Achievements Shmachievements: Game Developers Vs. The Gamers

By Paul Munn | June 2, 2007

Achievements are one of the most addictive aspects of Xbox 360 gaming. Do a certain something in a game, get a little flashing heads-up that you did it, and the points earned stick with your online identity. It drives gamers to keep playing just to capture all of the Achievements in a given title even if they’re tired of it. It even drives some gamers to buy terrible games which have easy to attain achievements — no doubt Microsoft laughs all the way to the bank to deposit their royalty checks when such terrible titles sell. There are some game developers who have started a lively debate about them at the Independent Game Developers Association.

Some claim that they’re an artificial incentive for gamers to play the game, something a game shouldn’t need to keep gamers hooked. Others, like the Editor-In-Chief of PSM in this month’s introductory column feel they’re so essential that Sony should just copy them outright and deal with the PR mess of having to answer for following Microsoft’s lead.

What do you think?

Via Joystiq, image from Xbox360Achievements.org.

Topics: Industry | Comments

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brent Kailbourn

I'm most proud getting all the achievements on Custard's Last Stand. Especially the one for 50points for getting all the beaver's scalped.

Sifer2400

i think its a great idea some games become more interesting with the the spacial achievements

used cisco

Achievements are a great idea. Period.

Just once, I wish a competing game company would come out and say something like, "You know what, "X" is a great idea, so we plan to implement it on our platform as well."

Personally, I think they would get more credit than grief from consumers. It's certainly better than the existing paradigm, in which they STILL copy ideas but try to bullshit us with something like, "we had plan for motion control BEFORE the Wii got popular", etc.

If you like an idea, copy it, and give credit, and move on.

Joe

You mean like the analog control stick, rumble, shoulder buttons, and the d-pad? It's strange that those innovations were uniformly copied to the point of ubiquitousness, yet everybody is determined to cut their own path on online networking and ancillary stuff like achievements.

used cisco

Exactly. I mean seriously, aren't we all pretty glad that Sony copied the analog thumbstick and rumble? They were great innovations for the controller at the time, and without them we wouldn't have had the Dual Shock. Just admit they were great and move on. Likewise, Sony and Nintendo should copy achievements, or at least come up with a competitive implimentation that makes games more interesting and increases their longevity.

James

I think the problem with achievements is that they replace extra content in the game. As an example, I played through the original Metal Gear Solid at least three times just to get the tuxedo skin and the bandana that lets you stay invisible.

I wrote about my disappointment with Achievements back in November...

http://www.aeropause.com/archives/2006/11/achievements_ar/

...after I beat Gears on Hardcore. I didn't get anything but an achievement, I would've rather been able to play through the game in a full clown suit or get a big red nose for Fenix to wear online.

My score is insignificant to me now. To be completely honest, my 360 is a big paper weight since the PS3 landed in April. Even with the lock-ups, the Warhawk Beta blows Halo 3 out of the water.

used cisco

"Even with the lock-ups, the Warhawk Beta blows Halo 3 out of the water."

*Gasp*

....he didn't just...... oh yes he did!
;)

DaKing240

Interesting article, when you start tracing it back to the origin. Thanks for the link to our site!

Paul Munn

James, very good point. It's not so much extra content as desirable unlockables.

That's why I poured all those hours into Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition and now God of War II. It's more fun to go and pound the heck out of things the second time through with the unlocked goodies when the same enemies threw Kratos around like a ragdoll the first time around.

A clown suit in Gears for online play would be great. Even better? Instead of a chainsaw kill move you'd hit them with a pie. Nothing unbalancing, just a showpiece alternative with the same strength that shows off that you made it through the game.

I'm glad you're enjoying the Warhawk Beta. No patch for the lockups yet hm. Hopefully they run that patch through the ringer. Maybe they're doing something silly and lumping content additions into the patch before they test it on the public more fully?

Paul Munn

Oops I wanted to add that I do see a big draw for Achievements. When I first made an Xbox Live identity a little while back it was nice to see the few points I earned trickle into it.

Gamerscores are far from universally loved, though, and that surprises me a bit. I think Certis over at GamersWithJobs derisively calls them Nerd Points. He doesn't care about them at all.

I'd love to see an equivalent score system come to the PS3, even if it's not required like Achievements are on the 360.

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Achievements Shmachievements: Game Developers Vs. The Gamers