Blog Discussion: "You're Not Your Post Count, but You Are Your Gamerscore" by Calyber

[Calyber_FD]

Blog: You're Not Your Post Count, but You Are Your Gamerscore (http://www.fragdolls.com/index.php/blogs/detail/category/calyber/achievements) by Calyber

[AnonymousGaijin]

A lot of people hate Gamerscore and Achievements, but I think in most cases they really help you get your moneys worth out of a game. The more games you play, the more you learn about which achievements are the toughest. Dead Rising, for example, has what I think is one of the toughest achievement sets available. Bioshock's "Brass Balls" is another good one. I have a lot of respect for a gamers ability if they have some hard earned achievements.

(PS: Calyber you missed an s in Gamerscore :X)

[DocHolidazed]

I like to think I'm a partial Gamerscore *****. Anyone on my friends list can see that. I play them all. Arcade, rpg, fps, sports, racing, music. I love it all. I've rolled up a nice total so far. I am not really one to show it off though. I love it for the personal satisfaction. As far post count. I really could care less. They could take the damn count and erase it for all I care. It wouldn't effect me like it does the other nerds in the forums. Leave my gamerscore alone though!! http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Calyber_FD]

Originally posted by AnonymousGaijin:
A lot of people hate Gamerscore and Achievements, but I think in most cases they really help you get your moneys worth out of a game. The more games you play, the more you learn about which achievements are the toughest. Dead Rising, for example, has what I think is one of the toughest achievement sets available. Bioshock's "Brass Balls" is another good one. I have a lot of respect for a gamers ability if they have some hard earned achievements.

(PS: Calyber you missed an s in Gamerscore :X)
Hahaha, thanks for pointing that out, Gaijn. Yeah, I agree you gain a certain level of respect for those gamers that have earned those tough achievements.

[Super Robot 7]

Damn those brilliant *******s at Microsoft coming up with this concept of gamerscore/points. I don't know why I have such a giddy thrill every time I see that "achievement unlocked" pop up and hear that sound (that I'm mocked by every time one of my friends pop online and I think I've unlocked some unanticipated achievement).

[H2oJumpman]

I love achievements! Lately I've been trying to get as many as I can. Even some of the more ridiculous achievements I've been chasing. I really do agree with the respect for other gamers with high gamescore. The time and patience for some of those achievements are insane.

[Mrs_Violence]

I LOVE GAMERSCORES! lol. When the xbox 360 first came out, I was a big fat achievement *****...seriously. I was up there with 9,000 when that was A LOT. Then BOOM somehow my tag got cancelled..grrr..Kelly MAD! So I had to start all the fricker over with my new tag Mrs Violence. I've caught up with most of the games I completed with before, so I'm now at 18,275. Proud. lolz.
<3

[Ninja_Raiden]

You'd perform acupuncture on someone if they had chocolate?

I'll often return to a game I haven't played in months to try and get some points I missed - I went on a mad spree a while back, playing GRAW, Prey, Saint's Row and Condemned. Except Saint's Row had a corrupt save file... so I struck down upon it with great vengeance and furious anger. OK, I just deleted it and I watched Pulp Fiction the other night. Anyway...

Plus if you do manage to get a difficult achievement through sheer bloody mindedness, it's a true achievement. Best one I ever got, to date, was completing Call of Duty 2 on Veteran. That took sooooo long! Especially taking the town back from the Nazis

[seductivpancake]

Oh no! I hear slick coming. Run before he crushes us to death his gamer score!

