Speedrunning video games are an interesting group within the larger gaming landscape. It’s not just about getting a higher K/D ratio in Obligations, or displaying the highest skill in a fighting game, but by pitting the player against the game they are either winning the game as quickly as physically possible or completing some sort of challenge within the game world. Speedrunning has continued to grow in popularity as events like Games Done Quick continue to attract more viewers, but for those interested in getting the full picture, Wild Arrow Media, in conjunction with Good Deed Entertainment, has released the documentary Running with Speed: The Fastest Gamers on Earth.
This documentary spends a lot of time on the early days of speedrunning and how streaming platforms like Twitch have brought what could have been a cool party trick to show friends at your house to a global audience. Patrick Lope, Director of Running with Speed, explained: “With the emergence of streaming platforms like Twitch, select runners are finding ways to earn a living from their persistent efforts. It’s both strange and remarkable.” Speedrunners’ journeys featured throughout the documentary include AndrewG, Mitchflowerpower, SpikeVegeta, GlitchCat7, GrandPooBear, and many others. The documentary also covers the first Games Done Quick and the legacy these events have led to donating more than $41 million to Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
By taking the time to set up what Speedrunning is from the ground up, giving viewers a working knowledge base before delving deep enough into Speedrunning to explain how pixel-perfect jumping and sequence breaking are so important to getting the best times possible while speedrunning games like super mario bros 3 either super metroid. Whether you’re new to speedrunning or have been tuning in to AGDQ for years, this documentary is likely to have something new for you to learn.
This documentary is already available for Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon, Google, YouTube Movies, Vudu and in the Microsoft stores. In partnership with Games Done Quick, a portion of the proceeds from each sale will also be donated to the Prevent Cancer Foundation.