The Great Diablo Speedrun Scandal: A Tale of Cheating and Redemption

For years, the Diablo speedrunning community has been fascinated by the legendary Any% segmented run recorded by Maciej “Groobo” Maselewski in 2009. The run, which clocked in at an impressive 3 minutes and 12 seconds, held two Guinness World Records and seemed impenetrable to challengers. However, as the years went by, doubts began to creep in, and a team of speedrunners, led by Allan “dwangoAC” Cecil, decided to investigate the run’s authenticity.

The Investigation Unfolds

The team, which included dwangoAC, Staphen, and others, built custom tools to reverse-engineer game seeds and search for dungeons that might suit speedrunners. They scoured through roughly 2.2 billion RNG seeds, attempting to recreate Groobo’s run, but couldn’t find one that matched the seemingly perfect generation. As they dug deeper, they discovered a plethora of inconsistencies, including strange version markers in the main menu, inconsistent inventories, quests, and more.

The Verdict: Cheating

The team’s analysis conclusively revealed that Groobo used illegitimate means to produce the results shown in the run, including combining gameplay from different runs, modifying memory, and using “gameplay-removing video splices.” The run was not possible as Groobo described without disqualifying modifications, and therefore, it should be immediately retracted from all leaderboards.

Groobo’s Response and the Fallout

Groobo responded to the allegations, stating that his run was always segmented and spliced, and that it was never passed off as anything else. However, Speed Demos Archive, where the run was initially published, removed all Diablo runs by Groobo from their leaderboards. The Diablo speedrunning community, which had been stagnant since Groobo’s record-breaking run, kicked back into gear, and new records were set.

The Impact of the Scandal

The investigation and subsequent removal of Groobo’s run sent shockwaves through the speedrunning community. As dwangoAC noted, “Groobo’s alleged cheating in 2009 completely stopped interest in speedrunning this category. No one tried, no one could.” The scandal highlights the importance of transparency and authenticity in competitive gaming.

Actionable Insights

• The investigation demonstrates the power of collaboration and dedication in uncovering the truth.
• The importance of transparency and authenticity in competitive gaming cannot be overstated.
• The Diablo speedrunning community has been revitalized, and new records are being set.

Conclusion

The Great Diablo Speedrun Scandal is a cautionary tale about the dangers of cheating and the importance of maintaining integrity in competitive gaming. While Groobo’s run may have been impressive, it was ultimately built on illegitimate means. The investigation and subsequent removal of the run serve as a reminder to always prioritize transparency and authenticity.