Well today I wanted to talk a little bit about instant gratification in gaming today, and how it affects the console (and some PC games) in general. I personally love it! It is very addicting to me, and will make me play a game that I normally wouldn't even give a thought about playing. I will break it down a little bit. Try to make this short and sweet.

[title] Achievement Unlocked [/title]

The Xbox 360 kind of originated or well...brought it more the mass media when they launched the 360. At first people blew it off like a bland novelty that no one would give a shit about. Oh, how they were wrong! I have invested so much time into games getting just little 20 GP achievements than I would like to even admit! I killed all 53,594 zombies in Dead Rising, in one play through, and trust me...that wasn't even fun after about the 6th hour of doing it! But I think that is where the charm of it all comes into play! I did all that for what? For that extra 20 GP's? Nope.....To say that I did it....and you didn't lol!

360 also allows you to check your friends Gamer Score and compare your games with the games they have played. In a way. it is another form of competition without the competition. Brilliant idea really. I like to play games just to up my gamer score a little bit. Am I proud of it? Not really. But I sure am proud of my gamer score. I just love to see that little icon pop up...


But, lots of people never have and never will care for the idea, which is understandable really. Microsoft promised that you could spend your achievement points to unlock stuff when they first talked about the idea, but that was a empty thought until recently. Now they are saying in the next major MS Update, you will get a avatar for your 360 that you can buy new clothing and such with your hard earned GS. Yay...way to blow balls microsoft! I would rather eat my own ass than spend my points on some kiddy, fucking dumb douche idea like that! Way to suck it up to the casual gamer you fucks! Sorry...touchy subject for me.

I would have been happy with using it to unlock in game content! Much like we have seen in Sony version of it....

[title] PS3 Trophies System [/title]

After seeing the mass success of the 360's achievements, Sony, who stated before We don't need achievements our games are enough of a achievement as is....Yeah, we see that.....Haze....

Now they are adopting the trophy system. Much the same idea of the Achievement point system. Play the game, do a specific requirement for the trophy...Trophy unlocked!!!! When I heard that they were making trophies for some of their games. I about shit bricks! That was one of my major complaints with the console, and something else great! You can use some in game Trophies to unlock in game CONTENT! Great idea, you could use the medals (trophy points) in uncharted to unlock new character skins, developer contents, cheats, all kinds of stuff! Made me very happy!

What hasn't made me happy is the lack of game support for trophies! Only major games that support it at the moment are Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and War Hawk! That is sad! Where are my MGS4 or Resistance trophies! I want trophies for everything! Why you say? It gives me more incentive to go back and play the game over and over and over! Adding much to the replay value and...well....I am more likley to buy a multi-platform game on the PS3 over the 360 if it had trophies because I prefer the controller for one, and two, everything looks better on the PS3 for me, via I have a HDMI port for my PS3 and don't on my early model 360. (that is a different story all together though)

I think it would be a great idea for Sony to enforce making ALL developers make trophies for all their games! It would even be wise to put it on older games! Guess what? When uncharted got it's trophies released...guess what was on of the number one selling games on the console that month? A game that came out a year ago? Imagine that. Kudos naughty dog!

It also shares the same comparison system that the 360 uses which is very cool. Also, soon to be a trophy case in PS3 Home. Great idea, bring on more of the instant gratification sony! I love it!


[title] Instant Gratification In-Game [/title]

There is also games out there that use this effect in-game to make it a more enjoyable and gratifying experience that cannot be denied by masses of gamers! One game that particularly stand above the rest in my eyes would have to be Call of Duty 4.

Call of Duty 4's online runs on a points system as well. Kill a guy, get points, capture a point, get points, help capture a point, get points! Get the idea? Then these points act almost as a EXP gauge in your favorite RPG! Rack up points, level up in rank, unlock new shit to kill people with! Great idea! Spend enough time on it, max out, either stay at the top with all your best gear and skills, or start all over and get the sensation all over again, and not to mention achieve a new medal to state some of your success. I think this is where this game has really captured all of our hearts.The gratifying feeling of competing with your friends for the highest rank only adds to the fun of the game! And giving rewards for your hard work instantly after you have accomplished something cool is a very good feeling, it cannot be denied either. Try as you may, you love and you know it!


Not to say Call of Duty 4 is the only game that uses this great system, it is just the one that has about perfected it in my eyes. Rainbow Six Vegas 2 also uses a system similar to it and it is very addicting too!
Hell, even Resistance and HALO 3 use it to a certain extent!

I personally hope that Gear of War 2 uses at least some sort of ranking system that will add to the great online play. That could just be me though.

[title] Summary [/title]

Instant gratification is gaming is a great idea that I think every console should adapt! (Yeah! I am talking to you fucks at NINTENDO! I want a gamer score from you too! Maybe then I would have a reason to play through some of your games) I love the little sound when I unlock a trophy or achievement, just a little sound that puts a smile on my face, and makes me feel good, lets me THINK I accomplished something important! lol.

I would love to see Sony step up and adapt it more seriously! It would give me more of a reason to buy games for their console, and regardless what they think, I think it is a major market they are missing out on!

Keep up the good work M$ I love achievement points, to bad I can't spend them on anything fun though you pricks.

Well hope you enjoyed the blog, take it easy.

-CrimsonKingX-