Using glitches in speedruns?

[Skylar1]

So for those not familiar, a speedrun is a challenge to beat a game start to end in the shortest period of time possible. The issue? Using in game glitches and what have you to achieve this. I mean the speedrunners aren't doing anything "wrong" per se, but it can be annoying when half of the run is because of sub-par codding mechanics. Your thoughts?

[Holocast]

Well. If the glitches are in-game and the creators didn't see it fit to fix any of them, I say why not go ahead and use it? It's already part of the game, if you don't know about them then you'll surely find out from other videos.

Then again, if it's like a competition against certain others, then I don't think glitches should be used. But if it's just for your YouTube/Twitch channel then I say why not? They're there, probably going to always be there, so you might as well use them.

Plus, it makes it more interesting imo to see game glitches and see how they're being utilized for certain things.

[blueangel06661]

Well. If the glitches are in-game and the creators didn't see it fit to fix any of them, I say why not go ahead and use it? It's already part of the game, if you don't know about them then you'll surely find out from other videos.

Then again, if it's like a competition against certain others, then I don't think glitches should be used. But if it's just for your YouTube/Twitch channel then I say why not? They're there, probably going to always be there, so you might as well use them.

Plus, it makes it more interesting imo to see game glitches and see how they're being utilized for certain things.

Pretty much all of this. If it's a legit glitch in the game and not a mod glitch or anything else then it's fair game really.

Speed runs are quite pointless anyways. Yeah you went through a game super duper fast. Bravo. No time to enjoy it. At least with glitches it makes it more interesting. Also most of the times the glitches are so complex you don't really nail them on the first try or first few tries either thus cutting into your time.

[Ranshiin]

^ this.


A speedrun is literally defined as thus: completing a game in the shortest amount of time possible, taking advantage of every possible 'contained' in-game method that can be used to shave time off. (( By contained I mean what is coded into the game, intentional or otherwise, without using external software or hardware to manipulate the game )).

So by the literal definition of a speedrun, is using glitches that are present in the game valid? Yes. And quite frankly, some of the glitches in games are hilarious oversights or unintended quirks of physics engines. Others, honestly, I don't even comprehend how people found them and part of the appeal to speedruns for me is how people discover these things (( Blue House Skip on Paper Mario is one such, as are the multitude of physics speed manipulations in Mario 64 that I can't understand how people discovered )). Part of the appeal of a speedrun to me isn't the run itself, but it's what effect the glitches end up having; they can often be very entertaining (and TASes are very good at being entertaining.)

I can understand that some people believe using glitches to be unsporting, because glitches are unintended behaviour in the game due to a code bug/oversight. That's why there are plenty of different speedrun categories in a game, because sometimes people like to see how fast a game can be played 'as it's intended' versus how fast it can be completed no matter what. It's all in good fun in the end, and hey -- think about it. Speedruns raise charity money. Can't complain there.



edit

AGDQ 2014 Trihex hype. lol.

[ZombieWolf2508]

I don't have a problem with it. If it's in the game and doable without any sort of third party software, it's completely fair.

[Sustainna]

There are always Glitchless% runs. Many of the games that are popular for speedrunning have these.
I believe Zelda and Crash Bandicoot are good examples.

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

I think for bragging rights, one should complete a game without glitches. For entertaining purposes though, especially those raising funds then I guess anything goes. Nothing serious.

[Elusive Toaster]

Like Solomore said, there are always glitchless runs. I don't see the problem in using glitches, it definitely doesn't make it easy, not in most cases anyway. Most of the glitches used take a lot of practice to get right every time. It could be argued that the game wasn't intended to be played that way but I doubt the people doing these speedruns haven't played the game once through without using glitches.

I have a lot of respect for speedrunners that use glitches and those that don't, both put in a ridiculous amount of work to get those WRs.