In highly technical tool-assisted speedruns (TAS) or extreme human runs, players perform actions on the exact microsecond a save is occurring. By saving mid-frame, runners can trap the player character in a state of suspended physics—such as being permanently airborne or clipped halfway through a solid wall—which persists when the file is reloaded. 4. The "New Game Plus" and Pre-Baked Save Meta
However, debates still rage. Is a run "legitimate" if the runner has to download a third-party tool to create the starting save file? The community generally splits these into two camps: , which usually require a fresh game, and Tool-Assisted Speedruns (TAS) or Glitch Exhibition Categories , where the save file is a playground for chaos.
: Some modern games, like those discussed on Reddit , include features that allow players to rewind save files to earlier states, which can sometimes manipulate in-game playtime for speed-based achievements. 3. Technical Maintenance
List exactly what you were doing right before the issue occurred.
This is the most advanced, and often controversial, use of a save file. involves intentionally corrupting or modifying a save file, or exploiting the way a game loads a file, to alter the game's memory. speedrunners save file
Using pre-made files from a third party is usually restricted to specific "NG+" (New Game Plus) categories.
: Some users edit game files (like .xnb files) to replace textures or music. This is typically done using tools like GIMP for image manipulation [20, 37].
In the world of competitive gaming, a save file is rarely just a record of progress. It is a precision tool used for practice, a strategic resource for "glitch hunting," and, in some cases, the very foundation of a speedrun category. 🛠️ The Practice File: A Speedrunner’s Gym
Since has a heavy focus on customization, you may want to move or share specific files: In highly technical tool-assisted speedruns (TAS) or extreme
Open Steam, right-click SpeedRunners in your library, select Properties , go to the General tab, and toggle off Keep games saves in the Steam Cloud .
In the "ACE" (Arbitrary Code Execution) categories, runners use specific filenames. By naming a file a precise string of characters, the game's engine reads those names as code instructions, allowing runners to warp directly to the credits. Pokémon Red/Blue
In many "Any%" runs, the save file itself is manipulated to bypass intended game logic. Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE) : In games like Super Mario World
The Hidden Life of Save Files: A Speedrunner’s Best Friend The "New Game Plus" and Pre-Baked Save Meta
The utility of the save file also defines entire categories of speedrunning leaderboards. While "Single-Segment" (SS) runs require the player to beat the game from start to finish in one sitting without stopping, "Segmented" runs elevate the save file to an art form.
“Map memorization is key... just one mistake can cost you the game.” Steam Community · 12 years ago SpeedRunners General Discussions - Steam Community
To a casual player, a save file is a way to say "I'll finish this later." To a speedrunner, it is a teleportation device memory hack training ground
In games with complex inventory systems like Resident Evil or Skyrim , the exact arrangement of items inside a save file matters. Runners will carefully curate a "mule" save file where items are positioned in specific memory slots. This minimizes menu scrolling time or sets up memory corruption bugs (like the Item Substitution glitch) the moment the run begins. 5. Community Infrastructure: Sharing the Files