Poll: Achievements corrupting gaming?

[blindmind]

Once, I felt like replaying some old games during a video game drought. Upon trying to select a game to play, I found that I was less enthusiastic about games without an achievement system. I felt like it wasn't worth playing since I wouldn't have anything to show for it, and I don't even care about gamer-score too much. When I felt this, I was suddenly appalled!

Have achievements corrupted gaming? *Edit* Or, to be more clear, have they corrupted the gamers?

I have a friend who is straight up addicted to them. He'll play anything that will add to his gamer score, sometimes ignoring others that won't.

How many people are playing their games for their games, today? How many are boosting? How many people get enraged when they satisfied an achievement requirement but didn't get the achievement? How many people feel like drones, sometimes, grinding away in the dark?

On another note, I do think some achievements are good; the ones that actually present an interesting challenge. The best achievements put the player in ridiculous situations they probably wouldn't have thought of otherwise. Getting 5g for watching tutorials and beating a level is just silly.

So I ask, what is good/bad about Achievement systems and why? Do you think the system should change? If so, how should it change?

 

[Loop Stricken]

What? I clicked no and it voted yes! This is an outrage!

 

[hottsaucekid]

What? I clicked no and it voted yes! This is an outrage!

same thing happened to me.

 

[Rand-m]

I voted "I don't care" and it didn't count! DISCRIMINATION!

 

[chozo_hybrid]

What? I clicked no and it voted yes! This is an outrage!

That happened to me too!

Achievements are good as proof that you did something cool, but I don't need them.

Some gamers prefer them, and that's fine too! Getting all the achievements to some people means they got all they could out of their game

 

[Chechosaurus]

I feel somewhat corrupted by it when I find my self with nothing to do so I re-play a game just for achievements. That being said, I still don't care that much for them but two of my flat-mates are diagnosed Gamescore Whores. They are constantly on a quest for gamescore and will grind the hell out of something just for 15g.

 

[Generator]

What? I clicked no and it voted yes! This is an outrage!

The same thing happened to me, but there's still only one vote, so I think the poll is just on the fritz and isn't showing our votes yet.

OT: I think they provide a nice little challenge, but they're not necessary for a game to be good. Most older games give you similar achievements for completing certain hard portions of a game, they just didn't add to your gamerscore (e.g. collecting stars in Super Mario 64 or getting Skill Points in Insomniac games).

 

[feather240]

What? I clicked no and it voted yes! This is an outrage!

That happened to me too!

Achievements are good as proof that you did something cool, but I don't need them.

Some gamers prefer them, and that's fine too! Getting all the achievements to some people means they got all they could out of their game

Plus they're fun to get, "bing" "hehehe".

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

The point of Gaming is to have fun. If your friend has fun rollin Achievable 'Oar, well then good for him, because he's doing it right if he's having fun.

I myself[footnote]See: Opinion[/footnote] don't think it's corrupting Games, you just need to learn to play games for Fun, not for recognition via a little beep[footnote]You yourself said that it made you feel less like playing the game without a Predetermined Goal, when making your Own goals can be so much fun.[/footnote].
(I myself do love gaining an Achievable, but find no problem in Games that lack them [I actually like them much more if they have fun Cheat Codes])

Spoiler

 

[Worgen]

for awhile I had the attitude that I really liked them, I mean they are still nice but Ive kinda gotten over the whole farming aspect of them

 

[Space Spoons]

I can't speak for everyone, but I don't think it's corrupted gaming because it's really only an expansion on the "Hi-Score" system of the arcade's golden age. Things right now really aren't any different than they were then; There's guys who play for fun, and there's guys who play purely to get a higher score.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't sometimes make buying decisions based on achievements (I own two copies of Bully; the PS2 version that I bought on release day and the 360 version that I HAD to have for the achievements), but they've never stopped me from enjoying games that don't have them.

 

[G Skunk]

"Showing people online" doesn't appeal to me quite as much as it would some others because I don't play games in the hopes that someone will pat me on the back for sitting around with a piece of plastic in my hand. They don't absolutely torture me, but they do pop around with their cute little sound at inconvenient times and thus manage to break any flow or immersion that might have existed at the time.

*dramatic, heart-wrenching death scene of one of the central characters* BLIP "YOU'VE COMPLETED CHAPTER 12! 15 POINTS!"

 

[leviticusd]

I think the MMO world has addicted me to them. In MMO's they have all kind of grind mechanism's similar to achievements, just with different names (collections, traits, etc). I found that when I gave in and bought an Xbox, I bought many of the same games that I played on the computer (Mass Effect & Fallout 3), just to get the achievements.

Don't know why I like them. I don't care about others achievements or sharing my own with others, but they are goals that can add a little more entertainment for me. Right now, it's the quasi-achievements for MW2 that has my attention. I am working on unlocking each weapon's title in the multiplayer.

 

[tpizle]

I dont believe achievements have ruined games but rather given more inspiration to play some games. I for one buy old 360 games that are like 5 bucks just to get some achievements and pass the time. In the end its just another way to waist time playing video games.

 

[Infinatex]

I play for the game and to have fun. Considering you get trophies for "Started the game" and "turned on the console" I don't really care for them.

 

[Oomii]

To me, gaming is for fun. and that is its only purpose. If your "having fun" getting achievements that great for you. If your like me and play things for enjoyment, then you probably don't care. I like achievements because its a little thing on your wall that makes you say "yeah I did do that:, and makes you feel a little better about yourself. I could easily live without them though, but if it makes people happy I think they are here to stay.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

I'd say DLC and DRM + Paying Demos is corrupting gaming.

 

[blindmind]

I'd say DLC and DRM + Paying Demos is corrupting gaming.

I have to agree with you there. I cling to my internet connection for fear of losing my games.

 

[SilverUchiha]

Corrupting gaming is too... umm... dramatic?

But no, I don't think they taint, corrupt, or ruin gaming in any way. They just set goals (some arbitrary, some simple) for you to go for in the game if you have an interest in doing so. I like getting achievements, but I don't have Xbox. I try to get the various PC game achievements I can. Not for gamerscore, just to prove I'm good enough to get them... or bored enough to waste time going after them.