How do you feel about game achievements?

[Xojins]

Pointless, if I am gonna spend X amount of time in a game trying to get something specific then I want some sort of reward for that effort beyond a stupid trophy who's sole purpose is to sit there and do nothing. Could you imagine if you collected all the packages in GTA VC and all you got at the end of it was a trophy instead of that bad ass attack chopper.

They actually do have a purpose, which is to increase your gamer score (at least on XBL, not positive about Steam). Yes, it is mostly a show-offish type thing, but they do serve a purpose.

Although, I think it's interesting that many of the responses are that people don't like them for reasons X, Y, and Z, but there is a difference between not liking them and not liking the idea of them.

 

[mokes310]

I don't mind them at all. I think when they are done properly, they help the gamer find hidden parts of a game that they otherwise wouldn't have found or done. Mass Effect is a great example (and I know it's been used before, just too lazy to hit the quote button...too much turkey...)

 

[un533n]

Theres no better feeling than doing something out of the ordinary, for example.. being "skilled" (I use this term lightly, for pretty much any game there can be honest players who know what they're doing, but then theres the folks who pick up an LMG and run around spraying like 11 yr old, hyped up on energy drinks, foaming at the mouth and screaming curse words at everyone who doesn't agree with their prepubescent voice.) /endrant/ with a certain gun, or using something "special" to your advantage, and then finding that is in an achievement. The Call of Duty achievements for online play are awesome, they're the perfect example. Sure, you can look through them and try your hardest to get all of them, but a true player, who is well rounded, can play through the levels (online) will achieve nearly 80% (.. rough estament) by just playing the game. But then theres the crazy ones that require hours of attempts and failure, are a different story. I just like that feeling of achieving something special, and the fact that its known by friends that you can flaut and stuff.. its fun. At lunch at school i'll tease one of my buddies like, after we've both beaten a game, "Well did you get the X achievement? Ohhh,yeah its tough. " It's a nice perk, and I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes more and more of a requirement in more and more games. I guess it all comes down to how serious you are about gaming in general. Sure, you can blaze through the story mode and pick up all the cookie cutter achievements, but when you really go all out, and get 1000/1000, you (in my opinion) get the full experience of the game.

From what I can gather, devs have achievements so players can get the whole experience of a game, by showing (or in some cases, leaving it a mystery for the real crazies to figure out.) you some fun stuff to do. Some get it, and enjoy it, and others just feel like they would rather follow their own path. Oh and sometimes, they make you feel better about your mistakes.. I laughed so hard whenever I got the one in Battlefield: Bad Company that was described as "Jump out of a helicopter, and use the parachute." I read about that one, and whenever I was done gunning some punks down in a copter, I promtly flew upwards and dove out like a skydiver, the second you eject, you get the achievement. "...There is no parachute."

Hahaha, Love it.

Just my thoughts, crucify me.

 

[B4D 9R4MM3R]

I'm indifferent, but I hide mine out of spite to everyone else. Mwaaa ha ha haa!

However, I would much rather prefer the achievements to be for something harder to do, like complete the campaign on hardest as opposed to easy, medium and hard. And achievements that take hours to get, like killing 7.77x10^77 people (don't even think about it Bungie) can go to hell.

 

[Ace of Spades]

I like it when I complete a challenge, and a little box pops up to commemorate the event.

 

[D_987]

I like them, but prefer achievements like in COD 4, where you got them for playing the game, as opposed to some stupid achievements that have you doing things you never would have done.

 

[Woe Is You]

I like them, but prefer achievements like in COD 4, where you got them for playing the game, as opposed to some stupid achievements that have you doing things you never would have done.

As opposed to being punished for not doing those things? This is just me, though, but I'm always opposed to unlockables in anything multiplayer. The way how TF2 does it is exactly not the way to do it.

And that's sort of the beauty of achievements. You don't get punished for ignoring them, but a nice little extra for those who put the time and effort.

They reduce alot of servers to "Achievement Servers" or "Achievemnet Games", which is basically grinding.

That's a consequence of forcing players to gather enough achievements to get things that are actually necessary to play the game well. If the achievements are completely optional, then the grinding isn't a problem either.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

i don't really care one way or the other. tho i like the ps3 system especially when they start offering stuff for getting certain trophies

they won't make the game any more fun tho

 

[Aiden Rebirth]

achievements are sex...

 

[Corven]

I like achievements when you do something unexpected in the game and the developers reward you an achievement for completing the task in an unorthodox way, I don't like achievement s where all you have to do is collect 50 of this or 20 of that to get them, then they are just tedious and a waste of time.

 

[Piemaster]

They do add a bit of extra fun to the game and I think it's kind of cool that achievements you get on the XBox and the PC go to the same account.

 

[jords]

Yeah achievements like the gnome one in half life 2 episode 2 are just funny

Mostly I like them... lets you prove that you've done various thing but I think people do put too much emphasis on them when they compare to other people

 

[Standby]

It's as simple as this: If you don't like the acheivement system, then don't go out of your way and just enjoy the game.
If you are like me however you still have the game itself, but something additional to do on top of completing the game.

 

[Mr_Czar]

The thing with the TF2 achievements is that you don't HAVE to get them to 'win'. The unlockable weapons have advantages and disadvantages. There is always a downside to equipping the new weapon.

On a side note: I would love to meet the guy who names those TF2 achievements. WTFROFLBBQ for taunt-hadouken with a Pyro is quite an awesome name.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I think they can only help. Personally, if I enjoy a game, they usually push me to play through a game at least one more time. The only thing I say is that they should allow for gamerscores to be used as currency. As in, give us a gamer picture or perhaps a theme? Its not that hard, I could almost guarantee that more people will buy/finish games just so they could get more points to spend on things like that.

 

[Twilight_guy]

I personally only enjoy games when there is something new or challenging for me to do. Doing the same stuff over and over bores me. Achievements often offer something more for me to go out and strive to do, which makes games fun for longer for me. So I like them. Although comparing who has more seems arbitrary and childish.

 

[Cinder Block of Oppression]

It adds replay and it's satisfying. What else do you need for maybe a couple hours of a developers time? (Not sure how long it takes.)

 

[gamebrain89]

I will admit that they do get me to play a game more than I normally would. Used to be I beat a game and was done. Now I find myself replaying games alot more.

 

[Xanadu84]

For almost 0 effort on the part of the developers, you get a slight feeling of achievement, and an entirely optional way to try playing the game is a different way, with no downside. Also, some Achievements have funny names. They improve my play experience more then I would have ever expected. Sure, its not a huge deal, but can achievements ever HURT? About the worst they do is cover up a square inch of your screen for second and a half.