Are Videogame Achievement system pointless? - Games

When you think about it, WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT! Video game achievements serves no purpose in real life other than bragging rights and size of e-peen. I mean back in the 16bit era, there was no achievements and the game are still enjoyable. The only achievement they have is the high score I see achievements as one big gimmick just to increase the re-playability. The sad truth is these achievements forces player to grind for it. It makes them frustrated and unhappy. Video games are suppose to be fun and they are not to be made like chores. Chores like get this achievement to unlock new map and weapons. But I want to know from you guys. Are Video Game achievement pointless and should be entirely ignored? Or do they make the game more interesting and challenging. If you ask me, it is the player who should set his/her own achievement in a video game. Example, Team Fortress 2 Achievements used to be useful at getting weapon drop until they adopted the drop system. Achievement hunting only waste time to those who seek it.

Well, maybe it's just me, but I think achievements give people a sense of, you know, achievement.

Not achievements like: play this game for 24 hours, hurr durr.

Achievements add something extra but optional to the game. It's a way to set goals in the game. I personally don't go for achievements but it does give satisfaction to get them.

They make people play the games for a longer time, thus making them discover new things in the game. Other then that they are pointless.

I don't see your point. I think it's nice to be able to see how far others are into a game and if they actually managed to get that trick jump, or managed to stay alive for way too long. Sure there's lame achievements and sure some developers abuse achievements. But that doesn't mean the core issue are the achievements.

Achievements are designed to both give players something to do, as well as make them feel achieved after they have met the needs of the desired achievement. You then receive a nice little badge/trophy to symbolize your success. It also gives the player something to go for. For example, beat the game on insane. Or survive 10+ minutes.

That really depends. Story achievements are pretty much pointless. Other achievements that encourages you to try out different playstyles are really awesome and can make a game more enjoyable.

Some achievements ruin games, such as everyone exploiting the same map just for one achievement, thus spreading that exploit and then every game you play includes people exploiting. Some, like Killing Floor's 'Finish X map on Suicidal Difficulty' gives me a good reason to invite some friends and enjoy some games on Suicidal, and frankly, when I've completed it on Suicidal I do want something for it.

I like achievements when they get players to try out new things, and it gives players something to strive for. Stupid grinding achievements (Play 100,000 online matches!) piss me off.

Achievements can go to hell. People should play the game for the game not idle for items and farm achievements like little whores. It's so much nicer for immersion if I just turn the fucking overlay off and just god damn enjoy the game without pointless little messages informing me that my dick is small and I need to be comforted.

I think achievement are good, they are a good way to measure your progress/statistics as well as give optional goals to go for. Howver, things like "Play this game for X hours" and such are pointless in my opinion.

[QUOTE=BmB;26798705]People should play the game for the game not idle for items and farm achievements like little whores./QUOTE] You do realise there are other games with achievements than TF2?

[QUOTE=BmB;26798705]Achievements can go to hell. People should play the game for the game not idle for items and farm achievements like little whores. It's so much nicer for immersion if I just turn the fucking overlay off and just god damn enjoy the game without pointless little messages informing me that my dick is small and I need to be comforted.[/QUOTE] but it is small

I just play games the way I always do and then suddenly steam says that I have unlocked an achievement and then I think "Cool.." and then I resume playing. It is just something fun that tracks your progress and I will never grind for it.

I hate it when achievements cause players to Rambo it up on multiplayer games, but other than that, they're okay.

[QUOTE=Dark RaveN;26798740][QUOTE=BmB;26798705]People should play the game for the game not idle for items and farm achievements like little whores./QUOTE] You do realise there are other games with achievements than TF2?[/QUOTE] If there are items, they will be whored, if there are achievements, they will be farmed. Fuck that shit.

little rocket man it made me replay episode 2 and it was great fun unlike these achievements "deal 30000 damage in one round" or stuff

Avatar awards on xbl make me play more, I played loads of L4D2 until I got that left4dead hand shirt, and then I stopped playing.

You play Minecraft, which quite literally has no game goal, and you argue about achievements being pointless?

[QUOTE=BCell;26798407]When you think about it, WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT! Video game achievements serves no purpose in real life other than bragging rights and size of e-peen. [B]I mean back in the 16bit era, there was no achievements and the game are still enjoyable. The only achievement they have is the high score[/B] I see achievements as one big gimmick just to increase the re-playability. The sad truth is these achievements forces player to grind for it. It makes them frustrated and unhappy. Video games are suppose to be fun and they are not to be made like chores. Chores like get this achievement to unlock new map and weapons. But I want to know from you guys. Are Video Game achievement pointless and should be entirely ignored? Or do they make the game more interesting and challenging. If you ask me, it is the player who should set his/her own achievement in a video game. Example, Team Fortress 2 Achievements used to be useful at getting weapon drop until they adopted the drop system. Achievement hunting only waste time to those who seek it.[/QUOTE] Achievements are like today's high scores

From my point of view. its not, because it has the same effect as.. lets say: Poker chips. it doesnt make the player/user realize the reality very much that this company want to make profit from. so companies earn more. same with achievements. and with some common sense logic, yes its basically useless since most achievements doesnt have an effect/reward, but most companies is starting to realize that now

I think Achievements add re-playability to games, some games in my collection i would not have played through several times if it was not for Achievements.

some of GTA4's achievements are fun, like the wheelie one, or flips or whatever.

Two for One Who remembers it?

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;26798828]You play Minecraft, which quite literally has no game goal, and you argue about achievements being pointless?[/QUOTE] Some people get a sense of achievement out of showing their work, or just simply making something awesome. Sense of achievement isn't only accomplished through a game telling you that you did it.

[QUOTE=Dark RaveN;26798740][QUOTE=BmB;26798705]People should play the game for the game not idle for items and farm achievements like little whores./QUOTE] You do realize there are other games with achievements than TF2?[/QUOTE] I'm not talking about TF2 only but every games in general. When you get the achievement, it is forgotten forever. It would be the same as not getting achievements in the long run. Achievement has no use in multiplayer. What's the point of completing the game on hardest difficulty for the achievements when you eventually forget about it. I doubt most of you remember why you want the achievement.

Or rather, a sense of achievement is in no way accomplished by way of the game telling you you should feel it.

i willl think of it :wink:

I just ignore the achievements and play the game as if it didn't have achievements. Sometimes I get a random "achievement unlocked" and it's not really a big deal to me. I guess they are rather pointless but then again, they're not much of a nuisance either.