Sprocket
P(n) = 1 - (1 - P(1))^n
Welcome to Smogon's Speed Run Challenge thread!
What is the Speed Run Challenge?
The Speed Run Challenge is to see how quickly you can clear the main Pokémon games, from the moment you create your character and receive your starter Pokémon to the very final "story" challenge in the game. Your speed is determined by your game's play time (according to the in-game clock) plus five minutes for each time you manually save your game file.
An example of what I'm talking about is found at Speed Demos Archive.
Here are the rules:
Rule 1: The game is considered cleared when you complete the primary story objective of said game.
For most Pokémon games this means simply beating the Elite Four for the first time to be considered "Elite Four Cleared". Some games (such as HeartGold and SoulSilver) have post-Elite Four content (ie: the Kanto Gym Leaders + Red) that must also be completed to be considered 'Post-Elite Four Main Story Cleared'. A few games allow you to rematch the Elite Four, and the rematch must be completed to be considered "100% cleared". See the specific game for details.
Rule 2: No outside communication for any reason.
You can only catch/receive/trade Pokémon that can be found inside your game that do not require communication with the outside world. Complete list of prohibitions:
As a point of clarification, playing the Game Boy games on Pokémon Stadium 1 and 2 and utilizing the fast-gameplay function is allowed, so long as no trading or other interaction is done.
Rule 3: RNG Abuse for your starters and other RNG manipulations is discouraged, but not outright prevented. However if you do RNG manipulate please make mention of this, and when/where you do this.
Soft resetting to get a desirable starter is allowed, and is not considered RNG manipulation.
Rule 4: Each Save penalizes your time by 5 minutes.
The idea is to speed run through the game, not soft reset when a fight goes wrong. To that end, each time you save your game, increase your final time by 5 minutes to get your actual final time. You will of course need to keep track of the number of times you save your game.
The exception to this rule is forced saves that the game imposes, usually as a result of defeating the Elite Four.
Rule 5: Glitch abuse is allowed, but discouraged. You must mention if you abuse glitches or not.
Rule 6: Playing on an emulator is allowed as long as you don't manipulate the game; it must be as close to the actual console experience as possible.
Rule 7: No cheat devices of any kind.
Rule 8: Tool assisted speed runs are not allowed. If it can't be done on the actual carts by a human without assistance, it doesn't count.
What is considered "clearing" the game?
This varies game-to-game, and generation to generation. See the leaderboards for information.
Leaderboards
Generation I:
All Games
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (your Rival) at the Indigo Plateau for the first time.
All Games
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Lance) at the Indigo Plateau for the first time.
Generation III
Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald:
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Steven in Ruby/Sapphire, and Wallace in Emerald) at Ever Grande City for the first time.
FireRed, LeafGreen:
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (your Rival) at the Indigo Plateau for the first time.
Generation IV
Diamond and Pearl:
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Cynthia) at the Pokemon League for the first time.
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Cynthia) at the Pokemon League for the first time.
HeartGold and SoulSilver:
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Lance) at the Indigo Plateau for the first time
Generation V
Black and White:
Main Story Clear: Defeat Ghetsis in N's Castle
That's it. Have fun!
What is the Speed Run Challenge?
The Speed Run Challenge is to see how quickly you can clear the main Pokémon games, from the moment you create your character and receive your starter Pokémon to the very final "story" challenge in the game. Your speed is determined by your game's play time (according to the in-game clock) plus five minutes for each time you manually save your game file.
An example of what I'm talking about is found at Speed Demos Archive.
Here are the rules:
Rule 1: The game is considered cleared when you complete the primary story objective of said game.
For most Pokémon games this means simply beating the Elite Four for the first time to be considered "Elite Four Cleared". Some games (such as HeartGold and SoulSilver) have post-Elite Four content (ie: the Kanto Gym Leaders + Red) that must also be completed to be considered 'Post-Elite Four Main Story Cleared'. A few games allow you to rematch the Elite Four, and the rematch must be completed to be considered "100% cleared". See the specific game for details.
Rule 2: No outside communication for any reason.
You can only catch/receive/trade Pokémon that can be found inside your game that do not require communication with the outside world. Complete list of prohibitions:
- No link trades, wireless trades, C-Gear trades, Time Capsule, etc (all generations).
- No linking to other games for any reason (ie: no Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Battle Revolution, Pokemon XD, etc, when playing a portable game)
- No Pokéwalker (HeartGold and SoulSilver)
- No Pal Park (Gen IV)
- No C-Gear, Extralink, Dream World, Poké Transfer, Relocator (Black and White)
- No Mystery Gifts (all generations)
- No Pokémon Global Link or Global Trade Station
As a point of clarification, playing the Game Boy games on Pokémon Stadium 1 and 2 and utilizing the fast-gameplay function is allowed, so long as no trading or other interaction is done.
Rule 3: RNG Abuse for your starters and other RNG manipulations is discouraged, but not outright prevented. However if you do RNG manipulate please make mention of this, and when/where you do this.
Soft resetting to get a desirable starter is allowed, and is not considered RNG manipulation.
Rule 4: Each Save penalizes your time by 5 minutes.
The idea is to speed run through the game, not soft reset when a fight goes wrong. To that end, each time you save your game, increase your final time by 5 minutes to get your actual final time. You will of course need to keep track of the number of times you save your game.
The exception to this rule is forced saves that the game imposes, usually as a result of defeating the Elite Four.
Rule 5: Glitch abuse is allowed, but discouraged. You must mention if you abuse glitches or not.
Rule 6: Playing on an emulator is allowed as long as you don't manipulate the game; it must be as close to the actual console experience as possible.
Rule 7: No cheat devices of any kind.
Rule 8: Tool assisted speed runs are not allowed. If it can't be done on the actual carts by a human without assistance, it doesn't count.
What is considered "clearing" the game?
This varies game-to-game, and generation to generation. See the leaderboards for information.
Leaderboards
Generation I:
All Games
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (your Rival) at the Indigo Plateau for the first time.
- Mark McKenzie (via Speed Demos Archive): 2:04 (0 saves) - Blue version
- Jacob McMillin (via Speed Demos Archive): 2:39 (0 saves) - Red version
All Games
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Lance) at the Indigo Plateau for the first time.
- None yet
- Mike 'mike89' McKenzie (via Speed Demos Archive): 3:52 (0 saves) - Crystal version
- James 'Brown Bomber' Bunkley (via Speed Demos Archive): 6:15 (4:15 played + 12 saves) - Gold version
Generation III
Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald:
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Steven in Ruby/Sapphire, and Wallace in Emerald) at Ever Grande City for the first time.
- Sam 'Mouldy Cheese' Beekman (via Speed Demos Archive) - 5:41:21 (1:54:21 played + 48 saves) - Sapphire version
FireRed, LeafGreen:
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (your Rival) at the Indigo Plateau for the first time.
- Darren 'Ultimate Darius' Cornell (via Speed Demos Archive) - 2:49:09 (0 saves) - FireRed version
- Darren 'Ultimate Darius' Cornell (via Speed Demos Archive) - 5:16 (0 saves) - FireRed version
Generation IV
Diamond and Pearl:
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Cynthia) at the Pokemon League for the first time.
- None yet
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Cynthia) at the Pokemon League for the first time.
- None yet
- None yet
HeartGold and SoulSilver:
Elite Four Clear: Defeat the Elite Four Champion (Lance) at the Indigo Plateau for the first time
- None yet
- Sprocket (unofficial): 9:00 - HeartGold version
- None yet
Generation V
Black and White:
Main Story Clear: Defeat Ghetsis in N's Castle
- None yet
- None yet
That's it. Have fun!