PS1 and Saturn have load times that Arcade does not, and also run at 60fps as opposed to 57.5 (about 4.3% faster). X360 version has correct framerate but it and the Saturn port do not have slowdown or have incorrect slowdown in many segments (The x360 version is a full copy of the game in a visual novel also made by CAVE called Instant Brain which costs over $100 now, FWIW) meaning they will get times much faster than other versions can achieve. X360 version in particular will be almost 30 seconds ahead after 2 stages because of this and over a minute and a half faster in a full run (I have a TAS of the arcade version using faster strategies than the new 1cc WR and it is still slower because X360 has incorrect slowdown. I am happy to make a side-by-side comparison).

Managing slowdown is part of the speedrun (killing enemies on screen quickly to prevent them flooding the screen with bullets that cause slowdown) and playing on certain versions removes that element almost entirely. The arcade version is the original and thus should be considered the standard, and the fastest possible time for a 1cc on that is in the 17:30ish range.

Source for platform differences:

I'd also like to moderate for this game if possible, I don't have a completed run yet but I've been practicing for a 1cc and have a pretty thorough route and a TAS of it, and I moderate a few other shmups.

I 100% agree . The load times on my run put me way behind and made it impossible to get close with rhe top runners cause im playing on ps1. Let's change this

Also long as no one is submitting tas runs. Cause thats Cheating!

How about just making separate categories for AC (arcade), PS1, SS, etc. runs instead? That would be fair imo.

Thanks for sharing the info. We will separate it properly.

Platforms are now split. I need to look into the iOS version but I separated it just to be safe since the controls are of course drastically different (and there's no runs on it yet anyway). I don't know if the loads are faster on PS2 than on PS1 and/or by how much, but I have a 90k JP PS2 so I'll check once I have a copy.

I am fairly sure there are no regional differences and the PS1 and 360 ports most definitely only have one region.

I also made a shmup speedrunning discord, if only so there is a place to discuss strategies and consolidate information about the games/catalog my research (as I primarily am interested in 1cc runs which are very much not pick-up-and-play). It is still very much under construction though. https://discord.gg/WW8UQ9WBd2 Feel free to link it on pages you moderate.

You should try to become the mod for harmful park as it needs sperate categories as well for the same reasons as this game