What has happened to gamers?

[Eisberg]

I have been noticing a trend of gamer's asking what is the point of beating a game on the hardest difficulty if there is no achievements for it. Or they say what is the point of playing a game if there are no achievements in the game.

Seriously, what the heck has happened that made achievements the most important thing to these gamer's? The only reason for them to play a game or play it at the most challenging?

[Nunz]

if you grew up with every game having achievements and expecting a visual reward for everything, then that's what is the norm for you.

we grew up in the days of DOOM, Quake, UT, and RPGs that were out there to beat you, not to make you feel powerful.

I only play games on the hardest difficulty because I like a challenge. I couldn't care less if it had achievements or not. Funny enough after just finishing up Witcher 3 DLC, I was scrolling through all the achievements I got. I didn't realize I had so many .. don't really give a damn either.

Achievements, to me, are like proof of easter eggs within the game existing. before we used to look online to find out about them, now you see them on an achievement list.

[Brainstew]

Back in the day we used to have cool unlocks we got for beating games, so is it really any different than that?

[theshadowcult]

Originally Posted by Brainstew

Back in the day we used to have cool unlocks we got for beating games, so is it really any different than that?

kind of. These kinds of rewards were special then, because you had to work hard for them, and they were infrequent. For example, Metal Gear Solid; Beat the game once, you can play in a tuxedo and you get a item reward that does something special in game. Beat it again and you get a second item rward that does something in game. Beat it a fifth time and you get to play in the ninja suit! That was so cool back then!!

Now, you get a couple extra suits basically given to you just for playing, and reward items and more suits are behind a dlc paywall. You get nothing for the beating the game, and there is no challenge reward. Just achievements.

Personally, my all time favourite way of doing achievements is how they do it in vindictus. It's an action game with rpg elements, and the way you level up your rpg stats is through achievements. When you earn achievements you gain small bonuses, like 3 strength and 10 health etc
Giving you actual in game reasons to earn them.

[Jkmetal23]

Originally Posted by Nunz

if you grew up with every game having achievements and expecting a visual reward for everything, then that's what is the norm for you.

we grew up in the days of DOOM, Quake, UT, and RPGs that were out there to beat you, not to make you feel powerful.

I only play games on the hardest difficulty because I like a challenge. I couldn't care less if it had achievements or not. Funny enough after just finishing up Witcher 3 DLC, I was scrolling through all the achievements I got. I didn't realize I had so many .. don't really give a damn either.

Achievements, to me, are like proof of easter eggs within the game existing. before we used to look online to find out about them, now you see them on an achievement list.

Pretty much this. I remember getting achievements for the first time on the 360 and wondering what I achieved. Getting out of the sewers in Oblivion is not a great feat....

I don't pay attention or achievement hunt in any game, although I once looked up my achievements for Bit Trip Runner 1 and 2 just to see how many people managed to get through the games.

[Dave]

Playing games on the hardest difficulty doesnt really do much for me. Neither do achievements. I usually play on normal difficulty. Games that just result in frustration I usually don't play (Dark Souls)

[t0adp1p3]

Originally Posted by Dave

Playing games on the hardest difficulty doesnt really do much for me. Neither do achievements. I usually play on normal difficulty. Games that just result in frustration I usually don't play (Dark Souls)

Sometimes I am that way, than I go through times where I want to play a hard game. So I end up playing Dark Souls games and never finishing them about once a year for 3 or 4 days lol (I think I am half way through 1 and about 10 percent of the way in 2 and 3). I did beat bloodborne though, but that truly wasn't very hard and I really liked the aesthetics.


On topic:

As far as gamers needing achievements, I can kind of understand it (don't feel that way personally), what boggles my mind is the ones who just watch the game on YouTube, and never play it. Now that blows my mind. Its like the opposite ends of the spectrum. One wants a challenge, and the other wants the complete antithesis of challenge.

[Brainstew]

Originally Posted by theshadowcult

kind of. These kinds of rewards were special then, because you had to work hard for them, and they were infrequent. For example, Metal Gear Solid; Beat the game once, you can play in a tuxedo and you get a item reward that does something special in game. Beat it again and you get a second item rward that does something in game. Beat it a fifth time and you get to play in the ninja suit! That was so cool back then!!