[MusicDan]

Halo 3's the only game I've maxed 1000 out of a 1000, and I have to say getting the lone wolf achievments was very satisfying... Overkill and Tripping Razor when it was only 5 people in the FFA games was a real challange. Though personaly I tend to play games because I want to and/or want to play with freinds so I dont tend to be much of an achevement *****... I just wanted Katana for my Spartan http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ... and acording to Bungie

"Achievements Unlocked



Joe Tung tracked down some data on the achievements that have been completed by folks whose 360s are connected to Xbox Live. Here's some data for folks to chew on:

Campaign Complete: Normal – Completed the Campaign on Normal Difficulty: 43.28%
Campaign Complete: Legendary – Completed the Campaign on Legendary Difficulty: 15.14%
Graduate: Graduated from basic training. Stick with it to earn your Spartan insignia: 66.92%
UNSC Spartan: Promoted to Sergeant. Proven in combat, you are a Spartan: 52.07%
The most found metagame skull? Black Eye skull with 34.26%
The least found metagame skull? Tilt at 22.98% (Go find it, jerks! It's one of the best skulls in the game!)
At 6.21%, Steppin' Razor is the hardest multiplayer Achievement to earn, with Two for One right behind it at 6.77% and Overkill nipping at its heels (6.75%)
8.68% of players have unlocked the Marathon Man Achievement
1000/1000 Gamerscore: 2.07%" From http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12972 .

only 2.07% of Halo 3 players have got the full 1000 points/Katana which made me http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif . http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Slickrick2345]

BOW BEFORE SLICKZILLA KING OF THE GAMERSCORES!!!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/slickrick2345/godzilla.jpg

[moonsongv1]

I look at achievements as a small instruction guide on how to play the game. Things that the developers put in to reward you for playing the game the way they intended it. Out of all the achievements that are available for the 360 games, two game sets stand out in my mind. Those two are Crackdown and Dead Rising. Those games have some really unique achievments and in a way make the game better.

There are two achievments that I hold in high regards. One I already have. That is untouchable from Quake 4 and the other is one I am seeking. That would be finishing Halo 3 on Legendary. That's a hard one. Currently I'm on the part with the Brutes in the hangar. I thought that part was impossible until I began shotgunning and using the melee feature. A very effective way to take down a brute. Point blank shotgun blast then a melee to take them down.

The type of achievements I hate the most are the search and grab. Some examples are finding the metal shards in condemned and the flag hunt in Assasins Creed.

Hmm, let me add one more achievment to the most coveted list. Brass Balls from bioshock. Finish the game on hard without dying. The hardest part of this is the first big daddy fight in the medical pavillion. I guess I could skip it and come back to it when I'm more powerful. I think the Brass Balls achievment is the most difficult one out there.

[Magiz]

Originally posted by moonsongv1:
I think the Brass Balls achievment is the most difficult one out there.
Actually it's not even close. Chromehounds had several achievements that only leading squads could get in a season. It also had role type achievements (6 different classes requiring maxed experience) which even now only about 15 people worldwide have.

There's also a few other games that have glitched achievements that no one can get.

Personally I like the achievements, but the score part doesn't mean anything to me. I like being able to track achievements people have earned, but the scoring piece isn't really necessary.

[moonsongv1]

Originally posted by Magiz:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by moonsongv1:
I think the Brass Balls achievment is the most difficult one out there.
Actually it's not even close. Chromehounds had several achievements that only leading squads could get in a season. It also had role type achievements (6 different classes requiring maxed experience) which even now only about 15 people worldwide have.

There's also a few other games that have glitched achievements that no one can get.

Personally I like the achievements, but the score part doesn't mean anything to me. I like being able to track achievements people have earned, but the scoring piece isn't really necessary. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
-------------------------------------------
Hmm, that sounds tough but if it's an online achievement then I'm not really interested since those are the root of all evil. Little 12 years conspire and become demon seeds all to get achievments. That and the fact I don't play chromehounds. Mech battle games lost their sizzle to me around the time of that 32x game. Hmm, must of been early to mid nineties.


*Let's not forget about the darkside of achievements. Example. Playing some Gears of War when all I want to do is have a fun match and dismember strangers with a chainsaw online when low and behold some ****** says this is an achievment game. What we will be doing is allowing teamates to get downed and then revive. So I think this is lame and play along. Being the sneaky person I am I grab the boom shot as a teamate goes what are you doing with that. I think don't mind me just picking up a gernade launcher for no apparent reason nothing to see here. Anyway, I wait until the opposing achievment *****s are all down in a circle and then fire the boomshot. That put an end to their little achievment whoring match.

