The purpose of Achievements, and how it's changed over time
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 13th 2009 at 3:00PM
Moonglade has a good post up about the pros and cons of achievements. Nowadays, achievements are everywhere, but when they were introduced to the game a while ago, they were seen as a great way for Blizzard to integrate an idea that had really taken off on Xbox Live (and that an impending competing MMO, Warhammer Online, was implementing for themselves). They were mostly seen as a benefit for the solo player -- even if you hit level 80 and nabbed some awesome gear, there'd be some optional fun for you to have in the future.Since then, achievements have changed quite a bit -- I'd argue that they're actually more used in groups than in solo play, as raids check players for achievements when inviting them, and guilds use achievements to rate where their proficiency lies. There are certainly still lots of things for solo players to do (every holiday, achievements come to the forefront again), but titles and mounts have become the main goals there, not just optional points. As Moonglade says, instancing and checking up on what players have done seem to have become the main point of achievements. What was just a bragging competition on Xbox Live has transitioned to a real yardstick in terms of what a player focuses on in game and what they've done so far.
Is that bad? I don't think so -- Blizzard has done with achievements what they've done brilliantly with all of the other features of their games: borrow them, polish them, and then make them better. If you look through that old thread, most of the talk was about achievements pushing people to keep playing the game, and that happened, but I think one thing Blizzard has done is use achievements as a way to see what people have done so far as well: what instances have you run, what quests have you completed, what titles do you have already? There's lots more value to achievements than what any of us originally envisioned.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Instances, Leveling, Achievements
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Rugus Aug 13th 2009 3:05PM
Achievements add more fun to the game. That's all. It's good Blizz did not offer epic loot for achievement points or everyone would be crazy about them, removing any real fun factor. Some achies are almost impossible, some others very hard... some stupid and easy. There's enough for everyone.
johnthediver Aug 13th 2009 3:28PM
While I agree that epic loot for achievement points would make them a "requirement". I would really like to see achievement points used to purchase in game items similar to loot card items, not mounts but like the paper airplanes, goblin gumbo, spectral (sandbox) tiger etc.
That way you can use the achievement points to purchase fun items to use during down times. Maybe make some items purchasable with certain achievement combination. Say with the combination of world explorer, full stable and My mind on my money achievements, you could purchase a large sack of gold trinket that adds a unique graphic to your toon.
Skraps
http://www.sham-wows.blogspot.com
Dharmabhum Aug 13th 2009 3:39PM
Tailoring has two features like this. You can make two BoE cloaks once you've gotten the Northrend Dungeonmaster and Loremaster of Northrend achievements.
http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=56016
http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=56017
mibluvr13 Aug 13th 2009 5:24PM
I can't see achievement points becoming a currency, even for vanity items. Personally, I could never spend them on anything... maybe if I could purchase vanity items for free or gold only after reaching a certain level.
Nick Aug 13th 2009 3:06PM
Darn you Rugus! lol
doofman Aug 13th 2009 3:09PM
I'm still waiting for the Meta-achievement for completing all 75 profession achievements. Cause that's the REAL WoW measuring stick.
Blake Aug 13th 2009 3:15PM
Damn you Ironjaw and Turtle mount :) 73/75
Kemikalkadet Aug 13th 2009 6:16PM
Just the fishing tournament and Mr Pinchy for me :(
Avan Aug 13th 2009 3:08PM
I think one of the reasons for having achievements is to invite players to "break the grind" so to speak. Try to get them to do something different, or try one of the new features that was added to the game.
Shave a Haircut? Free achievement for giving the barber shop a try. How many people would use it if they wouldn't get an achievement for it?
The various heroic achievements, too. They invite the players to try something more risky, perhaps more fun, instead of just burning bosses down and making instances dull.
usagizero Aug 13th 2009 3:10PM
"Is that bad? I don't think so"
Except that i keep seeing people needing them to even get into the groups to begin with, so where am i supposed to get them to get in the groups? I'm sot even talking the most difficult, i'm talking VoA, and other heroics (sometimes normal dungeons). When i see this, i can only think the person who requires them needs it themselves. I bet dollars to donuts that when the new Onixia rolls around you will see people requiring achievements and triumph gear just to get in. (it's common on my realm to see people require them and ulduar gear to get in heroics, sad really)
mtsadowski Aug 13th 2009 3:56PM
^ This. I feel your pain.
