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The rarely updated blog of Joel Dixon
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Xbox 360 Achievements Lead to Increased Sales
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 17/10/2007 09:32:10Updated by Joel Dixon at 18/10/2007 12:31:06
An interesting article came through my handy feed reader this afternoon - "Xbox 360 Achievements Lead to Higher Scores and Sales". I've made public my love for achievements before, so I actually read this item. Apart from referring to Achievements as "Accomplishments" (which shits me a little), the article did make a few interesting points:
I agree with this to a point - but it's important to remember correlation doesn't imply causation. Just because higher selling and higher rated games have a depth in Achievements - doesn't necessarily mean the Achievements the high sales and rating. I think if a game developer puts effort and planning into the achievements of a game - it's not the only factor that they're trying to get right.
Then again, if I had two next-gen systems and a game came out on all systems - I would probably buy it on the Xbox for the achievement points.
I completely agree with this point - as mentioned for Enchanted Arms - completion achievements can be a huge cop-out. I'd be happy if this research convinced a few more developers to put extra thought into the achievements they use.
But it depends on how they are counting this one (the actual source article is available for purchase, so I didn't check). If they mean 29% of games use only completion achievements - then that's no good. Put if 29% of total achievement points across all games are based on completion of a section of the game - it's a little lower than I would have thought. It's always good to receive a small chunk of achievement points for finishing a level, or game. It's when you get all of your points in this way that annoys me.
This is another interesting thought - though not true in my case. I have 5 completely unplayed Xbox 360 games, and I have taken steps to ensure I don't know what the achievements are until I start playing the game. In some cases I have a basic idea of what they'll be - but I much prefer to find out while playing the game as it makes that "achievement unlocked" much more sweeter when you're not expecting it. Like now:
sweet!
# Posted in the Gaming section and tagged as: Xbox 360
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Comments
 Hoff Posts: 39 |
Awesome nice post something to drag me away from work for a little while. I'll admit I love achievements its such a simple concept yet really adds a lot to the games. For me I find they really give me extra incentive to really complete the game and play it beyond the main storyline. I also found that for games like oblivion where it can sometimes be easy to be lost and without focus it gives you something to aim for. With the achievements I really prefer a game that will give up around 50% - 60% of its points by going through the main storyline and difficulties. leaving around 40% to get on bonus material in the game. I also really dislike it when games that have achievements that are nearly impossible to get. Some online games have stupid achievements like play 10,000 online games. Argh! It's mostly the earlier games that are the bad offenders tho and the newer games that come out seem to have learnt from the mistakes of the first developers and are refining the achievements system. I'm with you on the whole I don't think about what the achievements are before buying a game (ie: i wouldn't not buy a game for because of achievements). However it would convince me to buy cross platform titles on the xbox rather then other systems. Achievements when done well can really add to a game. Achievements done badly while they wouldn't cause me to not like a game so much... they can leave you wanting at the end. Still got a bit of catching Joel... wonder how much longer I can hold you off! Now I'm going to have to induct Hitman into Halo goodness.. might slow me down even more! # Posted - 17/10/2007 11:27:31 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
Bah! why when I post does it not like me to my profile! Dixon!!!!!!! *edit hmm worked this time... i think you got some hokey things happening with your sessions! # Posted - 17/10/2007 11:28:42 Last Edited - 17/10/2007 11:29:14 |
 joeldixon   Posts: 170 |
Don't know what's happening with the postings - I might have to start reviewing the logs as soon as I can be arsed! Whenever I notice it I'll link it up on the database side. Maybe this website isn't classy enough to handle the Hoff! I like your % breakdown - that's a good mix. I also like silly 10 point achievements here and there that aren't necessarily hard - but give a different look to the game. And yeah - uber hard achievements are just going to burn away my time - as it will take a lot to get me to give up my (thus far) 100% record! That's another good point - I'm still playing launch titles, so I'm probably still seeing the "bad-days" of Xbox achievements. I'm in a lose-lose at the moment. If you and Hitman play heaps of Halo - you'll bury me when I eventually get it. If you don't - I'll never catch you! Maybe I'm just not thinking outside the box. Which electric company are you with at your place?  # Posted - 17/10/2007 12:35:07 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