[MuttonChopYaz]

I rent most of my games, so getting all the achievements in every game probably isn't going to happen.

[Calyber_FD]

Originally posted by Ninja_Raiden:
You'd perform acupuncture on someone if they had chocolate?
I think a sowing needle is too thick for acupuncture (though, I don't know anything about acupuncture)... but if causing someone pain through a face-stab would make them give up their chocolate, I would have done the face stab.

Originally posted by moonsongv1:
That would be finishing Halo 3 on Legendary. That's a hard one. Currently I'm on the part with the Brutes in the hangar. I thought that part was impossible until I began shotgunning and using the melee feature. A very effective way to take down a brute. Point blank shotgun blast then a melee to take them down.

The type of achievements I hate the most are the search and grab. Some examples are finding the metal shards in condemned and the flag hunt in Assasins Creed.
It's pretty easy to get through Halo 3's campaign on Legendary if you're playing with 2 or 3 other people. Try doing it in co-op; it's much easier and you still get all the achievements for beating the game. Unless you like the challenge (that's commendable).

Also, the Assassin's Creed flags aren't too difficult to find if you have the prima guide to show you all the locations. Or if you're a cheater and don't want to buy the guide ( http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/shady.gif ), you can just look at the maps here (http://picasaweb.google.com/GhostGundam/AssassinSCreed/photo#5141514612928987298).

[Ninja Kn1ght]

I like achievements but the gamerscore is a horribly flawed idea.

[RyJen2004]

For most of us I think Gamerscore and Acheivements are great. I think it makes you look for those hidden or harder to come by things, and you gain not only a better appreciation for the game, but you gain experience which makes you abetter player.
However, with the list of cheat code and "Walkthrough" sites growing every day, can you really admire someone who has all the gamerscores a game has to offer? Did GamerBob really obtain all 13 skulls on his own, or did he do a google search on the subject?
I, myself, am not immune to this. Really folks....if any of you can tell me...and prove it..that you found the IWHBYD Skull in Halo 3 without help, I'll bow before you, call you master, and spit shine you shoes every third day.

[Calyber_FD]

For me, achievement points are like a game outside of a game. I like to play the achievement game... it's like a meta game. A game of games.

[Rhoulette]

I've never been too obsessed with my gamerscore (as my shamefully low score will indicate) but what feeble interest I had was stomped on by Guitar Hero 2 and 3. It is so hard to get a decent amount of points in those games. Like, ridiculous amounts of hours. I know this because I've already spent ridiculous amounts of hours playing them and yet I have little to show for it.

I also don't have enough time to play games just for gamerscore points. All that said, though, I still manage to be impressed by super high gamerscores. People over 20,000 wow me.

[Ninja_Raiden]

Originally posted by RyJen2004:
For most of us I think Gamerscore and Acheivements are great. I think it makes you look for those hidden or harder to come by things, and you gain not only a better appreciation for the game, but you gain experience which makes you abetter player.
However, with the list of cheat code and "Walkthrough" sites growing every day, can you really admire someone who has all the gamerscores a game has to offer? Did GamerBob really obtain all 13 skulls on his own, or did he do a google search on the subject?
I, myself, am not immune to this. Really folks....if any of you can tell me...and prove it..that you found the IWHBYD Skull in Halo 3 without help, I'll bow before you, call you master, and spit shine you shoes every third day.

But things like finding all those little secrets can't always be done without the use of a guide - c'mon, you'd be driven mad if you knew you had to jump through hoops for that skull but didn't know which ones!

I found the majority of the orbs in Crackdown without a guide; I should play that game again...


Originally posted by Calyber_FD:
For me, achievement points are like a game outside of a game. I like to play the achievement game... it's like a meta game. A game of games.

Does that mean you'd play a game just for points? Like the godawful Fusion Frenzy?

I refuse to play any game that gives points out for ridiculously easy actions. I guess that's geared towards children and people new to gaming though

[OtnemeM_IroM]

She already played Surf's Up and TMNT... why not Fuzion Frenzy 2? The first one was fun, I'm sure the second can provide at least a few hours entertainment, and at least a better quality than many movies we've seen... according to this website (http://www.achieve360points.com/game/fuzionfrenzy2/) the achievements are simple, and there are only 14 of them. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/35.gif

[Ninja_Raiden]

I heard it was just a terrible game; haven't played it myself.

