Continued concerns over COVID-19 have prompted the producers of Summer Games Done Quick to cancel its physical event and go online. This year, for one week in August, GDQ fans will be able to virtually watch various gaming sessions featuring their favorite speedrunners speedrunning from the comfort and safety of their own homes. As is usually the case, all proceeds from Summer Games Done Quick 2020 Online will be donated to charity.

For a few years now, I’ve been an oblique fan myself of GDQ and watching speedrunners do their gaming thing. What was was something an odd niche within the community, speedrunning has become something of an art. Watching runners manipulate and seemingly bend games to their wills can be astounding and supremely entertaining. (Lately, I’ve become mildly obsessed with watching speedruns of Dragon Age: Inquisition, oh that impenetrable fortress of open-world nonsense and massive dialogue trees!) Speedruns also show off competitiveness in gaming that’s unlike “me versus you.” It’s more like “me versus me versus the code,” and it’s fascinating to watch as people continue to break speedrunning world records, performing such gaming sorcery, showing off their dedication not only to their craft but also to the games they love. It’s all done in good faith and good fun, all good things.

Summer Games Done Quick 2020 Online will be held from August 16-23. See GDQ’s website for more information about the event, as well as it’s other charitable gaming ventures.

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