Achievements

[Zak Gordon]

I prefer the former, I'd rather the game not recognize killing X ships beyond my rating going up. If it is anything like steam achievements I won't even remotely care. It should be OPTIONAL if they are included, or at least make it non-intrusive. A tiny piece of text or sound like Killing Floor would work.

I have nothing against achievements, but they ruin immersion if not handled properly.

And that is the issue. In general when someone now talks about wanting 'achievements' in a game, they now mean the kind that has risen to dominate console gaming and the kind you get on Steam. Little 'bling-bling' pop-up in-game announcements (Distractions and immersion breaking imho) about how awesome you really are (because you need all the ego massaging you can handle?). These are things you also see in an i-phone game etc.

So when anyone under 40 talks about 'achievements' they mean these type of things, which i find completely soulless and pointless, inane even. They add nothing to the gameplay but are completely focused on falsely making the player feel they are a better player than they probably are.

"well done commander Jameson on becoming the proud owner of your Cobra MkIII - Achievement unlocked!" etc And all in your face, big gold spinning icon, maybe a fanfare. All just way OTT and completely immersion breaking.

Good.......darn......pitiful. I should just go a watch a few episodes of Big Brother or X-Factor on TV, just to calm down and feel all better about my life (or something).

The modern gaming/gamers obsession with these types of 'achievements' is, apart from being a little bit sad, the poster child for all the other inane modern gaming innovations, like F2P and social gaming. It's like the One Ring, once you fall into their grasp there is no coming back and your game/gaming will forever be tainted.

Hint: We've always had a sense of achievement in computer games, oh since those early days of black and white home computers with no sound. THAT is what made computer gaming so interesting and addictive from the off. You personally achieved things all the time based on the decisions you were making or how well you can manipulate the controls.

My list of achievements is huge and longstanding (although i didn't ever get to Elite status in any of the Elite games) and NOT ONE needed a bling, annoying little fake, plastic, purile pop-up for the most basic task you can imagine, to ensure i felt like, you know, i achieved something. Playing the game and the game experience was as much the 'achievement' as actually beating a game. Achievements are a fundamental inherent part of a games design, you really don't need fake ones that get in the way of the process, or worse destroy the illusion all the other assets of the game are trying hard to get you invested in.

Did i say how much i hate these things?

 

[Flavio]

When playing the game I agree that achievements should be mostly hidden but for important milestones that affect your play like a change in your rank or bounty or reputation, they should be made evident. For completing various tasks that merit a medal like after doing a few transportation runs you are then trusted with a special delivery which merits a medal as it a humanitarian run where various dangers are evaded, in which case when you get back there could be a ceremony to attend (I suggest this as there are only a few medals and they will issue the medal only once even if you complete several missions that are worthy in obtaining that medal).
For other achievements like reverse parking or flying through the rings of Saturn while photographing the rings edge on would only be shown when looking through the achievements page as these tasks will not normally be done and therefore you have to look at the list and attempt the ones that apply to your location.
In my view this method means that achievements are only going to be evident to those that want it and can offer a few minutes of distracted play which could be fun to attempt while the real achievements of reputation progress is highlighted with a small announcement every so often and for the rare medals you get a little break.

 

[Out2lunch]

I agree Flavio, as I've said I love achievements.

At this time the forums are mainly full of 35+ old players.

When the game goes live the game will be full of teenagers and early 20's for a while until the next big thing comes out. They will expect achievements as almost all modern games track stats etc especially if you buy them off of steam.

Achievements are part of the game and always have been. Elite had the ranks and Frontier had medals, adding reverse parking is just the next step in the evolution of the game.

 

[Caribou]

At this time the forums are mainly full of 35+ old players.

And some of us love achievements... Can't wait to get my Leeeeroy Jenkins commander suffix ( to all the bah humbugs out there who want flavor-less medals pfft....)

 

[Flavio]

And some of us love achievements... Can't wait to get my Leeeeroy Jenkins commander suffix ( to all the bah humbugs out there who want flavor-less medals pfft....)

Hopefully, if you manage to do something silly and wonder if anyone else can replicate it as it was fun, that you can add in and update the achievements board.
(i.e I just managed jump 100light years without using any fuel by following other pilots through their hyperspace jump - can you do the same ) .
If these challenges become too many, maybe they could stay visible for a minimum of a week with a maximum list length of 100 for older challenges.
Things that should not be in the achievements list are obvious things that are done like have completed first dock or has docked 10 times or bought first ship but having ownership of all ships could be there.

 

[MentaListo]

I think it would be a nice feature to add if you could be awarded medals for missions that you complete or for acts of kindness to humanity.

For example...

Federation Military Cross
Federation Medal Of Honor
Imperial Silver Star
Federation Peace Prize Winner

I think that these would look rather nice on your profile and could be considered to be a contributing factor as to whether or not you could be suitable for more difficult missions.

I think these will be part of the game, as they have been before! - http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/Medals/medals.html

 

[ellay]

Totally agree that Steam style achievements should be avoided.

If they're not directly part of the game, then don't include them..

Medals / Ranks / Qualifications even, enrich your role within the game, and are therefor way more fulfilling imo.

 

[STABB666]

Msitpmcsaeiou

Maybe some sort of certificate system for performing certain tasks successfully, like manual docking. Bunch a few related items together and get an Elite Federation of Pilots Certified Pilot License or something. Perform X number of trades and make X amount of profit on single and/or multiple trades and get the Elite Federation of Pirate Fodder Traders License.

Each one giving such awesome benefits as another small plastic card to fill a slot in my wallet. Although, now I think about it, I would like an Elite logo credit card to come with the backers package. Yes, want that.