Now, you get a couple extra suits basically given to you just for playing, and reward items and more suits are behind a dlc paywall. You get nothing for the beating the game, and there is no challenge reward. Just achievements.

Personally, my all time favourite way of doing achievements is how they do it in vindictus. It's an action game with rpg elements, and the way you level up your rpg stats is through achievements. When you earn achievements you gain small bonuses, like 3 strength and 10 health etc
Giving you actual in game reasons to earn them.

I think achievements were just the answer to replacing unlocks in the age of DLC. Obviously these cheap ass companies don't want to reward you with cool stuff for beating a game when they can just charge you money for it. Achievements give some satisfaction or feeling of accomplishment, but are definitely pathetic by comparison.

At least Naughty Dog has kept the tradition alive by having some cool unlock stuff.

[KAC]

Originally Posted by Dave

Playing games on the hardest difficulty doesnt really do much for me. Neither do achievements. I usually play on normal difficulty. Games that just result in frustration I usually don't play (Dark Souls)

Surprisingly this is what I do as well.

[bill dennison]

Back in the day we had DOS and Zork and it was a achievement if you could get everything to run at the same time

[Dave]

Originally Posted by KAC

Surprisingly this is what I do as well.

Its especially true when upping the difficulty just results in more hitpoints for enemies. Pointless.

[Eisberg]

Originally Posted by bill dennison

Back in the day we had DOS and Zork and it was a achievement if you could get everything to run at the same time

[bob saget]

Originally Posted by Eisberg

Seriously, what the heck has happened that made achievements the most important thing to these gamer's?

What? Who cares? If you play for another reason, more power to you. Who cares why people play?

Some people like achievements... Some don't. I still remember playing quake 3 online in the early 2000s and trying to get the most of those little icons for killing someone with the saw or railgun, etc...

EDIT: also adding the " 's " to a word is possessive. Such as: the gamer's girlfriend was imaginary. If you want to pluralize something, you usually just add an "s" or "es". Such as: reading posts like this makes my organs hurt.

[Seyiji]

Consoles

.

[dmanna]

Originally Posted by Dave

Playing games on the hardest difficulty doesnt really do much for me. Neither do achievements. I usually play on normal difficulty. Games that just result in frustration I usually don't play (Dark Souls)

Originally Posted by KAC

Surprisingly this is what I do as well.

I use to always play games on the the hardest difficulty or the 2nd hardest difficulty. But now unless there is some actual strategy or reason for playing on a harder difficulty, I don't. I find myself getting frustrated if I get to a point in a game where it takes me 5-10x to get through a certain area.. and then if that area has a long check point like for instance the set piece or w/e takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and you keep dying 8-9 minutes in 5 times in a row.. I start to lose interest.

There are some games that I do like the higher difficulty but not all games.

And I never cared for achievements. They never did anything for me. Before I really got into PC gaming my first real PC games were FF XI and WOW if you really get hooked on an MMO and spend 12 hours hunting a rare monster or calling out to random people to help you with a Boss like Fenrir in FFXI or trying to take down rare NM's or running countless dungeons in wow and building up your crafting classes.. etc etc.. those games give you real achievements.

After FF XI and WOW lost there luster for me, I could never play an MMO ever again.. none of them could draw me in but I will say I have never had more fun in a virtual world than FF XI or WOW. I spent about a year and a half with each game. Most fun I ever had gaming. But now I hate MMO's and for some reason achievements remind me of MMO's. Sorry went a little far OT

Short response: Achievements are unimportant and mean nothing to me. I find that when I really get into a game and play it multiple times I end up unlocking most of the achievements anyway.

[Eisberg]

Originally Posted by bob saget

reading posts like this makes my organs hurt.

I know it does.

[twonha]

Originally Posted by t0adp1p3

As far as gamers needing achievements, I can kind of understand it (don't feel that way personally), what boggles my mind is the ones who just watch the game on YouTube, and never play it. Now that blows my mind. Its like the opposite ends of the spectrum. One wants a challenge, and the other wants the complete antithesis of challenge.

