What Did achievements/trophies Do to gaming?

[MetalBaird]

Thinking about it now, early in the morning, while intoxicated while chatting to a friend while listening to the metal gear solid 2/3 theme.
Why did we play games before achievements/trophies came out? I think we played the games back in the day for well, I dont know, the story gave way after one or two play throughs. Cheats when unlocked did what? made us replay the game with funny heads or unbelieveably unfair ammo/health. What changes have been made? Why do we regard any game without achievements/trophies as a waste of time now compared to the old days?
I want to hear your thoughts on this
Baird

 

[runtheplacered]

I don't pay any attention to achievements or trophies with the exception of Left 4 Dead for PC, and even that was pretty short-lived, as I got most of them in a real short amount of time. I still play the game regardless of that feature.

So, I don't know how to answer your question for you, since I don't think games are wastes of time without achievements. I play them because I find myself immersed in them for one reason or another, whether it's for the story, gameplay, or something else.

In fact, I generally find achievements to be wastes of time, but to each their own. Whatever gets them immersed.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Many gamers nowadays just play games to complete achievements, which in my opinion is just useless grind which gives you the ilusion of accomplishing something. If you like a game or not shouldn't be affected by awards you can win with it

Why do we regard any game without achievements/trophies as a waste of time now compared to the old days?

Really, does anyone? You shouldn't generalize. I feel sorry for people who do

 

[watchman 2353]

Achievements are great for single player. They expand play time and give us a relatively good scale for our gaming skill.

Achievements killed multilayer. There are so many achievement Wh(*es that run around only trying for achievements. Game play is not about strategy, or the team winning, it is about making sure you kill 100 people with the grenade. The industry needs to either:
A: Stop all achievments for online gaming. or.
B: Create achievements like in left 4 dead that encourage teamwork and helping out the others instead of trying to always be in the lead.

 

[Raxous]

Well, to be honest, many games have had achievements back in the day. Be it unlockable art galleries, a super weapon, or just some silly easter egg. They're all things that you had to "achieve" something to get. But not called achievements per-say All we've done is given them a name, taken away most of the unlockable part and given them a point value to create a silly pissing contest between video-gamers.

EDIT:OFF TOPIC:I'm not a troll, I was conducting a silly albeit successful experiment. probably won't know what I'm referencing in this OT edit though.

 

[SquirrelPants]

(In response to the name of this thread, and nothing else)
They turned gaming into competitions of E-Penises.
Seriously, have you SEEN how many gamerpoints some people on XBL have?(I would also mention PSN, but I'm not sure how that one works.)

 

[Some_Jackass]

Achievments in a non competitive atmosphere are good, they push the gamer to do things they normally wouldnt shoot for in a game...like play Gears 2 story mode 4 times...

 

[Avatar Roku]

Well, I like them in single player games, as they give the game more replay value by forcing me to play in a way that I wouldn't usually.

 

[joystickjunki3]

Maybe for fun?

 

[duckfi8]

achievements make u play the game more, there not bad, i like them no matter if the game is multiplayer or not there fun to get

 

[MrBrightside919]

This thread has been done to death already before...

 

[Glerken]

Ya, I definitely don't take games without achievements as a waste of time. In a single player game, it's sometimes fun to go get achievements that require you to do random things.

 

[Coolness]

I think for people who care, it provides an incentive to play through more of the game, possibly despite boring content. It's not really a good or bad effect, just more appealing to some.

 

[MetalBaird]

haha good, i used "waste of time" as more of a phrase, obviously its not a waste of time as we paid for the game to play. BUT sometimes it feels like a film or a one time game. Like, i recently bought End War for ps3, i tried the online stuff, completed the single player stuff *dont know how i did it bur it said VICTORY! in huge letters* and i dont know, i never got into it the same as other games like FFX or goldenbeye or any of the classics, regardless of achievements. It seems like the trophy/achievement system is a crazy thing that applies to some, but not to others.
pretty much like the games themselves!
Baird

 

[MetalBaird]

This thread has been done to death already before...

Shut up.

 

[RantCasey]

I'll admit I'm a big Gamerscore guy but it's not really for anything more then personal satisfaction. I wouldn't say that achievements affect my decision for a game to play/rent/but whatever. I do however look at all the achievments and decide to go for them but I picked the game because I wanted to play it. Achievements are fun and sometimes do something. You can get gamer pics and sometimes, as Mass Effect did, they reward you with a little something. I think the only downside would be the multiplayer achievement "Farmers" people who walk around and ask before games "hey guys wanna get achievements?" No I wanna play the game and I'll rain on your parade for trying it. Yup I'm that asshole who says "Sure." Runs in the midle with a shotgun and kills everyone... sorry get the achievements for real maybe then you'll feel like you achieved something. Oh shit I'm rambling sorry.