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Talking Points: What Kind of Achievements Fiend Are You?
Our biweekly Achievements column explores everything about Gamerscore: why we want it, how to get it, and tips for enjoying the process. If you like nabbing those points, keep reading! (And if you missed our debut column, it's right here.)
We banter about Achievements a lot here at the OXM offices — especially on Mondays, where many of us have spent a chunk of the weekend gaming ourselves silly (and possibly even perusing our friends lists to see how our staffmates are faring points-wise). Over the years, one topic seems to come up more than any other: Are there unwritten rules people should follow in chasing Gamerscore?
During these discussions, there's always someone who takes a hardline moral stance on Achievements. You know, the type who thinks you shouldn't play a game purely for Achievements, and who'll flash you a look of withering scorn when they realize you just whimpered your way through Hannah Montana: The Movie for exactly that reason. Meanwhile, another person typically pipes in to admit they'll do anything for Gamerscore, like plugging in a second controller to "co-op" a shooter level all by themselves, just for an extra Achievement.
All of which has led me to devise my own little classification scheme for Achievement-chasers. From chatting with folks in the office, online, and over Live, I've found that people tend to break down into one of three basic camps in terms of how they view Gamerscore:
SIR CODE-OF-ETHICS
• Won't play a game they don't like just to earn Achievements
• Disapproves of Achievements that are TOO easy (like the two-minute 1,000/1,000 in Avatar: The Last Airbender — The Burning Earth or The Simpsons Game's classic "Press START to Play" Achievement)
• Won't plug in a second controller, exploit a glitch, or otherwise "cheat" to earn extra Achievements
• Freaks out if someone else earns Achievements on their Gamertag
• Considers hacking their 360 to get points unthinkable sacrilege
REASONABLY GREEDY
• Plays mainly games they enjoy, but periodically indulges in tedious pointsfests (Terminator Salvation, Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters) to bolster their score
• Finds hard Achievements rewarding, but welcomes easy Achievements for the points
• When possible, consults FAQs and guides before starting a game to maximize point-yield during their playthrough
• Fine with plugging in a second controller or exploiting a glitch to earn extra Achievements; in their eyes, if it's something the game or console lets you do, it's fair game as a means to earn points (like changing your system clock to earn an Achievement for playing the game on a given day, for example)
• Tries not to let anyone else earn Achievements on their Gamertag, but if it happens accidentally, "Oh well!"
• Thinks hacking their 360 isn't a good idea, and is too much effort anyways
UNSTOPPABLE POINTMONGER
• Prefers games that offer easy Gamerscore, regardless of their quality
• Hates any Achievements but the very easiest; only truly happy when they nab a triple-digit Achievement
• Will play a game only if they can first find a FAQ or guide for it that lets them maximize points earned during their playthrough
• Always has a second controller at the ready to boost for co-op Achievements
• Lives for holiday gatherings and other opportunities to put friends and relatives to work farming points on their Gamertag (especially on games they'd never play themselves)
• Would happily hack their 360 to raise their Gamerscore if they knew Microsoft wouldn't catch them
Personally, I fall into the Reasonably Greedy category outlined above. I love Achievements and will work hard for them — even in ways some folks would deem weaselly (like playing the party-oriented Scene It? games by myself) — but they're not my be-all and end-all when I'm on my Xbox 360. I'm happy to forget about Gamerscore when playing a long, rich experience like Skyrim whose points-per-hour is pretty low, for instance.
Which leaves me to ask: What kind of Achievements Fiend are you? Do you fall into one of the categories I've concocted above, or are you somewhere in between? Have you become more or less points-obsessed over time? Describe your score-lust in the comments below!
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DOCCON
January 08, 2012 at 3:39pm
I'm reasonably greedy. Hacking for achievements, in inconceivable for me, but I did use an empty second controller for things like beating Halo 3 on legendary (which I later did by myself anyways). I did play NBA 2K6 for the easy chievos, but that was the only game I've played for that reason (however, if somebody lets me borrow Avatar, I'll take advantage of it).
bodz5150
December 21, 2011 at 7:24pm
REASONABLY GREEDY is me. I will read a FAQ or guide to get some achievements, but I only do this for the achievements I feel will be "fun" for me to get. I had the most fun getting the Epic Tier 3 Engineer in Dead Space 1. Unfun part- I did it when I was doing the Plasma Cutter only Achievement run.
macoz
December 09, 2011 at 2:30pm
Sir Code-of-Ehitics here... This one time a friend earned an achievement on my profile, and I spendt 12 hours meeting the criteria for the achievement so as not to cheat. And to be honest, it still kind of hurts...
Phen0m24
December 07, 2011 at 8:11pm
Ok primarily in the greedy category. But I won't lie, having my then 5 year old completely finish Spider Man Friend or Foe on my gamer tag was a nice 1k boost and my only complete game. Fast forward and my little gamerdude created his own profile, proceeded to lay the smack on a bunch of Lego games... And as I would sit there and help him with Lego whatever I would secretly wish his profile would get corrupted so he had to play on mine!! (heck, what would you do if YOUR kid was a Completionist???) yeah be honest McCaffrey...if your daughter wants to play Hannah Montana something tells me it will be on your Live profile.. HahahahaI'm so evil!!! I admit it. :)
Ryan_OXM
December 07, 2011 at 6:07pm
Woohoo! Now that the My Xbox Live app is out for iPhone, I can track Corey's Achievements OCD progress from anywhere I get a 3G signal!
Seanstergun
December 07, 2011 at 3:08pm
Im mainly a "Sir Code of Ethics", I wont exploit, I have friends that play or I will find someone to play with online, but, Im guilty of Avatar, playing Call of Juarez: The Cartel, and checking cheivos before I play
Tooteeld
December 07, 2011 at 2:30pm
I'm reasonably greedy HARDCORE! And I'm loving that tip on the co-op - I'm going to try that! My husband is definitely Sir Code of Ethics or as I like to call him #1 Hater!!! Ha! Ha! I love getting points and this column makes me want to step up my game.
Bionic92
December 07, 2011 at 12:56pm
I would place myself in the "Reasonably Greedy" group. Though I've noticed that I have started to care less about achievements.
Kagemusha23
December 07, 2011 at 12:46pm
I'm more "Sir Code of Ethics" but I do take a couple points from the "Reasonably Greedy" catagory. I like getting achievements but I wont play games I dont enjoy nor will I plug in a second controller or exploit a glitch but I do consult a guide every now and again but only after I've racked my brain to the point of near mental breakdown lol. Its how I've always gamed since the beginning
xTEC4
December 07, 2011 at 12:48pm
"Reasonably Greedy", that pretty much sums up my game/achievement list.
Crimsonpug
December 07, 2011 at 8:55am
I fall so much into the "reasonably greedy" category that I felt uncomfortable reading the description. Do you guys have cameras in my house recording my play style or what? That description is Me to a "T". Amazing.Though now I set myself "goals" - like "reach a certain Gamerscore by so and so date". I'm currently sitting at almost 97,800 total points and I'd like to reach 100,000 by the end of the year. Since Zelda currently has its claws in me I doubt I'll make it, but its always possible.
Devastator149
December 07, 2011 at 4:18am
I'm in the reasonbly greedy area, but won't play games i hate.
Coneman27
December 07, 2011 at 3:37am
i believe im a little bit of both types. but i wont play a game i dont like.
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