Xbox gamers play for points and bragging rights

The Washington Post's Mike Musgrove discusses Gamerscore, a clever system built into Microsoft's game console, designed to hook gamers by doling out achievement points and bragging rights to dedicated players. The points are worth nothing outside the quasi-social network of Xbox, and are good only for some vague, and nerdy, cred.

If this all sounds rather goofy, well, that's because it is. Goofy and effective.

Musgrove reports how Gamerscore can generates buzz and sales for games, and how it has changed the face of the gaming industry.

[ via Chicago Tribune on November 20, 2007 ]

[Douchebaggery]

I must give props to MS, nerdpoints are really clever way to get people to play x360 games and I believe that they play a role in the success of x360 software sales.

Personally I couldn't care less about nerdpoints but the achievement can give great replay value to an already great game I would like for more devs to do what BioWare did with Mass Effect.

[jack who]

you say you dont care bout it yet you call it nerdpoints

[Skerj]

Dude, they are nerdpoints. They serve no purpose but to brag on your gaming ability, IF you could exchange them for MS points or they were instrumental in unlocking something in a game then I could see the need to whore them so. I'll give kudos to MS though, I've seen some people buy games that they normally wouldn't have in order to boost their gamerscore.

[FirstknighT]

Achievement points is a fantastic innovative idea from Microsoft. It definitely adds replay value to all games. That's why alot of real and hardcore gamers are choosing the 360 for their console of choice. The achievement points gives them a lil gaming "respect"

[ud]

lol

[Leathersoup]

Because of gamer points I've found that I stick with games much longer than I did prior to their existence.

Depending on the way the achievements are given to the gamer, it can cause the gamer to pay particular attention to aspects of the game that aren't apparent from the get go.

[pacman615]

but insomniac has been putting skill points in their games long before the x360 came out , take ratchet and clank for example since their first outing they have been providing us with skill points, or as a xbot would say "gaymerskore", just one more thing MS copied

[ScottEFresh]

I don't need "achievements" to tell me how much I kick ass at a video game though. MS is smart in doing that. They know most "hardcore gamers" are insecure about themselves and need to keep reassuring them that they are indeed "hardcore".

[FirstknighT]

How can you possibly get a negative comment on this article? Looks to me that your the one that's insecure.

[wasupman]

Achievement points is not fantastic innovative idea from Microsoft are you serious or just on there testicals? people have been keeping high scores for games ever since the Pacman days hell even further than that. you all need to stop this stupid system wars shyt each system has there ups and downs and stop talking about how much who sells what from the last time I checked non of you work for or getting paychecks from Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo

[BloodySinner]

You're a PS3 owner, aren't you?

[OOG FunK]

Nah its not about the scores its about having your game have goals set out for you to accomplish.....it kinda makes a game last even longer when you have things that you can try out that you may not have thought of b4 hand

[Surviver]

Sorry if anyone said it but achievements add great replay value to a game. Personally, i wouldnt play a game just for achievements, and if some people do big deal. They are just one part of the great things about Live.

Happy birthday Live.

[Texas GMR]

it was just one of those things that came with the new system. But it does add a little fun to the games you play. I do find myself doing a little extra sometimes to get those elusive achievements. :-)

[wasupman]

also a xbox360, wii, ps2, to say short i have all the console dating back to the sega saturn, im not picking sides or favoring anyone and let me guess you are a xbox360 owner or/and xbox360 fanboy you fanboys who ever it be Sony or Microsoft are annoying

[Delive]

I love it when a "Hardcore" games brags that he has more acheivement points than I do and when you look at his list, he has TNMT, Avatar, Open Season, King Kong and Madded 06 on his played list. Why, because they are great games? No, because they are an easy 1000 points. When I first got my 360, I was digging the acheivements until I realized I was buying games I would normaly, in sound mind, never touch, but to boost my AP score, I bought and played them. I like how they add replay value to games, but not how they encourage people to play garbage games to boost their score. Also I wish the they were worth something. get 500 of the 100 points and download a gamer pic set for the game. Get 1000 and download a free car for a racing game, new skin for a shooter, something to show for your effort in the game itself.

[Delive]

oops on double post.

[aba]

I wish ps3 games had em.

EDIT: They need something like the 360's, where everyone can see what you've accomplished. Its a huge incentive for me to beat games on the hardest difficulty and stuff like that. It adds so much replay vale. Also lets everyone know whos the real deal and whos full of sh*t.

[KidMakeshift]

They kind of do. Lair, Heavenly Sword and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune both have a achievement system that unlocks content. I prefer that rather than a bubble coming up ever so often and telling me I did something specific out of pure coincidence.

[BloodySinner]

How are those an achievement system? That kind of stuff was seen in the last generation. Hell, I wouldn't even call them "achievements". If you're unlocking content in-game then that's another story.

[KidMakeshift]

Uh, because they're achievements.

You must complete certain bonus objectives to be rewarded a specific achievement, which also unlocks content. It's just a certificate of accomplishment.

It might not be exactly the same as the 360's achievement system nor viewable by other players (I haven't played any online multiplayer on the PS3, so I can't really say), but it's an achievement nonetheless.

[Double-Edged]

kidmakeshift. your missing the whole point.
it's like this... each 360 has 1000 points to unlock.
gamercard shows how much you have in total.

with what your saying... those are in game only and cannot be combined with other games. and what you are talking about is been done long time ago. Goldeneye for example... beat the game in a certain time and get paintball mode, dual golden gun, etc.

