Smudging the game disc to make speedrunning 'SpongeBob' faster
17 hours ago
- #Hardware Manipulation
- #Speedrunning
- #Video Game Tricks
- Speedrunner SHiFT proposes 'gamer gunk theory' to fast-track SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom by strategically smudging the disc.
- Smudging creates lag clipping, allowing players to exploit glitches via repeated pauses to advance faster than normal.
- SHiFT warns the tactic risks permanently damaging the game disc or Xbox console and is unreliable long-term due to hardware dependencies.
- Despite risks, smudging is permissible as it differs from cartridge tilting; it disrupts the disc reader's laser focus on data.
- SHiFT emphasizes that speedrunning should preserve old games, not destroy them, even if smudging offers a shortcut.