Editing Speed Demos Archive (section)

== Content ==
As of March 2018, SDA hosts speedrun videos of over 1,200 games. These videos are all available for download, and almost all are available in multiple video qualities. The site includes videos of popular games as ''[[Mega Man (video game)|Mega Man]]'', ''[[Metroid]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. The site has been featured numerous times in publications such as ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' and [[G4tv]]'s ''[[Attack of the Show!]]''.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} Some of the runs also appeared in an episode of ''[[Pure Pwnage]]''.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

=== Submissions ===
Speedruns submitted to SDA undergo a comprehensive verification process performed by SDA community members familiar with the game in question. Participants scrutinize the recording in evaluation of both its gameplay and video quality. The review process also attempts to certify that the submitted speedrun contains no foul play such as cheating{{refn|group=Note|Distinct categories may be created that allow the use of in-game cheats, such as those that enable higher levels of difficulty. Alternatively, categories have been established that allow the use of some cheats (e.g. [[Banjo-Tooie]]).<ref name=cheato>{{Cite web|url=https://www.speedrun.com/bt#Cheato|title=Banjo-Tooie – Leaderboard – speedrun.com|website=speedrun.com|access-date=2019-01-25|quote=Using Cheato cheats is allowed.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125183259/https://www.speedrun.com/bt#Cheato|archive-date=25 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>}}, hacking, or improper segmenting. Additionally, participants ensure that the submission adheres to the site's rules, as well as any game-specific and category-specific requirements. SDA staff evaluates the community responses and makes a final determination regarding whether or not the run is to be accepted. This verdict is posted publicly in the SDA forum alongside the verifying users' responses.

If a submission is accepted, the video of the run is encoded in multiple qualities and posted on the site alongside the runner's comments, which can detail specifics regarding the run.<ref name=zelda>{{Cite web|url=http://speeddemosarchive.com/ZeldaOcarinaOfTime.html|title=Speed Demos Archive – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|website=speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122133529/http://speeddemosarchive.com/ZeldaOcarinaOfTime.html|archive-date=22 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> {{Citation needed span|text=Some runs also contain a second audio track with additional commentary from the runner.|reason=A reference to an SDA submission with multiple audio tracks should be included here.|date=January 2019}}

=== Rules ===
Generally, Runs with no sound, horribly loud or overpeaked sound, or mixed-in music are unacceptable.

==== Fundamentals ====
Submitted speedruns are typically performed on their native consoles. When performing a run of a PC game, the rules may mandate that certain computer configurations be adhered to. In general, SDA will not accept runs that are performed on emulators, as emulation can be influenced by the configuration of the computer being used. Furthermore, it is particularly difficult to verify whether or not a run performed on an emulator is [[Tool-assisted speedrun|tool-assisted]]. Nevertheless, SDA does permit the use of emulators in certain cases; submissions performed on the Game Boy Player, GameTap, and [[Virtual Console]]<ref name=virtualconsole>{{Cite web|url=http://speeddemosarchive.com/demo.pl?DonkeyKong64_VC_101p_Deaths_SS_55744|title=Donkey Kong 64 Virtual Console Speed Demos Archive – Download|website=speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120005557/http://speeddemosarchive.com/demo.pl?DonkeyKong64_VC_101p_Deaths_SS_55744|archive-date=20 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> are allowed.<ref name="FundamentalRules">{{Cite web|url=https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Fundamental_rules|title=Fundamental Rules – Rules – SDA Knowledge Base|website=kb.speeddemosarchive.com|quote=Note that an exception is made for officially sanctioned emulators such as the Game Boy Player, the Virtual Console, and the GameTap.|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152446/https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Fundamental_rules|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Virtual machines]] and [[DOSBox]] are allowed in cases where an older PC game does not run properly on modern computers.<ref name=virtualization>{{Cite web|url=https://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/post/virtualization_software_and_dosbox_allowed_for_old_games.html|title=Virtualization Software and DOSBox allowed for old games|website=forum.speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-25|quote=Think of these tools as a last resort, not a default option.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125131111/https://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/post/virtualization_software_and_dosbox_allowed_for_old_games.html|archive-date=25 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rule_history|title=Rule history – SDA Knowledge Base|website=kb.speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125131101/https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rule_history|archive-date=25 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Use of this software is reserved for specific circumstances and these submissions must adhere to several additional rules.<ref name=dosboxrules>{{Cite web|url=https://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/post/official_dosbox_settings_discussion_topic.html|title=Official DOSBox Settings Discussion Topic|website=forum.speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125131126/https://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/post/official_dosbox_settings_discussion_topic.html|archive-date=25 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to potential emulation inaccuracies, runs that utilize an emulator may be categorized separately from those of the original release.{{refn|group=Note|"Due to problems with many official emulators, we will place [runs performed on] them in separate categories if the known differences make comparison with runs made on other platforms difficult."<ref name="FundamentalRules" />}}

