Xbox 360 Achievements: My Thoughts

I couldn't decide on a first topic, so Dave recommended for some reason that I post my views about Xbox 360 Achievements, since it comes up from time to time. Specifically, he wanted me to write about why I don't care about them very much.

After some thought, I came up with three answers to this question: one on principle and the other two more pragmatically.

The first reason has to do with the fact that they are primarily a gimmick to get people hooked on the platform. That's not to say that I object to game elements that cause a player to become hooked; I just object to game elements that are designed first and foremost for this purpose. That said, it's a highly successful strategy and all of the infrastructure built around it is impressive.

But so what if they're a gimmick if they're fun, right? This leads me to my second reason I'm not a fan of them:

Xbox 360 Achievements are all too often an ordeal to achieve. They in a sense cause the game to play the player. When I play a game, I want the gameplay to be a reward in itself. If there are any goals to reach, I want them to be my own -- even if they coincide with the game's objectives (e.g. completing a specific mission or level). If I'm not enjoying a linear game, I won't continue playing. If I'm playing a sandbox-style game, I don't need the game to challenge me to complete a certain task within a certain amount of time. Don't get me wrong; these types of challenges can often be fun, but they can just as easily be an unenjoyable ordeal solely for the purpose of receiving a badge of completion. I object to the idea of placing so much value in this type of award that you're willing to sacrifice enjoyable gameplay in order to achieve it.

But plenty of games I like contain awards, right? Why is that any different from Xbox 360 Achievements? Let's look at some examples:

In a game like Battlefield 2142 or your average RPG, the gameplay rewards the player by granting them items and abilities as they progress. In Capcom's Dead Rising, you can obtain an Xbox 360 Achievement by having your character try on every single costume in the game's mall environment. What's the difference? In the first instance, the activities which lead to these rewards are enjoyable regardless of the reward. Further, the rewards are more than just badges of honor; they're actual gameplay elements which have an effect on the game experience. Even the "badges" awarded in Battlefield 2142 give point rewards which can be spent on new item upgrades. In contrast, running around a mall trying on every last costume is, in my opinion, an ordeal. What motivation do I have to achieve a goal that 1) is not fun to obtain, and 2) gives no reward that adds to the gameplay in any way? None, unless I simply want bragging rights -- and that's a large motivation for most players who collect Xbox 360 Achievements. This is also part of the brilliance of the marketing strategy: it exploits the power of gamers' egos to lure them into the competitive Xbox Live platform.

My third objection to Xbox 360 Achievements is much more practical in nature. Given that these awards offer virtually nothing more than bragging rights, you're essentially entering a rat race, and if you have as little time or inclination to play Xbox games as I do, there's little point in joining the fray. Assuming I placed value in these achievements, I would have to endure countless un-fun experiences in order to achieve a high gamerscore. Even then, it would be futile to attempt to outpace all of my friends and coworkers. It would be akin to someone who loathes chess studying the game and competing professionally (minus any financial reward). You'll never be the best and you won't enjoy the process of rising in ranks, aside from being able to brag to your friends about it.


To sum up, the Xbox 360 Achievement system is essentially a marketing gimmick that exploits players' egos in an effort to drive people to the Xbox / Xbox Live platform. They steer an ego-driven player's gaming experience in a direction that often diverges from fun gameplay, and require far too much effort for an otherwise willing gamer to remain competitive within the community.

All of this said, I stand by my statement that they're an excellent tool for driving players to the Xbox platform. I'd just rather be the guy selling the gimmick than the one buying into it.