Paws and Pixels: AGDQ 2024 Welcomes a Four-Legged Speedrunner!

The early 2024 edition of Awesome Games Done Quick is set to bring something truly exceptional to the table – a four-legged participant! In a remarkable twist, a talented dog will take center stage to demonstrate its gaming prowess through a thrilling speedrun during the event.

Awesome Games Done Quick is the renowned semi-annual charity speedrunning event organized by Games Done Quick, where gamers exhibit their speedrunning skills either in person or by live streaming their gameplay online. However, the upcoming 2024 event will be a game-changer, marking the first instance in AGDQ's history where a dog is set to participate in an actual speedrun.

A sneak peek into this exciting development can be seen in a teaser video on YouTube, presented by the popular video game streamer and speedrunner, JSR_. Their Shiba Inu companion, Peanut Butter, will be the star of the show as they embark on a speedrun of the classic NES puzzle game, Gyromite. While the dog and their owner will both appear online to engage in the Gyromite gameplay during the event, JSR_ will also be present in person to perform a Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse speedrun before joining forces with Peanut Butter.

The idea of a dog participating in AGDQ may seem astonishing, but there's a fascinating backstory that makes it all possible. JSR_ and Peanut Butter share a lifelong bond, having been inseparable since the dog's puppy days. Early on, JSR_ recognized Peanut Butter's exceptional intelligence, surpassing that of most other dogs he had encountered. Given JSR_'s passion for gaming, it seemed only natural to train their furry companion to partake in video games. To make this vision a reality, they custom-built a controller equipped with four color-coded buttons, each corresponding to the A, B, Select, and a simultaneous A and B press on an NES controller.

For a firsthand look at this innovative gaming duo in action, one can check out a Gyromite speedrun video posted by JSR_ on July 13. The video showcases JSR_ guiding Peanut Butter through the gameplay, with the dog independently pressing buttons while receiving direction and treats as rewards from their owner.

JSR_ and Peanut Butter's performance in the video serves as compelling evidence that, given the right training, time, and motivation, dogs can indeed partake in video games and even tackle speedruns, much like their human counterparts. The intriguing debate of whether Peanut Butter is truly playing the game or merely following their owner's cues is a discussion for another time.

AGDQ 2024 is scheduled to take place from January 14th to 21st, promising an unforgettable and unique addition to the gaming community.