Achievement Unlocked 02.06.08: The Kickoff
Posted by Rod Oracheski on 02.06.2008
A weekly look at the sordid world of Achievements and Gamerscore. This week: EA actually improves?
Achievements have been a source of controversy since they were first discussed prior to the launch of the Xbox 360. We knew there would be a system of rewarding players for completing games, but not much else was known at the outset.
As details started to emerge, gamers became polarized on the issue - a separation that would grow stronger after the console actually launched. Detractors derided the notion of 'e-Peen' wagging Gamerscore comparisons, while supporters appreciated the idea of being able to compare what they'd accomplished to what their friends had managed.
The system also created a fairly sizable population of gamers split on the issue. They liked Achievements and the ability to compare with friends, and ask for help from someone who'd beaten that part, but they disliked Gamerscore and the problems it caused - boosting, exploiting, etc...
Personally, I fall into that third category. I find Achievements on their own to be a pretty compelling addition to games, especially when done well. I can't count the number of times that I've gotten a message from someone on my Friend's list, asking how I got an Achievement - where to find the guy, what weapon I used, etc...
Achievements offer instant feedback to your friends. If they check your Achievement list they can tell exactly what you've done and compare it to their own accomplishments. That alone makes them a worthy addition, in my mind.
Gamerscore, on the other hand, I'd be just as happy if it had been left out. In the end, though, Gamerscore whores really don't have much impact on my gameplay. Sure, there's the occasional "Hey, who wants to get [xxx] Achievement?" at the start of some multiplayer games - but those guys tend to disappear pretty quickly as they get their points and move on.
Achievements though, they stick around - and they've been getting better. Let's look at the progression that one company, EA, has shown since launch.
Round One: Madden 06
No-Skill Points
Need a quick 20 points? Enter History Book and Activate RS Card are right up your alley. No skill needed - at all.
Medium-Skill Points
For another 380 points, play a game and you'll get the Score a Touchdown, Get a First Down, and Complete an Offline Game Achievements - guaranteed.
If you're any good at all, you'll also cap off Rush for 200 Yards and Pass for 350 Yards. Finish it all up with Win a Franchise Game and you're golden for 400 points so far.
Advanced-Skill Points
You'll have to learn how to play the game a bit if you want to score the 200 points from Four Sacks in One Game and Win the Super Bowl - or at least learn how to adjust the difficulty settings.
To grab Four Sacks, run a 4-3 defense on every play and blitz, blitz, blitz! Choose a powerhouse team and play one of the league's weak sisters to make it easier on yourself.
That advice also helps with the Super Bowl win - just choose the Patriots and sim your way to the final game.
Super-Skill Points
None.
Lifedrainers
These are the Achievements that just take time and/or repeated button pressing without paying attention. The Complete 30 Years of Franchise Achievement fits this category perfectly - but the 400-point reward is awfully tempting for Gamerscore whores.
Achievement Analysis
Madden 06 was an extremely weak game, Achievement-wise, with only 11 required for the full 1,000/1,000. To make matters worse, they handed them out like candy, with a half-decent player able to rack up all but two Achievements (30 year sim and Super Bowl win) in a single game.
Round Two: Madden 07
No-Skill Points
If you can't enter the mini-games mode screen to get the 5 points for doing that, you're probably dead. Same goes for the 5 points each granted by Create-a-Player and Live Opponent.
If you want to get technical, you can no-skill almost all the points simply by choosing all the teams and simulating your way through 30 years. Over the course of the 30 years, you'll get all the records, the Super Bowl win, and probably even the perfect season. That'll also get you to Madden Gamer Level 50 in no time.
Medium-Skill Points
If you're not going to no-skill them, then pretty much all the offensive Achievements, both game and season, fit into Medium-Skill Points.
Advanced-Skill Points
If you're not going to no-skill them, this is where I'd rank the majority of the defensive Achievements. Records for Sacks and Interceptions can be tough to get at higher difficulty levels, giving these Achievements a real sense of accomplishment when unlocked.
Unless you just simmed the 30 years, you whore.
Super-Skill Points
The All-Madden Shut Out is going to test your skills, if you play it straight and don't go with 1 minute quarters and a heavy focus on running the ball. Great challenge here, especially for a measly 10 points.
Lifedrainers
The 30 Years of Franchise "Achievement" makes an appearance once more. Another that's worth mentioning is Import Draft Class, which requires you buy (or rent) NCAA 07 and save a draft class in that game to get the Achievement in this game.
Also worth a mention are the Superstar Career- and Madden Gamer Level-related Achievements. Having 200ish points locked up in Superstar mode is bound to be a disappointment for those who don't take to the Superstar lifestyle, and 325 points tied up into your Madden Gamer Level is just pointless.
Achievement Analysis
EA jacked up the number of Achievements with Madden 07, focusing more on individual accomplishments like setting single-game and season records. The Madden Gamer Level and Superstar mode achievements were a bit of a downer, but overall a much stronger set of Achievements to go for than in Madden 06.
Round Three: Madden 08
No-Skill Points
Almost unbelievable, but there really aren't any no-skill points here. To get anything, you'll have to be at least a little versed in sports gaming.
Medium-Skill Points
You're probably not going to have to work too hard to get a good assortment of Achievements out of the way - primarily on offense, where you can rack up passing and rushing Achievements pretty quickly if you're any good. On the defensive side of things, you're probably going to pick up a few (two interceptions with one player, for one) before you've played too many games.
Advanced-Skill Points
If you're a long time Maddenite, you probably knock out 500-700 worth of Gamerscore in just one game. Some might pose a challenge, like intercepting five passes or getting seven sacks with a single player, but it provides a good mix of challenge.
Super-Skill Points
Scoring 84 points or more in a single game with max five-minute quarters isn't easy, especially on harder difficulty levels. Also up there in terms of challenge are the 20 Completions in a Row and 100 Percent Pass Completion. You could turn down the difficulty on those by...well, by turning down the difficulty...but isn't that just cheating yourself?
Lifedrainers
Whoever decided that Force 3 Fumbles should be an Achievement should be shot. Forcing three fumbles as a team - no problem. Forcing three with one player? Come on...
The same goes for Recover 2 Fumbles, again with one player. Whoever it was that came up with that combo has far too big of a hard-on for fumbles.
Achievement Analysis
EA stepped up their game with the 08 release, keeping around the same number of Achievements as Madden 07 (up to 48 from 46 in 07) but doing a better job of focusing on individual accomplishments in the game.
Completing long bombs, breaking long runs, and pulling down interceptions - being rewarded for individual achievement with an Achievement just seemed like a no-brainer. These are the Achievements that you'll actually go for, not just simulate seasons to get.
If you're a long-time Madden fan, it's unlikely you'll find too many challenges here, but at least it's not a 'rent it and sim it for 1,000/1,000 in an hour' game.
Burnout Paradise was the big release last week, and among the 50 Achievements to unlock is Catch Criterion Fever. This is one of those 'viral Achievements' that spread through contact with someone who already has it. Take down someone with Catch Criterion Fever and *boom* there you go.
The viral Achievements are a nice way to foster online play and get people playing with strangers, and I have to admit I've always been interested in hearing just how fast they spread...
That's it for the intro and I promise that, like EA's adoption of Achievements, I'll get better as we go. Come on back next week when we'll talk GRAW and some favorite Achievements. If you've got some memorable ones, or memorable circumstances that lead you to an Achievement, drop me a line.
