Speedrun Explained 63 (Update 2); Speedrun Explained 64 (Update 1)

Hey all, hope you've been well! I'm typing this up the morning that the Hit & Run video is releasing, and I wanted to apologize how long that video took to come out. It was a long production and I'm hoping that the next couple videos can get back to a rhythm we've had in the past. With that being said, here are a couple updates on how the next videos are coming along!

SPEEDRUN EXPLAINED 63 // Dark Souls (All Bosses)

Since the last update on this video, I've had two calls with the runner to go over the run, I've started the script, and I've gotten about 1/3 of the way through! From Software games are always really interesting to me as speedruns. The games technically open-ended in that you can do things in any order or however you like. Though, there's still a ~generally~ correct order to do things in, but with speedrun tech that "generally" correct order goes out the window and the game is truly open-ended in how you want to approach it. These games, kind of similar to the HITMAN games, become a sandbox when you route them as speedruns, and it's always incredibly interesting the way things are pieced together, and what the reasoning is behind them. I have of course been largely explaining the speedtech throughout the bulk of the script so far, but there's some time spent talking about the idea and reasoning behind the route. It's always great getting a chance to talk about routing in videos, and I feel the script so far has been very cohesive in balancing discussions of speedtech and routing. With my current pace and accounting for the holidays, I'm hoping that I'll have the script completed by the end of the month. I'm going to be at AGDQ for a week in January, which will limit my time spent recording and editing, but I expect to have a draft of the video done in either late January or early February. I think it's most likely to expect the video here on Patreon around Valentine's Day or so!

SPEEDRUN EXPLAINED 4 // Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 (Base Game FF%)

You guys have NO clue how excited I am about this video. RCT2 is a childhood staple of mine (though I was admittedly even more into Zoo Tycoon 2). I fell back in love with this game a couple years ago, but unfortunately a couple weeks with a broken laptop while on a holiday trip led to me falling off from playing. When this game made it onto the poll, I decided it was time I get back into it, so you can only imagine my enthusiasm when it actually won. RCT2 is such an unorthodox game to speedrun, with this being a speedrun of all the main scenarios (ie you're given the shell of a park and a win condition, you have to build and meet requirements by a deadline to win). I don't have much to report in the way of progress on the video as it's quite a ways off and my focus lies on Dark Souls until it's done, but I have gotten into contact with a runner for the video who's working on recording it now. As for when to expect this video, considering Dark Souls will carry me to February, I'd say think around April or so.

That's all I have for you today, I hope you all are doing well and staying warm if you're in the northern hemisphere! Have a good holiday season if you celebrate!