A little more than one month before the virtual game is set to close its doors,Club Penguinhas played host to a new phenomenon: speed running bans. Yes, players are trying to see who is the fastest at creating a Club Penguin account, joining the server, and then promptly being banned.
While there is no definitive catalyst for Club Penguin banspeedrunning, the “competition” gained popularity after a post on Reddit showed a gamer getting banned within a few minutes. Eventually, that small joke snowballed into a fully-fledged competition, with the clever Banned% category.
Given thatClub Penguinispublished by Disneyand is meant for kids, it isn’t incredibly difficult to get banned from the game. Most of the speed running comes from quickly setting up an account – using a fake e-mail, of course – and navigating the menus until one can type in open chat. After that, it’s merely a matter of inputting a few profane words and the ban follows.
Why exactly speedrunners have decided to take up the Banned% runs inClub Penguinis unclear, the fact the game is closed up shop might have something to do with it. Since Disney decided to shut down theClub Penguinservers, whoever has the dubious record at the end will have that record forever. Assuming that any of the ferventClub Penguinresurrection petitions don’t convince Disney to change its mind.
In the mean time, these quirky speed runners have until March 29th to attempt to get theworld recordbeforeClub Penguinshuts off its servers. And though it may be a sad day for some diehard fans, the Club Penguin name will live on.
Almost in step with the closure of the originalClub Penguin, Disney will be launchingClub Penguin Island, a “new”mobile and desktop gamethat uses a different platform. While we don’t know too much about that game, it’s safe to say that at least one of these speed runners will be ready at minute one to go for the Banned% record onClub Penguin Island, thus continuing the cycle of pointless video game records.