In my case, it's mostly my fault. I'm in a good, small casual guild. I'd like to do more, but I don't want to leave the guild. I try and PuG what I can, but without having done them before, I'm not allowed in. I'm not even allowed to prove myself. :-(
mousewrites Aug 13th 2009 4:24PM
Aggreed. My guild is too small to raid anything over 10 man, and we struggle with that (we have exactly 10 active players - it's a RL friends guild.)
I'm not leaving my guild just to raid, but I'd like to try it out... but all the pugs I see nowadays require the achievements and gear OVER the instance they're running. I'm sure they want a quick, painless run for badges... but it makes it hard for us nooblets to ever leave the kiddy pool.
We need a Mentor system; a really good raider that will vouch for a noobie, with the understanding that even if the noob has read the fight, watched the fight online... they've never DONE the fight.
Virgin-runs. :)
Dharmabhum Aug 13th 2009 4:45PM
Those people are out there... both types. Unfortunately people tend to get caught by those "elitists" or who have high expectations in order to run with them.
But for everyone of those guys, there's got to be plenty of others who are more than happy to play with an achievement-less player. I've been slowly working my way through the Glory of the Hero achievements and I welcome anyone who is willing to listen and learn to come along with me. I even do the achievements that I've already knocked out if I know that some of my party mates don't have them yet.
Its tough to find some people who will help run you through some of these instances mentor-style, and my guild is guilty of asking for an achievement as well when we're looking for quick badge runs. But if you can convince me that you're not a worthless PoS and can learn a fight and listen to instructions, I'm happy to help out. Know that there are plenty of people like that out there; its just harder to find them.
mibluvr13 Aug 13th 2009 5:16PM
I feel both sides of this issue. On my main, who is a well geared progressive 80, I don't want to deal with any pugs who don't know what they're doing in a heroic. I instinctive turn up my nose at anyone with less gear than I have. There are other players with equal gear who are willing to do VoA or the daily heroic and wiping on fights that I've done fifteen thousand times (LITERALLY, YES, 15,000) does not sound appealing. I don't want to carry anyone. Now that I reread this, it sounds very elitist, but I swear, my sentiments are not! I understand that people have alts or started playing later or don't have time to raid, but I feel like those people should group with equally geared people for heroics! If you're in heroic gear, my server at least has plenty of Naxx guilds who will take you without an achievement. Pugs are more for people in raiding guilds who no longer do Naxx.
On the other hand, I have three 80s and getting anything but my main geared is impossible. It's frustrating. I'd be fine with running heroics with equally geared (mostly blues) characters, but I can't find them. :c
Valensword Aug 13th 2009 10:28PM
@ mibluvr13
I call your bluff. What is the name of your main?
I will go to pugchecker.com and see exactly which boss you have killed 15,000 times. Do you realise that even if you had been killing that boss since the day WoW launched 4 years ago, you would have had to have killed him an average of 10 times a day - even on the Christmas days!
Either that or you have a poor understanding of the word, literally.
mibluvr13 Aug 13th 2009 10:32PM
@ Valensword
You have a poor understanding of sarcasm.
uncaringbear Aug 14th 2009 6:14AM
@mibluvr13
I would bet a large sum of money that you'd jump at a chance to take one of your undergeared 80's into a heroic PuG where the other party members far outgear you.
Sinthar Aug 14th 2009 10:18AM
@mibluvr13
15000 on a once a day boss means you have been playing for about 41 years. Complete Bullshit.
Oh and sarcasm really doesnt come across in TEXT (but tbh from your post i dont believe you intended it as sarcasm - you just are prone to overexaggeration to compensate for your own feelings of inadequacy). Oh and btw i know quite a few people with 5+ 80s with all their chrs with a good (ie epic naxx 25 +) level of gear. Too much time possibily, but shows your statement of 'getting anything but my main geared is impossible" as clearly false. You sir are classic FAIL.
Michael Aug 14th 2009 8:53AM
@ mibluvr13
and you, sir, have a poor understanding of the definition of the word "literally"
"There are other players with equal gear who are willing to do VoA or the daily heroic and wiping on fights that I've done fifteen thousand times (LITERALLY, YES, 15,000)"
Sarcasm only works if you are being a smart ass. ^^^ this is not sarcasm, it is extreme hyperbole.
and that, my friend, is unacceptable for someone as skilled and experienced as yourself.
(that was sarcasm)
Raimondas Aug 15th 2009 10:06AM
As a general rule I'll take a player with skill and no gear over a player with gear and no skill. No, death knights, you cannot tank in PvP gear.