For a while, there have been some doubts surrounding the accuracy of the In Game Timer (IGT) for Sonic Dream Team (as shown in the save file). To both quell any concerns, and validate the accuracy for speedrunning, I have done some work to confirm that, YES, the IGT is accurate!

Here is the full breakdown of the frame counting of 2 runs to confirm the accuracy:

As part of this work, I have also been able to confirm exactly what does and does not count for the In Game Timer. We're updating the ruleset this week to account for some of the quirks that have been found, and will review all existing runs to ensure compliance.

The findings are below:

Level time

All time from when the level finishes loading to when the level ends (which is when UI disappears) is counted. This includes:

• Any time spent paused
• Any time spent changing character in-level

Restarting

• Restarting from checkpoint continues IGT
• Restarting a level resets the IGT to what it was when the level was first selected from the menu
• Exiting a level saves IGT based on what it got to when you pressed Exit
• Force quitting the game, or the game crashing, does not add IGT

Cutscenes

• Cutscenes after level load do count, such as when the character is coming down a rail into the level, or when it's giving a skippable flypast to show you the level
• Cutscenes outside of a level do not count i.e. story info when unlocking a new act
• Cutscenes prior to a boss don’t count

Note: Bosses count time from boss life count appearing to character UI disappearing i.e. boost gauge or character loss of control

• All cutscenes during Nightmare Eggman count, including the unskippable one starting at "...nightmare!"

Menuing

• Menuing outside of a level does not count
• Unlocking of achievements/trophies does not count

Collectables

• Collecting items (such as red star rings or keys) and the game either then crashing or being force quit saves the collected items in the save file for no time penalty