Games Done Quick

Games Done Quick

Overview

Games Done Quick is a recurring video game speedrunning marathon organized by Speedrun.com organizers and prominent speedrunner communities that raises funds for charity through live-streamed gameplay. The event features marathons across multiple regions including United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and online contributors from Japan and Germany, attracting audiences on platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, Mixer (historically), and streaming services partnered with GlobalGiving and other nonprofit organizations. Major titles showcased span franchises like Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metroid Prime, Dark Souls, Pokemon Red and Blue, and independent works such as Celeste, Undertale, and Hollow Knight.

History

The marathon traces roots to regional speedrunning meetups and forums including Speed Demos Archive and early contributors from Twin Galaxies and the GameFAQs community. Inaugural events were influenced by precedents like QuakeCon and charity marathons such as Awesome Games Done Quick 2010 which later evolved into recurring editions supported by organizations including Games for Change and partnerships with broadcasters such as ESPN for coverage expansion. Milestones include growing donor engagement during charity drives for Doctors Without Borders, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Save the Children United Kingdom, and Direct Relief, as well as guest appearances by figures from Nintendo of America, Microsoft Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and independent developers like Toby Fox and Celeste Team.

Events and Format

Marathons use segmented schedules with categories like Any%, 100%, Glitchless, and TAS races, referencing rules from Speedrun.com leaderboards and community consensus from regional panels including European Speedrunner Assembly. Events mix individual solo attempts, co-op showcases, developer commentaries, and races using titles from franchises such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Final Fantasy VII, Resident Evil 4, Street Fighter II, and Halo: Combat Evolved. Hosts and commentators include personalities associated with Summoning Salt, GrandPooBear, AWolfintheForest, and other notable streamers, supported by production crews using production tools popularized by OBS Studio and broadcast standards aligned with Nielsen ratings metrics for partner negotiations. Prize incentives, auction items, and incentive milestones have featured memorabilia from Blizzard Entertainment, Valve Corporation, Bethesda Softworks, Atari, and independent publishers showcased at conventions like PAX East and E3.

Community and Charity Impact

The event has mobilized volunteer speedrunners, moderators, and routing teams from networks including Speedrun.com and competitive circuits such as Esports organizations, driving donations to charities like Mercy Corps, Direct Relief, Save the Children, UNICEF, and The Trevor Project. Community governance draws on leadership lessons from organizations like Red Cross volunteer systems and nonprofit fundraising practices used by Oxfam. Fundraising milestones have been recognized by civic institutions including state offices and city councils in host cities such as Boston, Minneapolis, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and Washington, D.C., while impacting game preservation initiatives with archives contributed to repositories including Internet Archive and datasets referenced by scholars at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley.

Notable Runs and Records

Standout performances include world-record runs on titles such as Super Metroid (Any%), route innovations in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild uses of sequence breaking, and marathon highlights featuring speedrunners who later became public figures like Summoning Salt chronicled historians of runs, and competitors who advanced to esports teams associated with Team Liquid and Cloud9. Memorable showcases have included tool-assisted demonstrations referencing Tool-assisted speedrun history, marathon world records for titles like Super Mario 64, Donkey Kong Country, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and innovative glitches first popularized at events attended by developers from Nintendo, Capcom, Square Enix, and indie studios linked to Devolver Digital and Annapurna Interactive.

Organization and Partnerships

The marathon is produced by a core volunteer staff collaborating with streaming platforms, charity partners, exhibitors, and sponsors including major industry stakeholders such as Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Valve Corporation, and media partners who coordinate logistic support with venues like Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and networks experienced from San Diego Comic-Con and Gamescom. Administrative structure includes event directors, routing committees, donation tracking liaised with nonprofits such as Doctors Without Borders and Prevent Cancer Foundation, and legal/financial oversight modeled after nonprofit chapters affiliated with fiscal sponsors used by other community-led initiatives like Child's Play and Extra Life. Partnerships have also extended to academic collaborations with institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology for archival research and technology testing, and industry outreach involving publishers showcased at conventions including PAX West and E3.

Category:Video game marathons