Learning DK64 as a Speedgame

=============================
-- LEARNING DONKEY KONG 64 --
=============================

1/ GET THE GAME
This might seem kind of pointless to state, however, some people who have the game currently on emulator (without a console version at hand) might ask this. Owning on emulator might be good for recording glitches and glitch finding. However, for speedrunning, third-party emulators are banned primarily due to their emulation inaccuracies. Either get this game on Wii U or N64. I would thoroughly advise you get the NTSC-U version (Released first) of the Console AND Game (even if you don't live in the US). The NTSC-J version (released 3rd) has several patches for glitches (more patched than PAL), whilst PAL (released 2nd) has more glitches than NTSC-J, it is slower due to it running at 50Hz rather than 60Hz.

2/ DECIDE WHAT TO RUN
Some people might have decided this already before they ask how to learn it and what they'll need (Skip to Part 3), but in case you haven't, here's a brief run down: http://pastebin.com/0Gi5Rsy9

3/ GRAB THE ROUTE
Each category has routes which are suitable to beginners: http://pastebin.com/Dpj6QCaB

4/ INTEGRATE WITH THE COMMUNITY
The best way to learn a game is to watch other people run the game as well, not only those who are running the category which you're going to run, but other ones as well. Not only will this provide a greater understanding for you, but it'll also help in the future. Ask questions in chat! Be curious, everyone in the community is happy to answer.
So basically, follow the DK64 Twitch page (See Below) and check during your free time who's online.
DK64 Twitch Page: https://www.twitch.tv/directory/game/Donkey%20Kong%2064

5a/ PRACTICE
Whilst I guess this sort of thing applies to most games, I'll say it just in case you've never done a speedrun. It's always good to do mock runs before you do your first run. Mock runs don't have to be done in 1 sitting, and you can always do more than one should you need it.
If you're entirely new, I would recommend at least 2 or 3 practice runs to get you started and into the flow of things. The only exception I guess is if you're doing No Levels Early for the 12 hour challenge (For those who don't know, it's learning a new game to speedrun and getting a run finished within 12 hours).

5b/ MOCK RUNS FOR NO LEVEL EARLY
Due to being in Main Menu Moves during NLE, it becomes difficult to practice. However, there is a way to do mock runs in a segmented fashion for NLE. Follow these instructions (http://pastebin.com/n3u5yZiR)
With this, you'll have a file where you are not in MMM, but you will have all the moves as you purchased them in another file. As long as you don't collect any Golden Bananas during the generation of the first file, it'll act like a new NLE file for the MMM-Route. With this, you can split your mock run into several play sessions. However, this is not allowed for actual runs as we count the initial file generation time in the final run time (and also the initial file includes lobbies and levels early ;) )

6/ FIRST RUN
Wonderful! Good luck to you, hope it goes well, and hope that Lanky behaves himself.
If things don't go to plan, remember there's still potential for plenty of good runs. Even top runners have bad runs every now and then.

Have fun! PM/whisper me on Twitch or e-mail me ([email protected]) if you've got any more questions
- theballaam96