Is there such a thing as anti-hype?

[Calyber_FD]

Originally posted by Ninja_Raiden:
Does that mean you'd play a game just for points? Like the godawful Fusion Frenzy?

I refuse to play any game that gives points out for ridiculously easy actions. I guess that's geared towards children and people new to gaming though
I do play lil' kid games occasionally to build up my gamerscore (and cause I kinda like little kid games sometimes. What?), but that's not the reason I like the gamerscore system. I like the achievement system because it gives me closure to games. There are some games, like Oblivion (or Viva Pinata), which I could play forever. But once I get all 1000 points, I feel good about putting the game down and trying another. Maybe that's what WOW needs, an achievement system.

I really liked Fusion Frenzy. I went to a party at a friend's house not too long ago and we all took turns playing it. It was a hit! My favorite mini game is Twisted System. So fun!

[Spanishdan]

I could care less about a gamer score, but achievements get me every time. especially when I compare with my friends.

[OtnemeM_IroM]

I also only have 1000 for one game, Halo 3. And I had to rig one of them... the Overkill was ridiculously hard to get when Lone Wolves was only 5 ppl. So, I had to trade a few guys that achievement for one they wanted (I think the same one). Now that LW is 6 players I don't even play it. FFA was never my cup-o-tea.

I am also 1 (count 'em ONE) Green Orb away from getting the Agility Orb achievement in Crackdown, and 25 White Orbs away from the other -- and haven't used a single map! Wouldn't help me at this point.

Kinda disappointed that with the Heroic Map Pack there weren't more achievements to get. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[Mr.Hanky2005]

I just broke 20k gamerscore http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I love gamerscore and achievements because, until every single one is done, I don't think I've felt the full potential of the game.

[Ghost Dog 3]

Actually it's not even close. Chromehounds had several achievements that only leading squads could get in a season. It also had role type achievements (6 different classes requiring maxed experience) which even now only about 15 people worldwide have.

Indeed.Some of these achievements were hard to get I managed to get a couple that were moderately hard.

[Ragster6466]

I will be super happy if I get CoD4 1000/1000. I hate Veteran with a passion!

[MusicDan]

Originally posted by OtnemeM_IroM:
I also only have 1000 for one game, Halo 3. And I had to rig one of them... the Overkill was ridiculously hard to get when Lone Wolves was only 5 ppl. So, I had to trade a few guys that achievement for one they wanted (I think the same one). Now that LW is 6 players I don't even play it. FFA was never my cup-o-tea.

I am also 1 (count 'em ONE) Green Orb away from getting the Agility Orb achievement in Crackdown, and 25 White Orbs away from the other -- and haven't used a single map! Wouldn't help me at this point.

Kinda disappointed that with the Heroic Map Pack there weren't more achievements to get. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

Yeah I had to trade for two for one, I did manage to get the overkill one though http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif , three words "Snow Bound shotgun" http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/784.gif . Honestly though I didn''t think I was ever going to get it, and I had tried a lot of different ways like camping with rockets on Epitath... in the end I was just playing and I got it (followed by a kill frenzy).

[Ninja_Raiden]

Originally posted by Calyber_FD:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Ninja_Raiden:
Does that mean you'd play a game just for points? Like the godawful Fusion Frenzy?

I refuse to play any game that gives points out for ridiculously easy actions. I guess that's geared towards children and people new to gaming though
I do play lil' kid games occasionally to build up my gamerscore (and cause I kinda like little kid games sometimes. What?), but that's not the reason I like the gamerscore system. I like the achievement system because it gives me closure to games. There are some games, like Oblivion (or Viva Pinata), which I could play forever. But once I get all 1000 points, I feel good about putting the game down and trying another. Maybe that's what WOW needs, an achievement system.

