Speed Demos Archive
Curated speedrun collection
The pioneering speedrun archive (1998) that established quality standards and community norms for speedrunning before the streaming era.
Overview
Speed Demos Archive (SDA) was the pioneering speedrun archive, founded in 1998. Before streaming platforms made speedrunning accessible, SDA established quality standards, verification processes, and community norms that shaped the hobby.
Fast Facts
- Founded: 1998
- Purpose: Curated speedrun videos
- Era: Pre-streaming dominance
- Standards: Quality verification
- Legacy: Shaped speedrun culture
Historical Significance
SDA established:
| Contribution | Impact |
|---|---|
| Quality standards | What counts as a “real” speedrun |
| Verification | Checking submissions |
| Community norms | Rules and etiquette |
| Documentation | Written game knowledge |
Pre-Streaming Era
| Challenge | SDA Solution |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Hosted downloads |
| Quality | Video encoding standards |
| Verification | Manual checking |
| Discovery | Curated lists |
Verification Process
SDA required:
| Requirement | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Video proof | Demonstrate the run |
| Quality standards | Watchable footage |
| Moderator review | Verify legitimacy |
| Category rules | Clear definitions |
Evolution
| Era | Role |
|---|---|
| 1998-2010 | Primary speedrun hub |
| 2010-2014 | Alongside streaming growth |
| 2014+ | Speedrun.com becomes primary |
Legacy
SDA proved that speedrunning communities could self-organise with quality standards. Its verification model influenced all subsequent speedrun infrastructure, including speedrun.com.