Comments on: Xbox 360 Achievements’ Icy Grip Needn’t Get Colder

By: Games for Windows Gets On Demand Downloads, But Why? | Technologizer

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:29:50 +0000

[...] The one specific benefit Microsoft describes is the ability to “re-install your games whenever you want, wherever you want.” Steam does that too, because games are linked to your Steam account, rather than a specific computer. As for games, Steam already sells everything Microsoft lists as launch titles, including Resident Evil 5, Red Faction Guerrilla, Battlestations: Pacific, World of Goo and Osmos. Also, the features you get with Games for Windows look pretty much like Steam, with matchmaking, voice chat, text messaging and achievements. [...]

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:10:29 +0000

I like achievements, they let me compare my progress of a game with my friends, they also encourage gamers to explore every aspect of the game. Take GTA IV for example, it has many, many achievements (additional challenges) that don’t relate to the main story line.

By: ediedi

ediedi — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:23:35 +0000

Achievements are completely useless. I don’t need a game to inform me i was awarded 15P for, say, a headshot – the satisfaciton of doint it is enough.

If those achievements allowed you to access new levels, download new maps, etc., now that would be woth mentioning. Until then.. *yawn

By: Xbox 360 Achievements' Icy Grip Needn't Get Colder | Technologizer | Arcade Games

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:58:22 +0000

[...] Read this article: Xbox 360 Achievements' Icy Grip Needn't Get Colder | Technologizer [...]

By: Seumas

Seumas — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:45:28 +0000

There are a lot of problems with “achievements” or “meta points” and it’s depressing that all of the platforms are going down that route. Microsoft, Sony, Valve, Blizzard….

The most obvious is that it’s like paying a kid to get good grades in school. Or more accurately, paying a kid to read comic books. If you like doing something, why do you need some external reinforcement to do it? Isn’t it enough to enjoy playing a game rather than “ooh, I hope I get those 15 points for doing this!”?

But then there are other problems. Like the deteriorating quality and content of games that use achievements as easy filler. For example, why create more content when you can just throw in 500 flags or orbs that you have to collect “for achievements”? It’s not any real content, but that simple act can extend a five hour $65 game to, say, eight or ten hours.

And then there’s the “hardcore” element. Why make a game difficult? Just make games extremely easy so that everyone who buys the game can beat it without much trouble. The only effort they have to put in is time. Then add a bunch of stupid achievements that have nothing to do with the actual story or game or gameplay and now you can say it is “for everyone” with “special content for hard core players”.

I equate it to the way companies have recently been taking the traditional half gallon of ice cream and rather than jacking up the price directly, simply keep the same price and reduce the 64oz to 48oz (a practice happening in MANY grocery products these days).

It’s cheap, it’s underhanded, and it’s bullshit.

By: Backlin

Backlin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:25:02 +0000

I don’t know about you all, but I play a game to play through the story, or levels, or in awe of the graphics. My Gamerscore of 8000 can prove that. I don’t even know how many possible points I could get, but I know it’s possible to get half-again the points that I have.