Non-cosmetic modifications to a game, console, or controller are not allowed. Glitches that are triggered by interfering with the normal operation of the hardware or game media while the game is running, such as the crooked cartridge trick are not permitted. In-game glitches or exploits may be permissible, contingent on the [[Speedrun#Completion|category]] being run.

It is required that runs be recorded using direct-feed capture. This is typically done using a [[TV tuner card#Video capture|capture card]] or [[DVD recorder]]. A run may be rejected if the quality of the recording is insufficient.

==== Segmentation ====
*'''Segmented'''
** Utilizing the in-game save system, the run is performed in multiple parts. Segmented runs allow the player to retry each individual section of the game as many times as they desire. As a result, fully segmented submissions are heavily scrutinized and held to a higher standard of gameplay than single-segment runs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Segmentation|title=Segmentation – Rules – SDA Knowledge Base|website=kb.speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-24|quote=A segmented run implies a higher level of risk-taking and a lower tolerance for mistakes. '''Use as many segments as is optimal''' to achieve the fastest final time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152446/https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Segmentation|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> 
*'''Single-segment''' 
** The entire game is beaten from start to finish in a single sitting. Excluding situations in which doing so is necessary to continue the game, the player may not utilize either soft or hard resets.
*'''Single-segment with resets''' (also known as [[Time attack#Video games|'''real-time attack''']]) 
** A single-segment run that permits resetting the game. Not every game is eligible for this form of segmentation; it is typically only utilized when the use of resets saves a substantial amount of time.{{Citation needed|reason=A reference to an SDA submission with multiple audio tracks should be included here.|date=January 2019}}

==== Completion ====
SDA accepts runs that adhere to one of three different completion requirements:<ref name="CompletionPercentage">{{Cite web|url=https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Completion_percentage|title=Completion Percentage – Rules – SDA Knowledge Base|website=kb.speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152446/https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Completion_percentage|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

*'''any%''' 
** The game is beaten<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Timing|title=Timing – Rules – SDA Knowledge Base|website=kb.speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152446/https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Timing|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> as quickly as possible without any regard to completion.
*'''100%{{refn|group=Note|The speedrun communities in some games utilize game-specific categories that are functionally synonymous with 100% completion (e.g. the "120 Star" category in ''Super Mario 64'').}}''' 
** The player must complete all content{{refn|group=Note|The definition of 100% varies from game to game. Some games have dedicated percentage trackers that indicate the level of completion, whereas in other cases, the community determines the specifics that constitute total completion of the game.}} prior to beating the game.
*'''low%'''
** The game is beaten with the lowest completion percentage possible.

==== Additional categorization ====
Discrete runs of the same game can vary substantially based on self-imposed restrictions such as using a specific character, playing the game on a specific [[Game balance#Difficulty level|difficulty level]], avoiding the use of glitches and exploits, or requiring completion of optional objectives.<ref name="CompletionPercentage" /> These restrictions can result in a single game having multiple (often contradictory) definitions of completion, called [[Speedrun#Completion|categories]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Additional_category_tags|title=Additional Category Tags – Rules – SDA Knowledge Base|website=kb.speeddemosarchive.com|access-date=2019-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124152446/https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Rules#Additional_category_tags|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Consequently, a single game may possess separate leaderboards for each [[Speedrun#Completion|category]].