Merit/Achievements - Page 3

Zulthus · 2012-06-16, 01:07 PM

Well, no matter how you put it, PS1 merits *are* different from general achievements, because there *are* differences between the two. In other games, achievements are easy as shit, few in number, and generally unsatisfying. PS1 merits took a long time to obtain, especially Auraxium, which you could be pretty damn proud of. They aren't there to say "hey, you're doing a damn good job. Here's a huge popup and fireworks for killing five wolves" they're simply there to show you achieved a goal you were working for and allow you to display them on your character.

Regardless, there are differences between PS1's merit system and other achievement systems, so no matter how you put it, people can say they like this system a lot more.

Soothsayer · 2012-06-16, 01:10 PM

Killing five wolves in Planetside 2 will be damn near impossible!

I am a big fan of merits giving tangible rewards above and beyond a visual identifier that others can see. I think that with the public profile of players that if someone is interested in seeing who has what, in terms of merits/achievements, that will be easy to find out.

I love leveling up, I love character progression. Use based achievements and awards related to the skills used to acquire them are awesome.

captainkapautz · 2012-06-16, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Well, no matter how you put it, PS1 merits *are* different from general achievements, because there *are* differences between the two. In other games, achievements are easy as shit, few in number, and generally unsatisfying. PS1 merits took a long time to obtain, especially Auraxium, which you could be pretty damn proud of.

That is bullshit, there are other games with "hard" achievements, with "hard" meaning "How much time are you willing to spend on it?"

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Regardless, there are differences between PS1's merit system and other achievement systems, so no matter how you put it, people can say they like this system a lot more.

I don't really give a shit if anyone thinks merits are superior, what I give a shit about is when people tie their opinion together with some "fact" they come up with.

It's the same narrowminded view that I see in a lot of threads when people bring up stuff from other games.

"Could something like X work in PS2? It was nice in Y."
"NO, because Y is crap and therefore X is crap as well and will never work."

Just because you don't like something, doesn't mean it's not viable/"good".

Werefox · 2012-06-16, 08:27 PM

It all depends on how much effort is put into the achievement/merit selection. There are a lot of games that just tack on achievements which is where you get an achievement for login in for the first time (for example).

I quite like the idea behind merit/achievement/insert name of choice systems if they are implemented well - I find they can add a nice framework for sub goals. The Extra Credits guys (currently hosted as part of the Penny Arcade TV) have a very good episode on achievement systems, the different types, and is well worth watching (http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/achievements)

RandomNPC · 2012-06-16, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by captainkapautz

I don't really give a shit if anyone thinks merits are superior, what I give a shit about is when people tie their opinion together with some "fact" they come up with.

It's the same narrowminded view that I see in a lot of threads when people bring up stuff from other games.

Why do you care at all? All you're doing is saying "FUCK NO, YOU'RE WRONG, AND YOUR OPINION IS SHIT" when they're saying "This is what I think, even if you disagree".

Even if it you think their opinion isn't rooted in reality, why are you raging so hard? Does what they think really affect you in any way (apart from inexplicably making you mad)?
Maybe you need to take a time out; go outside and see some real people. Move on with your life, it'll be okay.

Sirisian · 2012-06-16, 09:04 PM

The only thing hard about merits in Planetside was the killstreaks at the end of some of them. I think the last MAX one was like "Kill 6 max in a row"? That kind of stuff was insanely difficult even as a VS. They get to the point where it's more about luck than actual skill.

(Especially the BFR one, which I don't believe I ever got).

exLupo · 2012-06-17, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by Zulthus

In other games, achievements are easy as shit, few in number, and generally unsatisfying.

Demon's Souls (ps3 quasi-mmo), FFXI (pc/xbox/ps2 full mmo), Binding of Isaac (pc single player), Chromehounds (xbox quasi mmo) among many other games want to have a talk with you.

RNFB · 2012-06-17, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by exLupo

Demon's Souls (ps3 quasi-mmo)

I don't understand what you mean by "quasi-mmo". Demon/Dark Souls are pretty standard RPGs and don't have any MMO traits (because it's 99% single player with a bit of crummy multiplayer)

exLupo · 2012-06-17, 03:06 AM

I found the multiplayer to be more than just tacked on. While you could run around solo, the communication between other players and grouping with them is something that you and I see differently. I found that it added a necessary social context that games like Skyrim and the Zelda series lack. Getting to watch non-grouped players death experiences play out added a nice touch. Dark Souls grouping system made interaction with this body of players even easier. This says nothing for the PvP invasions which, themselves, provided a level of tension that I've yet to experience in another game.

I say "quasi" because, while you are playing directly with thousands of other players, it's not in the same "Lets sit in Stormwind and do nothing while we wait to group with 4-9 other people." style like the traditional graphical chatroom design that's been the primary example since people were queueing for camps in EQ1.

Regardless of whether or not these are mmos, my response was to someone implying that "achievements" are always few and easy. His statement was either wildly uneducated or a blatant lie. I can't be sure which.

RNFB, I'm a huge nerd for games design so if you'd like to take the "what is an MMO" discussion to PMs I'd be glad to talk but it's probably going to derail the thread otherwise.

captainkapautz · 2012-06-17, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by RandomNPC

Why do you care at all? All you're doing is saying "FUCK NO, YOU'RE WRONG, AND YOUR OPINION IS SHIT" when they're saying "This is what I think, even if you disagree".

Even if it you think their opinion isn't rooted in reality, why are you raging so hard? Does what they think really affect you in any way (apart from inexplicably making you mad)?
Maybe you need to take a time out; go outside and see some real people. Move on with your life, it'll be okay.

Maybe you need to not flame-bait me.