With the 360 achievment system, It's viewed by everyone.
And that's the crazy thing about it. Take a look at people's gamercard's online.... you'll see the vast majority of differnt types of scores out there and how much they killed a certain game.

It is addicting and it does add to how you play your game kinda thing.

But yeah.. I'm pretty sure PS home will launch something similar.

[KidMakeshift]

Like I said, it might not be the same thing as the 360's achievement system, but they are still achievements. The achievement systems are specific to each game, but they work in the same fashion. There won't be a linked achievement system (trophy system) until home comes out next year, but what they are offering now isn't too far off from what the trophy system will be like and what the 360 achievement system has accomplished.

I get it, alright

[Delive]

I agree with you totally, and I like Uncharted's approach better than any 360 game. Simply put. Your Uncharted score is compared to my Uncharted score. 1000 = 1000. Now, someone can play Avatar and get 1000 points in like 5 minutes of play, while someone plays Halo 3 for 4 months to get 1000 points there. It's not equal nor fair to the "Gamer" puting in work on challenging games to earn his/her score to be compared to the "lame" who playes the easy games to quickly boost their score. Am I knocking acheivements? Not at all, but the way MS has it implimented could use some complete balance. A good use (IMO) is NFS:MW. You have to play it for a while and when your done, you earned your 1000 points and they are ALL acheivable, even to the casual gamer. To beat that and earn your 1000 points and then campare that to the person who got 1000 points in 1 game of NBA 2K6 (right year?). My 1000 points has a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT value than his/hers as far as what it took to earn them, but it's the same old 1000 points at the end of the day.

[Marceles]

The gamerscore and bragging rights are cool if you know alot of people on your friends list, and you can compare and compete with what you have or haven't done in a game. You can also be in competition with yourself and see how much you can do with a game. I finish games fast, and if there's no replay value then I don't get much joy in buying a game. It's mostly the reason why I buy the 360 multiplatform games. I might beat the game, but then there's more to be done in the game like "kill this many people in this many seconds", or beat it on hard setting etc. On another system, there really isn't a reason for me to do that. I can tell my friends that I did it, but there's really no proof and thats what the achievements are for. I have Uncharted which is a really fun game, and there's achievement points, but you can't show them to any of your friends, so I don't really see a point in getting them really. Achievement points are like when you go to an arcade and see someone's hi-score and think "wow how did he get that?? I'll try to beat it!". It's like a modern version of that. If you don't care much for them and play casual, then that's ok too...but if you like competing with your friends and other people then the point system is perfect.

[Delive]

ND has already said they are adding the points to home once it's available. So you will be able to see your friends scores there.( http://www.psu.com/PSU-talk...

[HarryEtTubMan]

ACHEIVEMENTS ARE GAYYYYYY coming from a 360 owner.... its a gimmick and no one even cares but losers.... so u really care about ur "gamerscore" . Does micosroft give u anything for getting so many gamerpoints? THEN WHY CARE.. Its just makes u look like that much bigger of a douche bag for having no life. Xbox 360 is FPS SCi Fi console. IT SUCKS

[KidMakeshift]

Does anyone really care about achievement points?

I thought achievement points were originally like Chuck E. Cheeze tickets that you could exchange for stuff on Xbox Live like arcade games, themes and pics.

I think developers should take note of how Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and Call of Duty 4 use achievement points to unlock useful content in the game.

[mrpickles]

Gamerscore and achievements are the digital equivalent of having a tube sock stuffed down your pants to make you d!ck look bigger. I understand the concept, but I don't understand the big deal. Play games for the fun, not for some virtual score.

[Double-Edged]

Gamerscore is part of the gamercard.

that's all you gotta know.

[jorellpogi]

I agree with the article. The achievement points are a very clever idea from MS. I don't play on Live because I don't want to shell out 50USD. I just play my 360 games offline and the more I buy games the more I earn these points. I already have 2030 gamerscore just by playing offline.

[Gorgon]

Achievements are the most retarded thing about console gaming. This is especially true when you start to see game design beying built around achievements so that teens can brag about it. It means more development time, more costs and does not benefit a game design in any way. Its the way for games to have retarded quests like "I collected 50 hidden banners".

But they are right about one thing: it means more retarded teens will buy games and think it's cool, meaning more money to be made in the industry.

[aba]

You couldn't be more wrong.

[Lord Cheese]

i think they're great. It doesnt change the games i'd buy, it just means that i try to do more hidden stuff in a game i'm playing through. (Bioshock being a perfect example - that game was SO enjoyable because i tried to do as much as i could for the points, it meant i discovered far more about the game) They mean nothing in terms of multiplayer (except perhaps ones like "got to top of world leaderboard" or something) as doing something over and over to get the points doesnt make you any good at the game.

I find i miss them when i play something on my ps3 - its not an integral part of the game, but its a nice to have.

It doesnt show you're any better gamer than someone with a lower score (e.g. i have 15k points, but i know for a fact i'd get owned by people who've only gotten a few hundred if i played them online, because i've played tonnes of different games to get them so dont specialise!)

[aba]

I wonder if sony is making up some kind of achievement system for ps3 games, I want to have a ps3 gamercard.

[digger18]

Achievements are nothing to brag about, since my 19 year old son found out 2 weeks ago. His girlfriend came around and saw his achievements and laughed. She said he must be a nerd and needs to get out more. Enough said

[donscrillinger]

NOTHING FELLS GREATER THAN TELLING THE PERSON OR PEOPLE your playing online that you just got an ACHIEVEMENT on them ,lol, yeah now thats fresh !.