haha... I figure we will do most of our playing in a more co-op fashion with halo anyway. So we will just have to carry you rather then rub your face in the mud.  You will have to give up your 100% record eventually Joel... because while some games have uber hard achievements some games have ones that are so close to impossible that you might as well not try. For example get the top downloaded video on Burnout. Good luck with that. Do you have the patience to play 10,000 online games to get those last 100 AP's? I think with multiplayer achievements the developers really need to be very careful. I think all achievements should be gettable for the average gamer with around 100 hours of play time. On that most achievements (80%) should be gettable inside of 50. At least you wont have to worry about it till after 99 nights anyways. Its achievements are all gettable with enough playtime. You don't even need to be particularly skilled to do them either. # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:21:11 |
 Hitman Posts: 26 |
Ahhh Joel... No matter how good the Hoff and I get, you foget there will always be the Cho Man. I'm sure you can get some easy victories there  Also what is the problem with buying Halo 3 in Canada. Without any research, is it due to region encoding like DVD's, or is it because of television display differences (PAL vs NTSC)? And achievements.... I consider it an achievement that I was actually able to buy my XBox this early. I was positive the future Mrs. Hitman would try and put it off a little longer. # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:24:08 |
Hitman Posts: 26 |
Hoff, Stop creating multiple posts just to increment your post count - that is just lame. # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:25:18 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
Huh? # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:31:09 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
o # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:31:25 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
I # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:31:37 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
Get # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:31:47 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
it! PS: hope this doesn't get me blacklisted :P # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:32:17 |
Hitman Posts: 26 |
You are a jerk "Michael". # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:38:45 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
Jokes aside... I had a quick look at my games played and so far I've really liked the way the AP's were done in Halo 3 Bioshock Star Wars Lego 2 Currently playing Dead Rising and at first glance looks pretty good too. # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:39:16 |
joeldixon Posts: 170 |
Holy crap - watch the Italian pr0n channel for five minutes and you two go crazy on the commenting! I'm working on a comment hall of fame table soon - I can imagine post counts will rapidly increase after that! To be honest - a quick look at my "recent comments" section on the right margin and I thought I had started to get some spam I agree Hitman - I was very (pleasantly) surprised that you were able to get an Xbox so early. What games have you got so far? Are you allowed to play it yet (that would be the ultimate kick in the pants - if your significant other forbidding you to play until after the wedding!) What's your gamertag (if you've got one yet)? Is "Michael" a subtle reference to a TV show that our friend used to drive a nice car in? Nice Hoff - I've got SWL2 - and will be getting Halo 3 and Bioshock (one day). I've got a lot of awesome gaming ahead of me. How do I remove the drain of time that the rest of life puts on me? # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:46:23 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
Sweet... you'll be able to get the full 1000 with a bit of work in star wars lego! so don't play it. Play something with really hard achievements... i need something to slow you down. Hitman and Myself are obviously working hard. I can see this blog being very distracting. Not sure how to get more gaming time in... if you work it out let me know! # Posted - 17/10/2007 13:53:18 |
joeldixon Posts: 170 |
I'm not getting in enough gaming here as I had wanted, which is unfortunate. All the house cleaning, cooking, washing, busing to work etc have taken their toll. I can't wait for my week back at home in November. Does sitting on the couch playing Xbox count as spending quality time with the missus? (I jest in case she's reading  )# Posted - 17/10/2007 14:14:14 |
Hoff Posts: 39 |
I'll count it Joel... I doubt my approval would save your marriage tho! # Posted - 17/10/2007 14:34:49 |
joeldixon Posts: 170 |
Everyone listens to The Hoff - don't worry about that! Everyone except for Chuck Norris of course # Posted - 17/10/2007 15:55:21 |
joeldixon Posts: 170 |
Hitman - I missed the rest of your post amongst all the Hoff's rambling No matter how good the Hoff and I get, you foget there will always be the Cho Man. I'm sure you can get some easy victories there ha ha - I actually think the Cho Man will always have me to rely on for the easy wins! I generally suck at FPSers. It's PAL / NTSC related. Although I would be probably be able to use it at home (I think our TV can handle it) I want to make sure. I hope you guys are ready to dust the game off in a month or so! Until then we can play some Uno - and I will own you both!  # Posted - 17/10/2007 16:10:13 |
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