The World’s First Dog Speedrunner: Peanut Butter’s Gyromite Run at AGDQ 2024
2 min read
In this article, we delve into the extraordinary story of Peanut Butter, the world’s first dog speedrunner. Owned by JSR, a seasoned speedrunner and electrician, Peanut Butter has become an internet sensation after being trained to beat the classic NES game Gyromite using a custom-built controller. With his debut run scheduled for Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) 2024, Peanut Butter is set to make history.
Peanut Butter, a Shiba Inu, was adopted by JSR during the pandemic as a companion. Initially, JSR aimed to train him to be good at everything. However, after discovering the NES game Gyromite, which requires the use of the Robotic Operating Buddy (R.O.B.) to press buttons, JSR had an idea. He decided to train Peanut Butter to press the buttons himself, using a custom-built controller with larger, dog-friendly buttons.
The training process took about a year, with JSR using food as motivation. Peanut Butter was rewarded with kibble, training snacks, and eventually cheese to keep him focused during his runs. The controller was rigged with an arcade fight stick, a PC GameCube adapter, and an emulator playing Gyromite. JSR also constructed larger buttons for Peanut Butter to press more accurately.
Peanut Butter’s run at AGDQ 2024 will be the first time a dog competes in a speedrunning category. He will be competing in the “Game B – Dog Assistance – NES” category, and currently holds the world record with a time of 25:29. JSR plans to attend the event in person to support Peanut Butter’s run, while Peanut Butter cheers him on from home.
Peanut Butter’s training doesn’t stop at Gyromite. JSR is also teaching him to play other games, such as Wild Gunman and Dr. Mario, with the goal of having him become a staple of future GDQ events.
In this article, we explore the unique story of Peanut Butter, the world’s first dog speedrunner, and the lengths his owner went to make his dream a reality. Join us as we witness history in the making at AGDQ 2024.
