Achievements and Trophies were a really cool addition to this gen indeed.
To a lot of people, Achievements are that sense of accomplishment and progressing through the game, or even doing something outside of the main plot of the game that makes the experience that much more fun.
To others, they're just things that are there. They don't mean much or aren't really that important. Which is perfectly fine.
But the main point of this topic is to discuss what achievements and trophies mean to you. Do they matter at all? Are they just stupid little notification they could care less about, or are they something you've strived for since day one?
I bring up the topic due to some discussions I've had with friends lately. I've been the one to collect achievements on Xbox since the day it came out. From the first time I saw that little "Achievement Unlocked" banner, I've been hooked. I've strived to collect as many as I can, and complete as many games as I can.
But when discussing with my friends, they don't understand exactly WHY I do it. Some even go as far to say as its incredibly stupid and a total waste of time.
Well see, Achievements to me are a sense of completion of the games. I've been completing games to their fullest since the days of hoarding gems and crystals in Spyro and Crash Bandicoot.
So when achievements came around, and I got my first one, I was like "Awe man, I gotta get all these little buggers"
Not only that, Achievements serve as a sort of history of your gaming. Looking under my gamertag, the first achievement I got was in Pacman Arcade, WAY back in June of 2007. It's almost a sense of nostalgia really.
Now when I discuss achievements with my friends (ill go by their points bullet by bullet), these are the arguments I get about achievements.
1. "Why would you strive so hard for something that isn't even a part of the main game?"
> Games have been doing this for a long time. Think back to spyro days. When you play the game, yu can beat the entire story and that's it. That's the main game. Or, you can go the extra distance and find every gem, every egg, etc, and COMPLETE the game.
A better example is to take on from my friends styles of gaming.
One of them will spend hours in Pokemon trying to breed a legitimate shiny Pokemon. Why? It's not technically a part of the main game. You're not encouraged to do it. You don't have to do it. So why do it in the first place?
Because you can show it off (like an achievement) it's a sense of accomplishment in obtaining one, etc.
another example would be that I have some friends that play the rhythm game OSU. They strive to SS rank every song.
Why? You don't have to SS every song. You can pass a song with an A or a B or whatever you want and be done with the song. But they strive for SS To achieve the best score, to climb to the top of leader boards (much like achievement and gamer score leader boards) and so on.
2. Most people only collect them to show off and have bragging rights.
>Well of course! That's what Gaming is about isn't it? Competition, enjoyment, and satisfaction in looking at your friends "highscore" and topping it and running it in his face! That's been going on since the dawn of arcades!
The main thing I'm trying to day here is, Achievements to ME, aren't as stupid as they try to make out. They're a lifestyle of sorts I've developed after years of accomplishing them. The point of this discussion isn't really to change their minds, but hopefully have people understand and respect the opinions of people with achievements.
And of course, I want your opinions as well. What are achievements to you? What arguments do you have about them? DISCUSS!
To a lot of people, Achievements are that sense of accomplishment and progressing through the game, or even doing something outside of the main plot of the game that makes the experience that much more fun.
To others, they're just things that are there. They don't mean much or aren't really that important. Which is perfectly fine.
But the main point of this topic is to discuss what achievements and trophies mean to you. Do they matter at all? Are they just stupid little notification they could care less about, or are they something you've strived for since day one?
I bring up the topic due to some discussions I've had with friends lately. I've been the one to collect achievements on Xbox since the day it came out. From the first time I saw that little "Achievement Unlocked" banner, I've been hooked. I've strived to collect as many as I can, and complete as many games as I can.
But when discussing with my friends, they don't understand exactly WHY I do it. Some even go as far to say as its incredibly stupid and a total waste of time.
Well see, Achievements to me are a sense of completion of the games. I've been completing games to their fullest since the days of hoarding gems and crystals in Spyro and Crash Bandicoot.
So when achievements came around, and I got my first one, I was like "Awe man, I gotta get all these little buggers"
Not only that, Achievements serve as a sort of history of your gaming. Looking under my gamertag, the first achievement I got was in Pacman Arcade, WAY back in June of 2007. It's almost a sense of nostalgia really.
Now when I discuss achievements with my friends (ill go by their points bullet by bullet), these are the arguments I get about achievements.
1. "Why would you strive so hard for something that isn't even a part of the main game?"
> Games have been doing this for a long time. Think back to spyro days. When you play the game, yu can beat the entire story and that's it. That's the main game. Or, you can go the extra distance and find every gem, every egg, etc, and COMPLETE the game.
A better example is to take on from my friends styles of gaming.
One of them will spend hours in Pokemon trying to breed a legitimate shiny Pokemon. Why? It's not technically a part of the main game. You're not encouraged to do it. You don't have to do it. So why do it in the first place?
Because you can show it off (like an achievement) it's a sense of accomplishment in obtaining one, etc.
another example would be that I have some friends that play the rhythm game OSU. They strive to SS rank every song.
Why? You don't have to SS every song. You can pass a song with an A or a B or whatever you want and be done with the song. But they strive for SS To achieve the best score, to climb to the top of leader boards (much like achievement and gamer score leader boards) and so on.
2. Most people only collect them to show off and have bragging rights.
>Well of course! That's what Gaming is about isn't it? Competition, enjoyment, and satisfaction in looking at your friends "highscore" and topping it and running it in his face! That's been going on since the dawn of arcades!
The main thing I'm trying to day here is, Achievements to ME, aren't as stupid as they try to make out. They're a lifestyle of sorts I've developed after years of accomplishing them. The point of this discussion isn't really to change their minds, but hopefully have people understand and respect the opinions of people with achievements.
And of course, I want your opinions as well. What are achievements to you? What arguments do you have about them? DISCUSS!