I've done this a few times now. I had an Xbox 360 and have a Playstation 3, and I thoroughly enjoyed some of the exclusives those platforms offered. However, I don't want to buy an Xbox One at all, and am holding off from buying a PS4Pro for a while.

Still, I wanted to "experience" Halo 5's story, Halo Wars 2's CGI movies, and I was curious about Uncharted on PS4. I've got a triple monitor setup on my PC, so I've got room to spare. I've put videos mixing gameplay sections and CGI of these games on the third monitor. Essentially, I've "watched" those games instead of playing them myself.

I wanted to know what happens in those games, in a more fun way than just reading up on the Wikipedia pages. I didn't want to buy a new console for just those games. I don't mind not actually playing them: Halo Wars 2 in particular hasn't reviewed that well. So by watching the videos I got everything I wanted, at no cost.

I get why others would do the same: sometimes you just can't afford a game, or it's not accessible, or you don't have the time, or you're just bored or whatever...

[Mangler]

I've gotten so used to achievements that it feels weird playing games on a console without them like the switch.

[koralis]

Originally Posted by Eisberg

Seriously, what the heck has happened that made achievements the most important thing to these gamer's?

Because their main reward is being able to show how cool they are to all their friends. Welcome to the social media world.

[mynakedrat2]

Except with nintendo , you get points for doing things, and can trade them in for REAL items. I like that way more than some silly trophy next to my PSNbox namertag-id

[mercs2007]

Only winners play a game on its hardest difficulty. Weak people that give up easily play a game on easy or normal.

[nutcrackr]

I find achievements mostly harmless. Sometimes it is neat to hunt for them when its a game I really enjoy. Most of the time I ignore them and find they encourage bad behavior. Ever since achievements I've noticed that I always check under stairs or around dead ends for those collectibles, not for supplies.

I cringe a little when people chase after all achievements, but that's because I don't generally find it fun given their conditions. At the same time I think it's poor form for people to finish a game, playing normally, and only unlock ~20% of the achievements.

[Destroy]

I dunno, they do whatever makes them feel good. Sorta like male gamers use to go in the mens restroom. Now they can decide if they want to use the womens restroom instead.

[Eisberg]

Some people made some good points. But I guess I will never understand the love of achievements and why those are more important than being challenged or enjoying a game for what it is. /shrug.

[yoz]

Best achievements are those you get for challenging and rewarding things like starting a new game, finishing chapter 1, or making your first potion. I feel so accomplished.

[Apocalypsee]

Gone are the days where there is actual benefits finishing game at hardest difficulty. I remember finishing Max Payne 2 on 'Dead on Arrival' difficulty made Mona alive at the end.

Though I usually play at regular difficulty since the only difference you have is higher enemy HP and you took higher damage, Fallout 4 Survival difficulty changes this. This is a double edge sword; it made the gameplay harder and true to life but IMO it made the game too hard, in NV you can still fast travel. I didn't like to play the game like I am in real life. It's a game after all.

[theshadowcult]

Originally Posted by Apocalypsee

Gone are the days where there is actual benefits finishing game at hardest difficulty. I remember finishing Max Payne 2 on 'Dead on Arrival' difficulty made Mona alive at the end.

Though I usually play at regular difficulty since the only difference you have is higher enemy HP and you took higher damage, Fallout 4 Survival difficulty changes this. This is a double edge sword; it made the gameplay harder and true to life but IMO it made the game too hard, in NV you can still fast travel. I didn't like to play the game like I am in real life. It's a game after all.

I think max payne 2 is the last game i played that did anything like that. I miss **** like that. It's why im so keen to play nier autowhatsit

[mynakedrat2]

Originally Posted by yoz

Best achievements are those you get for challenging and rewarding things like starting a new game, finishing chapter 1, or making your first potion. I feel so accomplished.

started game! trophy added

[Eisberg]

Pillars of Eternity Kistarter Backer Achievement was a big FU to those who thrive on achievements .

[atomBomb]

I just want to say Dark Souls isnt hard.

Get bigger sword, kill monster, run forward.

GIT GUD.