Why Trophies/Achievements are Bogus

‣ Feature ‣ Why Trophies/Achievements are Bogus

Ryan DeBraal
January 31, 2012

Recently, MKay wrote an article entitled: What Turns A Gamer Into a Trophy/Achievement Junkie? While it was an informative and well written piece, it’s core viewpoint (namely achievements are good) was one which I disagree with. So this article isn’t so much a ‘companion’ to it as much as it is a ‘frenemy‘

For the purposes of this article I will be using the word ‘Achievment’ as a blanket term for all in-game unlocks used in XBox LIVE, PSN and Steam.

My belief
I think achievements are bogus. I have never felt compelled to unlock achievements in a game in hopes of eking out a little more playtime from my purchase. I never felt that I should be granted an award simply for killing 10 of one thing or collecting 50 of another. I don’t think hitting Level 20 and then getting a little award directly on top of that for being Level 20 makes much sense. To me, these are fake rewards from a system “outside” the game itself.

An actual “achievement” should be something that leads to bigger and better things, a Skill Point or the procurement of a special item. Not something that’s sole purpose is to supplement a “Gamer Score” or some other totally arbitrary system used to rate your worth as a player.

All the ways they offend the senses

The following is a list compiled to highlight the key reasons for my distaste of achievements.

Achievements are meaningless. If a game wants to reward a player for exceptional play, give them in-game currency or a potion, or with an eye towards the future why not reward an intangible achievement with a tangible reward?
Achievements are a means of artificially padding out the length of a game, Play piano 1000 times …Really?!
Achievements are often unavoidable as you progress through the single player campaign. Is it really an achievement to unlock: “Watched Prologue”? Have we become such an impatient culture that sitting still for two minutes is praise worthy?
Achievements are a symptom of ‘consolitis’ which has been slowly infecting video games over the last decade.
Achievements are corrupting the timeline! It’s especially annoying when I purchase an older game on Steam and discover that achievements have been retroactively added to a beloved game.
Achievements are rewarded with obtrusive, superimposed messages on screen that interrupt the immersion a game is trying to cultivate. This is in direct opposition to the desired effect of a game, namely to draw the player into the world.
Achievement ”fever” forces designers to implement them into games which don’t - need - them for fear of being different.

Multiple Points of View

The following are actual quotations taken from a conversation which took place on an internet forum not far from here.

bahabeast says: well trophies gives a challenge for me even after i beat a game ill go back and try go gain all those hard one i missed out. it also nice competition between friends, one of my friends has like two levels of trophies over me but i trump him by the fact that i hav a level 8 trophies on psn and 3500 gamer score on xbl soo best of both world

I say: Games already have a competative component known as multiplayer. Is it necessary (or healthy) to feel like your ‘winning‘ when there isn’t even a game being played?

gamingisnotacrime says: Trophy hunting is a nice way to explore my favorite games to the fullest. Im not a trophy addict but im trophy conscious.

I say: Truth be told, s/he has a point. Once in a blue moon the list of achievements does give me an idea on what to pursue.

MysticStrummer says: To me, they are a cheap way for devs to fool people into thinking they’re getting more content when we’re actually getting less this gen.

I say: Games are costing exponentially more to produce with each passing year, adding meaningless objectives to pursue does give the illusion of “more content”.

The Exception that Proves the Rule
There is one notable exception that for the sake of balance I should address. The game in question is Portal 2.

Nearing the end of the single player portion of the game you are tricked by Wheatley, the incompetent personality sphere who has managed to take control of Aperture Science’s Enrichment Center. As you approach your impending doom GlaDos laments “Well, this is the part where he kills you” followed by Wheatley declaring cheerfully “Hello, this is the part where I kill you” just as the chapter title fades in: “The Part Where He Kills You” and if it’s your first play through an achievement unlocks: “The Part Where He Kills You”

It was so clever and witty to be suddenly inundated with the same phrase over-and-over that it did elicited an honest hardy chuckle from me.

wastedafternoon 300x147 Why Trophies/Achievements are Bogus

That about sums it up.

Tell us what you think

Achievements aren’t going away, they are now as much a part of games as an Option Screen or Health Bar. But with any luck in the future developers will begin to see that rewarding players for performing common actions is going to dilute the sense of accomplishment they are trying to cultivate.

So what do you think of achievements? Are they a great way to increase replay or Are they a bane of modern gaming?

Let us know in the comments section and we will award you a coveted BoG Participation Badge!*

*not really.

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Ryan DeBraal

Managing Editor at Bag of Games

I love sharing my unique perspective on games with our readers. I think they deserve to know the truth. :)

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bluesam20

Achievements/trophies are (In my opinion) the single most retarded thing since ever. When did we stop comparing our play-throughs and our high scores? For years we didn’t need them and we certainly don’t need them now. I can’t count how many times my friends compare “gamer scores” with me, as if that has anything to with skill or techniques.

I believe that it is the fault of these “New Gamers”, the “Casual Gamer” that we have to be spoon-fed incremental successes. They are also a superficial ploy to try to increase a games value, by extending the experience or adding “new challenges”. A truly useless addition to a perfectly fine and stable industry, join me and “SAY NO TO ACHIEVEMENTS/TROPHIES”!
Dac2u

“An actual “achievement” should be something that leads to bigger and better things, a Skill Point or the procurement of a special item.
You’re confusing the word “achievement” with the word “reward.”

You remind me of my brother. He hates single player games and can’t understand why I’ve been playing them for nearly 3 decades. He’ll make a comment about how he just doesn’t see the point in playing them and I’ll counter with I enjoy the experience and the story. This happens roughly once every month or two. He doesn’t understand what a single player experience can offer and he only plays multiplayer games. Even a game like Starcraft II, he didn’t touch the single player campaign, but he made it to Gold rank with a friend of his in 2-player versus.

See… you’re the same as my brother, just replace “single player game” with “earning achievements.” It’s clear to me that you can’t or don’t want to understand why people enjoy hunting for achievements, yet you still write an article explaining why achievement hunting is pointless.

You posted: “I say: Games already have a competative component known as multiplayer. Is it necessary (or healthy) to feel like your ‘winning‘ when there isn’t even a game being played?”[sic]

People have been turning single player experiences into competitive challenges since single player games were created. Ever try to outscore someone in anything? From Tetris to free throws, people challenge themselves and others. All achievements do is give us a preset list of challenges to complete…. if we want to. Sure, some of the achievements are pointless, but many encourage the gamer to better themselves at playing the game or to see more of the game than they would have otherwise.

Lastly, if you don’t like seeing the pop-ups for achievements, you can always disable them.
- GideonKain
  
  What’s clear to you isn’t necessarily the truth. I do understand the appeal of earning achievements. But I’m not falling for it.
  
  I know the competitive spirit is a part of playing games but since when is “I did the same thing for 3 hours and got a little popup!” something to brag about?
Mr Prest

Achievements are irritating distractions when they worm their way into a story driven, single-player game. Otherwise, I’ve no real problem.
alex

The only time an achievement in my opinion works is if you did something brag-worthy and need proof to show off. in other words, an actual achievement

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