Achievement System

[LordSquirt]

I didn't really like it at first, but it gives players something to do.

good job

[kia345]

Originally Posted by LordSquirt

I didn't really like it at first, but it gives players something to do.

good job

Something to do that is only going to last a few days. Hell, most people got the party achievements in 20 minutes.

Make 'em secreeeeeet

[salesman]

secret achievements would keep people interested for 0 days

edit (found an article I read a while back):

Originally Posted by Greg McClanahan

13. "Secret" achievements (in which the earning criteria are not displayed) are dumb. The description for them might as well just be, "Go look this up online." There's absolutely no point to them, other than just giving the player an errand. The only people who are surprised to earn secret achievements are the people who wouldn't have bothered to check what the achievement is in the first place.

pretty much sums it up

[kia345]

Originally Posted by salesman

article

That article applies to the ones that tell you what to do as well, nothing but errands to give the illusion of actually doing something in game.


Achievements are meant to be accomplishments. They are rewards on their own for doing something extraordinary or impressive. By going out of your way to do it, you're not accomplishing anything.

Originally Posted by salesman

Still, once one person does it it's not a secret anymore...might as well just give the information and save players the extra step of massing out "What do i need to do to complete _____?!!"

Sure, people can ask how to get secret achievements, but that's doing it wrong. People cheat at events and hack and stuff too. Just because it's wrong doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

If you're specifically aiming to get the achievement and are willing to look up how to get it, then you're missing the vital part of any achievement systems: the sense of accomplishment.

Personally, I don't think it should display achievements at all. There should be an unknown amount, with no way of checking which ones you don't have. When you actually do it, you get the alert, and that's your reward. Because you actually "achieved" something, not followed some stupid directions to get a virtual badge. Hell, there should be, say, 200 achievements. All hidden. Everyone gets a different combination of 75.


If you've ever played Oblivion on 360, you'll know my beef with achievements. That is a stunning example of doing it wrong. It's not giving you achievements for actually doing something great, it's telling you what to do just to make you feel like you're actually seeing what the game has to offer.