I really liked Fusion Frenzy. I went to a party at a friend's house not too long ago and we all took turns playing it. It was a hit! My favorite mini game is Twisted System. So fun! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey, I'm not judging you for playing kid games. I played Viva Pinata! If anything, I suppose it's gaming downtime or something like that for you. And I know what you mean about Oblivion; I found once I'd finished it, points-wise, I could play another game. Until Shivering Isles came out anyway... I'll get round to that eventually

I just think it's a shame when people play games purely for points, not because they want to play the game for any sense of enjoyment. You know?

[NotASenator]

Gamerscores have sort of a novelty thing to me right now, but I more enjoy the achievements themselves.

When Assassin's Creed told me that I had gotten 100 kills without getting killed myself, I was quite pleased with myself.

[Valkyrie FD]

while i love racking up the points on my gamerscore (I always use my PMS account cuase i had already built it and it is over 10k) I am not obsessed enough to replay games to get them all. I beat them on the hardest mode open at first, then I am done with it for good. I do try to find out what acheivements can be had during gameplay to maximize, but Im jsut the kind of gamer that can't stand replaying.

In fact, it pisses me off they make so many that you have to replay the game for ><

[samfisher55]

Oh trust me i know the feeling. Ever since I got my 360 on January 1st of 2006 (Happy 2 year aniversary to my 360!), I have been hooked on gamerscore. Seeing that little flashing icon on the bottom of my screen makes me feel all warm inside.

While I play for gamerscore and for fun, I love games that make you play for both. For example, Rainbow Six: Vegas. Each game you play brings you closer to more achievements and it is extremely fun while you're doing it.

So reflecting back on the past 2 years of Xbox 360 gaming, they were quite possible the most fun 2 years of my gaming career. Between the 8-10 friend requests per day I get just from my gamerscore alone, I also have become an Xbox Ambassador and I just love the whole community.

So keep achieving and keep gaming everyone! And keep up the good work girls! Hit me up if you ever need any achievements or just want some good 'ol classic, fun gaming.

[OtnemeM_IroM]

Originally posted by Seductivpancake:
Oh no! I hear slick coming. Run before he crushes us to death his gamer score! You don't have to run anymore... SlickRick was taken downtown by Die Coward, AKA SamFisher55.
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/7005/55kilsslickrickkg8.jpg

[Keith_Evo_IX]

Originally posted by Calyber_FD:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Ninja_Raiden:
Does that mean you'd play a game just for points? Like the godawful Fusion Frenzy?

I refuse to play any game that gives points out for ridiculously easy actions. I guess that's geared towards children and people new to gaming though
I do play lil' kid games occasionally to build up my gamerscore (and cause I kinda like little kid games sometimes. What?), but that's not the reason I like the gamerscore system. I like the achievement system because it gives me closure to games. There are some games, like Oblivion (or Viva Pinata), which I could play forever. But once I get all 1000 points, I feel good about putting the game down and trying another. Maybe that's what WOW needs, an achievement system.

I really liked Fusion Frenzy. I went to a party at a friend's house not too long ago and we all took turns playing it. It was a hit! My favorite mini game is Twisted System. So fun! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Calyber, you can check out the achieve360points website. It has the full achievement list of any game along with an achievement guide and a rating of how easy or hard it is to unlock them. Most "lil' kid games" do recieve an achievement difficulty of under 5/10 (Cars recieved a 1/10 "effortless"). I'm a bit of an achievement ***** but I will refuse to play a crappy game even if the achievements are easy as hell to get because I don't want people insulting me for playing a guilty pleasure game.

[Ninja_Raiden]

Originally posted by OtnemeM_IroM:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Seductivpancake:
Oh no! I hear slick coming. Run before he crushes us to death his gamer score! You don't have to run anymore... SlickRick was taken downtown by Die Coward, AKA SamFisher55.
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/7005/55kilsslickrickkg8.jpg </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tch, that's nothing compared to PrinceOfEternia from the UK forum!

I can't use PhotoShop... http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-sad.gif

[samfisher55]

Well PrinceofEternia is on the other forum. I'm the king of this forum.