Nerd Rage: We are all becoming slaves. Stop HOARING!
This is a response to my esteemed colleague, Rob Sporer’s article. He would have you to believe that achievements are a positive addition to gaming. I on the contrary, will point out to you how they are ruining gaming and what gaming was meant to be.
First of all, let us look at what playing video games is supposed to be about. They are supposed to be a fun escape from the everyday drudgery of work or school. I can not tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say “I’m working towards (insert achievement name here).” Excuse me? You are working at a game? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of playing the game? When you start getting frustrated and feel some how obligated to perform a certain task that is not playing my friends. That is working.
My second point is what’s the point? What is the point of this meaningless number next to my gamertag? I don’t care if you have 50,000 achievement points. All that means is you have far too much time on your hands.
Now I will accept achievements on one condition. I WANT MY ACHIEVEMENT TO MEAN SOMETHING!!! By this I mean that I want an unlockable weapon or character that goes along with my said “achievement”. I don’t want to say “ooooo cool I got 100 points for 4 hours of frustration and anxiety”.
So my friends, don’t give in to peer pressure and achievement whore with everyone else. Play games for fun. For I assure you that having fun is well……fun.
Roger Gaw
Staff Writer
