They make as much sense as "points" in any normal game. Not that those appear too often anymore, but maybe that is even a result of achievements?
Achievments... why?
- Thread starter ethaninja
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Exactly this. Many will give you a different, refreshing take on a game that you never thought to try, but some of them are grinds, and grinds are there for a technical purpose, allow me to elaborate:Netrigan said:
Achievements, combined with the online presence of modern consoles, give developers entirely new insight into games. This data can measured to tell developers how people are playing their games. If an achievement has a remarkably low number of unlocks compared to number of users, that tells developers that maybe that achievement is glitched, too hard or too boring for people to bother with.
This also brings rise to 'viral' achievements, like kill someone who has this achievement or play a match against someone who played a match against a developer. These kinds of stats can give developers insight into how well their matchmaking systems work. It's a two way street, and arguably, the feedback developers get from achievements will prove to be more important than the feedback gamers get from it.
Do you like beating a game? That's an achievement, in a broad sense, even before achievement trophy's. Achievements give that small carrot that motivates people to play a game in a new way, and when done right, can drastically increase replayability and quality.
People like to play a game, discover a strategy that works, and stick with what works, because playing most games is about finding a strategy that works. Throw in an achievement, and players are motivated to explore beyond there one strategy, and enjoy entirely new faucets of the game. Even minor achievements can do this. In Civ 5, I want to play all the civilizations for the achievements. I never go for culture, but one of these days Im going to want the cultural victory achievement, and that will inspire me to try something new. WHile Im at it, I will probably explore the branches I usually don't go for in order to get the achievements, and also makes me try new strategies. In L4D2, I saw the Mutation achievement, so I tried the mutations, and Ive loved them. Achievements never hurt, but well designed achievements can change the entire way you play the game. Ways that simple self-motivation can't manage.
People like to play a game, discover a strategy that works, and stick with what works, because playing most games is about finding a strategy that works. Throw in an achievement, and players are motivated to explore beyond there one strategy, and enjoy entirely new faucets of the game. Even minor achievements can do this. In Civ 5, I want to play all the civilizations for the achievements. I never go for culture, but one of these days Im going to want the cultural victory achievement, and that will inspire me to try something new. WHile Im at it, I will probably explore the branches I usually don't go for in order to get the achievements, and also makes me try new strategies. In L4D2, I saw the Mutation achievement, so I tried the mutations, and Ive loved them. Achievements never hurt, but well designed achievements can change the entire way you play the game. Ways that simple self-motivation can't manage.
They're just a way of saying, "Yes, I did that." Sorta like tiny accomplishments within the game.
Completing all the achievements makes you better at the game. Whether by understanding the stages better, getting quicker with your shots, etc. Expert achievements are the best. The rest are like, whatever, I turned the game on *Achievement Unlocked!*. Expert ones set you apart, cuz everyone has some buddies that can't do it.
Take for example, Pavlov's dog.
Pavlov gives his dog food, and rings a bell. the dog then goes to eat, and drools.
Eventually, without giving the dog any food, all Pavlov would have to do is ring the bell, and the dog would drool.
<youtube=HkExBV05_EY>
Drool, you filthy nerds. Drool.
Pavlov gives his dog food, and rings a bell. the dog then goes to eat, and drools.
Eventually, without giving the dog any food, all Pavlov would have to do is ring the bell, and the dog would drool.
<youtube=HkExBV05_EY>
Drool, you filthy nerds. Drool.
I have no opinion on achievements, I just like playing games for their entertainment value. Some people I know use it as an excuse for bragging.
This.Onyx Oblivion said:
If achievements didn't exist, people would have to resort to the hopefully they believe me thing, or here sit and watch me play this game all the way through.
My old college room mate from a few semesters ago had brought an NES with him. One night his friends were taking turns playing Super Mario Bros. I listen to them for a bit, then went into the living area and watched them for an hour and fail to get any further than a couple worlds.
I hadn't played in several years and I decided I wanted to have a go. I beat in 20 minutes. My roommate and his friends were like, "No way, you are awesome at Mario Bros." I was thinking, please, it is just Mario Bros.
Back to my point, games today aren't like Mario Bros, where you can beat it it in a reasonable time to show people you did it. People can't sit and watch for 40 hours straight. Well, unless you kidnapped them and forced them to watch.
What I don't like about the 360 is that it uses the same sound for getting an achievement as the sound that occurs when a friend comes online. It is so annoying.tthor said:
I got an achievable!!! Awww, it's just Brandon. I got an achievable!!! Arrrgh, another friend. I hate my friends.
It's quite innovative. Are you arguing innovation? Not only does it make games more replayable, they make games more fun.
I thought like you. A few years ago. Until I finally got a 360 and started earning the damn things. They infect you, sort of.ethaninja said:
I'm certainly not driven to get them all, but if I should be happening to be comparing games with a friend...and I see that they have achievement "A" and I do not....I'm driven to go do it on principle! And, for some reason, I get a mild sense of satisfaction in seeing I've scored one a friend hasn't.
They're mildly competitive in this respect. Give a reason to play an old, forgotten game again, if nothing else. Just to be able to say-- and prove-- "Guess what I did."
[sub][sub]Achievement Unlocked-- 1111 posts on the Escapist[/sub][/sub]
Agh hahahaha, I can't explain how often I've gotten excited because I pulled a trigger button right as a friend logged on....*ba-dink* "What?! Where what...what did I do-- oh, it's just that guy...damn."tthor said:
ratio without letting people know how many times you've died.
They give us a reason to keep going back to the game and its not just in Console games either. Most games by Valve incorporate the Achievement system, though in TF2, the Achievements use to give you a reward and still may to my knowledge.
They'd probably be better if Microsoft and Sony used the Turbine method to it. Earning x Amount of points or Trophies gets you x amount of online currency. Nothing much, maybe 5-15 points a milestone for every 1,000 points. That's a full game at least and unless someone steals a copy, that means they payed the 60 bucks for it.
They'd probably be better if Microsoft and Sony used the Turbine method to it. Earning x Amount of points or Trophies gets you x amount of online currency. Nothing much, maybe 5-15 points a milestone for every 1,000 points. That's a full game at least and unless someone steals a copy, that means they payed the 60 bucks for it.