Achievements have been all the rage since the launch of the Xbox 360. But just how much have they done for gaming? Many people will argue that they add a level of depth to the games that give you the urge to keep playing when you normally would stop. I can’t argue with that. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. What I’ll add, though, is that achievements can take the fun out of a game.
There are a lot of times when gamers will spend hours just trying to get some achievement points that really don’t mean anything. It’s driven people to play games they don’t want to play (ie. King Kong, College Hoops 2K6) just to boost their gamer score. A lot of times, you’re just not having as much fun. In the Tiger Woods series, there has always been achievements for competing in Daily Online Tournaments. Now, most people would normally skip this feature, which doesn’t provide a lot of depth. Many players are grinding their way through just to get those extra points.
I’m not saying achievements are bad. I think they’re a great addition to gaming. But the way some developers have positioned the achievements in their games brings out sides of gamers that we’d rather not see. Cheating and boosting just to get some points online, and playing through games and modes that otherwise you had no desire to touch just to increase your score. If developers can put more effort into setting up their achievements, I think the system would be much better than where it is today.
“and playing through games and modes that otherwise you had no desire to touch just to increase your score. ”
Did you stop and think about the positive side of that? Game modes that people would never normally touch might just enlighten them and show them something they have been missing and actually encourage them / change their minds about that “game mode” and suddenly you have even more people liking say ‘capture the flag’ or ‘bombing run’ or whatever.
Everyone (talk about originality) criticizes King Kong, the sports games etc but King Kong was actually a pretty good game regardless if the achievements were not that hard.
There are other games like TMNT for example that you could pick (you know, just so you don’t sound like EVERY OTHER critic).
Just my 2c worth.
I think achievements are awesome. My friends and I are “competitive” when it comes to games. And achievements are great. For example, I’m assuming Halo 3 will have a (beat on legendary) one, and it will be great to actually show my friends that I have beaten it on Legendary, and not just talking shit.
Also, achievements make games last longer in my opinion. They give me something to strive for, a goal which makes me want to play more. For example, in gears of war they have achievements for using different weapons. By using different weapons, you may actually find that you like something better.
I would go on, but I would end up rambling.
I have to agree with TheBrit and Fragloser. If it wasnt for achievements. I would never have played King Kong, and I loved that game. If it wasnt for Achievements, I would never have played the Tiger Woods 2006 Online Tournament, and become hooked on them. And thats just the examples you mentioned. I would have missed out on playing a lot of great games that I wouldnt have considered trying, because I didnt think I would like. I probably would have given up a lot easier at hard points of my owned games too. It gives you a reason to keep trying and getyour extra moneys worth out of a game.
I dont play games that dont interest me, and am not a ‘point whore’. But the subtle addiction to hearing that achievement sound when I got one pushes me over the line to try new games, that I other wise would not have bothered playing.
I can see where your coming from, but have to disagree.
Hmmmm. When you stop and think about everything you just wrote it doesn’t really add up. How could earning points take the fun OUT of something? If anything, they take something that sucks and inject it with a miniscule level of enjoyment (earning points) and that can’t possibly make something worse… can it?!
Acheivements or not, if a game sucks, then that’s the reason it’s not fun. I do however, agree with your point on cheating. On the flipside, there will always be cheaters… acheivements or not.
Viva la Acheivements!
I dont think achievements have taken the fun out of my games, i play more now cause of them and i enjoy every damn second of it.
The tough achievements are always the best ones to get like from certain game mdoes that you wouldnt play because of it being to hard or just a pain. I think devs have put some great effort into achievements its just the easy achievements like most EA sports that need to be worked on.
Haven’t been on in awhile, but a great place for me to return.
I agree that if the game/mode really does suck, it’s stupid for people to play it just to get points. Only point of the points is to brag to friends, so whatever…
If the game/mode is fun but didn’t appeal to people regularly, I think it’s great for them to encourage people to play it. Some games/modes just don’t appeal to people, but when they can see there is a challenge attached to it they are encouraged to play it. Equals awesome in my book!
If a game is fun, I’ll try harder to get all the achievements (Marvel Ultimate Alliance).
If a game annoys the hell out of me (MLB 2k7 lock-ups) then all the achievements in the world won’t keep me playing.
i think achievments should only be for offline play. why should one have to pay for live just to get all of their achievments. also when one finishes the game on the hardest lvl they should get points as a standard.
one example of not playing a game for the achievements is COD 3. that game online in my opinion is not that fun to play. it gets frustrating really easily and trying to get all the achievements associated with playing it online is simply not worth my time so i spend my time playing games that are more fun like bioshock that give you achievements while playing through the game normally.
For everyone: No one says you have to get achievements, they are just available to get if you want, to show what you have done in a game, and for fun.
Well, I see both sides, but my take is…
Oblivion was/is a GREAT GAME!, but once I had the achievements I don’t go back and play like I did with Morrowwind. I think about playing it, but then opt to play something that will increase my achievements instead. More of just a rival with my son to stay ahead of him.
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I played Oblivion to the end including all the add ons. I still want to go back and kill every person in the game. Its my goal, haha!
achievements take the fun out of games! F#&@ achievements!!!! i have 23,629 gamerscore…..suck it