiarized yourself with the whole game. Sounds like it’s not your cup of tea, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Keep enjoying games the way you want to, and don’t let anyone make you feel less for not speedrunning.
One would argue theyre having more fun than most. They raise a buttload of money for charity all year long, they form communities and some can even earn a living. They get to explore the limits of something, which most take for granted. Its also cool as hell to watch someone with dedication and passion absolutely destroy your favorite 50 hr RPG in 30 minutes.
I never understood speed running. It’s like they’re trying to complete the game while having the least fun possible.
That’s just not really true if you ever looked at it?
How should I look at it then?
Like any other kind of racing.
Speed running is like a time trial race combined with an open ended puzzle, but everyone is on the same team. People map the fastest route they can come up with and then try and execute that route as fast as possible. It’s 90% for the challenge and 10% for the personal glory (obviously this varies). Many people who are uninterested in executing routes will spend time theorycrafting new routes, learning everything they can about the game in order to find new techniques that they share with others. This creates a community in which everyone is working together to beat the game as fast as possible, encouraging and competing with each other.
Speed running only seems pointless if you’ve never challenged yourself purely for the fun of it, or taken up a hobby in order to meet people.
There are multiple ways to enjoy things, and just because you’re speedrunning a game doesn’t mean you’ve never played it normally.
A lot of the enjoyment of speedrunning comes from finding new and creative ways to get through each section of the game and perfecting your playthrough as much as possible.
Ah, it sounds like you somehow got the perception that speedrunners think that’s how the game should be played, or that the existence of speedrunning comes with some kind of expectation that normal players are inferior for not attempting it. I think I’ve been there, can’t remember. I’ve definitely felt a similar way about challenge runs.
It’s just another way to have fun with the game, to keep it interesting after you’ve beaten all the content and familiarized yourself with the whole game. Sounds like it’s not your cup of tea, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Keep enjoying games the way you want to, and don’t let anyone make you feel less for not speedrunning.
One would argue theyre having more fun than most. They raise a buttload of money for charity all year long, they form communities and some can even earn a living. They get to explore the limits of something, which most take for granted. Its also cool as hell to watch someone with dedication and passion absolutely destroy your favorite 50 hr RPG in 30 minutes.