Am I the only one who realizes achievements are worthless?

[spinFX]

Yes. You're the only one...

Are you serious? How could you with a straight face make this thread? You think no one will agree with you?

I never purposely try to get achievements. Well almost never. My gamer score on my 360 is pathetic considering the amount of games I own.

 

[Blueruler182]

All parts of a video game are worthless.

 

[maxben]

I only like achievement when I don't try to achieve them and they are associated with something awesome.
Lets say you pull off an awesome move in a game and get an achievement for it, it feels pretty awesome and surprising.
On the other hand, the "play 50 hours" or "kill 100,000 of x" or "get 5,000 kills with x weapon" are really really stupid.
And achievement grinding can't keep me interested or entertained at all.

 

[Thunderhorse31]

I enjoy achievements, but they're just a meta-game really, something else for you to accomplish while playing through an experience.

As for them being "worthless," sure they are worthless in the sense that they can't be redeemed or used as currency or anything, but if someone feels accomplished by getting 1000/1000 in a game, why shit on their parade?

People like them. Just because you don't doesn't mean they shouldn't exist.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I think achievements and trophies hinder gaming as a whole. How many times have you guys got every achievement only to shelf that particular game indefinitely? Or outright sell a game that you are 'done with'? I see the trophy/ achievement system as a not-so-subtle way of the game company's telling you approximately how long a game is good for. I'm not saying all games with the trophy/ achievement system are all like that though. Fallout is an example of a game I've continue playing after getting all of the achievements [this is not counting the DLC]

On the other hand, many games get shelved without you, the gamer, getting all of the achievements/ trophies but, this trend has been going on since before gaming has included endings.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Achievements are only good when they are funny. Otherwise, they're annoying.

 

[Daveman]

Some of them are fun challenges like I always say the "Rocket Man" achievement for HL2ep2 was just another excuse for me to play through it and it changes the way you play the game.

Basically it's something that would give you a sense of achievement, the only difference between yo setting these goals is that the game makers set them for you. That's why they're always optional, it's like "Hey, having fun there? I bet you can't do X." excep the game is telling you it.

That's how I like to think about it.

 

[Penguinness]

Halo 3 is a good example of why I like achievements. They give a sence of accomplishment by going back to the game again and again, and it kept the multiplayer alive for me a fair bit. Achievements are pointless and gaming is pointless, but they both provide fun.

 

[Jackalb]

But we need achievements to show off the size of our internet dick!

Exactly, man!
Respect the E-Peen.

 

[yocharles23]

Its the challenge of achievments, the pride of it. It taps into our natural accomplishment, the same way that collection games can be popular.

 

[CrazyMedic]

eh I like it because me and my friend have this bet going that if we can find an achievement he can't do in a week.

 

[rabidmidget]

They are just fun little goals that increase the replayability of the game, that's why I like them.

 

[Sky Captanio]

They add re playability and give you a feeling of accomplishment when you get them. And considering they're not mandatory they're pretty cool.

 

[Pyode]

Are achievements worth nothing? Yeah, pretty much. But I have fun with them, they're a little mini-quest in their own right.

Basically this. I don't care about whether or not I have more achievements or gamerscore then someone else, I just think the actual act of getting the achievements is really fun. They can act as a guide to trying something in a game you normally would never have thought of or to challenge yourself to take on the game in a new way (such as playing as a different character class then you normally do) or on a harder difficulty.

Also, I think of them as a kind of record. I can look back at all of my achievements and trophies over the years and be reminded of some of the cool stuff I did or challenges I overcame (to date, my achievement for beating Lost Planet on the hardest difficulty is my proudest). It's sort of like having a photo album of your gaming life, or something along those lines.

Anyway, why does it matter? You don't have to go for them. They only add to the game, they don't take anything away.

 

[Chipperz]

Plus it can make for some fun wagers - first to 1000 points wins the pooled money

That... Is genius. I might see about doing this with a bunch of mates after our next project - rent a brand new game and throw in a fiver, first to the Platinum gets the pot! Cheers for the idea, we've been looking for a way to waste a week playing games

OT - I find that Achievements are good for talking points with other gamers. Not the "Complete the tutorial" ones, but the noteworthy ones, whether joking about the fact you can get something like five in the first minute of Prince of Persia (the new one), or bragging that you got Mile High Club. The important thing to remember is that gaming is a leisure pursuit - you don't HAVE to do any achievements you don't want to, and only massive unlikable twats care about gamerscore or specific achievements.

 

[Chamale]

I much prefer detailed statistics tracking, which is provided by Steam and a few console games. Some achievements are the only way of tracking your stats, which is nice.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

They don't really matter to the gameplay. Bragging rights are the only reason they exist but they are cool. I don't care much about them myself and none of my friends make a big deal about them either. There is no need to abolish them but there is also no need to flood games with them.

 

[Primee133]

Are achievements worth nothing? Yeah, pretty much. But I have fun with them, they're a little mini-quest in their own right.

Basically this. I don't care about whether or not I have more achievements or gamerscore then someone else, I just think the actual act of getting the achievements is really fun. They can act as a guide to trying something in a game you normally would never have thought of or to challenge yourself to take on the game in a new way (such as playing as a different character class then you normally do) or on a harder difficulty.

Also, I think of them as a kind of record. I can look back at all of my achievements and trophies over the years and be reminded of some of the cool stuff I did or challenges I overcame (to date, my achievement for beating Lost Planet on the hardest difficulty is my proudest). It's sort of like having a photo album of your gaming life, or something along those lines.

Anyway, why does it matter? You don't have to go for them. They only add to the game, they don't take anything away.

Exactly this. They might not be a big deal, but they encourage you to try things and bring out some replay value in your games.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

I hate achievements. More than anything, it's a devolution in gaming. I thought we'd moved past "points" as the driving force behind this hobby. Apparently not.

If I ever meet someone who gives two shits about achievements, I will laugh uncontrollably in his face. If it's a girl, I'll probably ask her out.

Their ONLY saving grace: devs occasionally think up funny names for them.