Changes

A '''World Record''', often abbreviated to '''WR''', is the fastest known [[speed run]] or the best known [[high score]] for a category or level.

A '''World Record''', often abbreviated to '''WR''', is the fastest known [[speed run]] or the best known [[high score]] for a category or level.

There is always an outside possibility that there are people in the world with better records than the video gaming community at large knows about. However, in general this possibility is ignored, for good reasons:

There is always an outside possibility that there are people in the world with better records than the video gaming community at large knows about. However, in general this possibility is ignored, for good reasons:

# By definition, ANY world record is the "best known" world record, and all world records were "unknown" before they were reported. This applies to every record in the Guinness Book Of Records as much as it does to the videogaming community.

# By definition, ANY world record is the "best known" world record, and all world records were "unknown" before they were reported. This applies to every record in the Guinness Book Of Records as much as it does to the videogaming community.

# In the case of popular or long-fought-for records, it becomes exceedingly unlikely that anybody could have independently discovered the necessary strategies and beaten the known WR without having any contact with the videogaming community.

# In the case of popular or long-fought-for records, it becomes exceedingly unlikely that anybody could have independently discovered the necessary strategies and beaten the known WR without having any contact with the videogaming community.

# Speculation is pointless, especially in an arena where proof is so critical.

# Speculation is pointless, especially in an arena where proof is so critical.

The Proceedings of the 13th International Harvest And Verification of WRs Symposium (IHAVWRS) identified six categories of records:

The Proceedings of the 13th International Harvest And Verification of WRs Symposium (IHAVWRS) identified six categories of records:

* '''WR''' (''Type 0'') - the zenith of WRdom, characterised by having a publicly known strategy that is demanding on player skill. Skill is defined as "a combination of masterful and appropriate use of technique, accurate timing and aim, and (above all) consistency in any gaming endavor" (pp 241, ibid.) Examples include videogame WRs with video evidence, sports records recognized by official bodies such as IAAF or FINA, and world's fastest typing speed.

* '''WR''' (''Type 0'') - the zenith of WRdom, characterised by having a publicly known strategy that is demanding on player skill. Skill is defined as "a combination of masterful and appropriate use of technique, accurate timing and aim, and (above all) consistency in any gaming endavor" (pp 241, ibid.) Examples include videogame WRs with video evidence, sports records recognized by official bodies such as IAAF or FINA, and world's fastest typing speed.

* '''Question-mark WR''' (''Type 1'') - a record for which the skill factor is uncertain. Usually these are records where the strategy in whole or in part is unknown. A common case is that the record holder is keeping something secret. Even if such a record has evidence for its legitimacy, it cannot qualify for ''Type 0'' because others cannot replicate its strategy and ascertain the degree of skill required.

* '''Question-mark WR''' (''Type 1'') - a record for which the skill factor is uncertain. Usually these are records where the strategy in whole or in part is unknown. A common case is that the record holder is keeping something secret. Even if such a record has evidence for its legitimacy, it cannot qualify for ''Type 0'' because others cannot replicate its strategy and ascertain the degree of skill required.

* '''Lucky WR''' (''Type 2a'') - a record where chance outweighs skill. Typically characterized by random players doing well while famous players struggle. If you're no better at something on attempt #500 than attempt #5, you are probably playing such a challenge. Getting a Lucky WR requires an inordinate number of attempts until probability theory gets bored of screwing you over. If you got a Lucky WR in less than 100 attempts, it was probably actually a ''Type 2b'', ''Type 3'' or ''Type 4''. Examples include 'biggest ever lottery win' and YVSC lap.

* '''Lucky WR''' (''Type 2a'') - a record where chance outweighs skill. Typically characterized by random players doing well while famous players struggle. If you're no better at something on attempt #500 than attempt #5, you are probably playing such a challenge. Getting a Lucky WR requires an inordinate number of attempts until probability theory gets bored of screwing you over. If you got a Lucky WR in less than 100 attempts, it was probably actually a ''Type 2b'', ''Type 3'' or ''Type 4''. Examples include 'biggest ever lottery win' and YVSC lap.