Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s head of product marketing, recently had the chance to sit down with online gaming publication Kotaku to discuss why Nintendo has decided against introducing achievements on the Nintendo 3DS.
“Basically, the way the games are designed is they’re designed for you to explore the game yourself and have this sense of discovery. To that end, I think that when you look specifically at games from EAD and a lot of other games that Nintendo has developed a well, there are things you can do in the game that will result in some sort of reward or unexpected surprise. In my mind, that really encourages the sense of exploration rather than the sense of ‘If I do that, I’m going to get some sort of artificial point or score that’s going to make me feel better that I got this.’ And that, to me, is I think more compelling.”
– Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America
Yes, I think it´s a good idea. Keep the games as unique experiences. Free from the achiivement hysteria.
Yeah, especially when there are a lot of useless achievements. I was playing Call of Duty: Black Ops at my uncle’s house on his Xbox 360 and I was getting a achievement just for completing a mission O.o
How exactly is completing a mission a useless achievement?
I think nintendo are missing a massive opportunity. Achievements are a great way of comparing games and how far you’ve progressed through them with friends. What a bullshit excuse that they ‘detract from your game’s freedom’ or whatever.
And if people don’t like them, don’t complain, because no one ever said you had to do so much as even look at them.
Calm down. Nintendo was just giving their reason for not using achievements, and Aaron was giving his reason why he doesn’t like them. Not worth getting upset over.
I’m hardly getting ‘upset’ about it. Just because I have a different view to you and just like him, I’m voicing my opinion.
And @Anonymous I don’t ‘show off’ achievements, and I’m no scorewhore in any way. I just like how I can see game objectives all in one place and it’s just a bit of fun. Nintendo could compromise with the people who actually would quite like them and include them as an optional thing, or do people have a problem with that?
Yes.
comparing? No, you mean showing off,lot’s of ppl take achievements,unconsciously obsessive,and that’s just wrong,achieving something on a videogame it’s just sad.
Even if you try to say like,it’s a way to attract players…well no, that’ just means your game is repetitive, play the same crap in a different level, and you’ll be somebody in life…NO,it’s just wrong.
Couldn’t have put it better myself, they shoot themselves in the foot time and time again when it comes to online gameplay. They should have introduced achievements last generation, and they’re making the same mistake this time. And is it rumoured that they’re keeping Friend Codes? I can’t believe they’re still reluctant to keep up with the times…
A good game don’t need achievements for you to enjoy it. It should be something within the game design, not tacked on as it is for most games now. If it is so important, just keep your own “score”. Thats how we did it in the eighties ;)
Haha you’re totally right but I just like how achievements another layer of depth to the game, like the trophies in Super Smash Bros. They may not add much to the game itself, but they’re nice to have. I just wish Nintendo’s online service was a little more social.
There are a lot of useless achievements out there for some games. But some of them can be fun to get or can get you to play the game in a way you might not normally. Or can even get you more replay out of a game. The challenge of a specific achievement might even help you develop a strategy that makes the game even more fun to play.
I think the achievement thing seems to be a good idea, having played games like StarCraft II. But, what does the 3DS device have to do with games’ own achievements, though? I’m lost there,
Achievement ‘points’ don’t interest me in the slightest.
The reason my Nintendo Wii/DSi sit unused is due to a lack of trophy/achievement system. You may feel that you don’t need to implement them but millions of trophy/achievement whores feel differently. Gaming has evolved. Give people the option of earning universal rewards on your consoles. It would be a win-win for all gamers.
ask yourself why again, it doesn’t matter, it’s just a game.
Because I enjoy it. Stupid question.
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Uhhhmm…. From some part, i’m ok with that. I have blocked on my Facebook wall every publication the PS network do while a single friend who as the service meet a achievement. Its boring, even because he started to play a Game.. i mean, ok, give me a reward or badge because i beat the game in certain time or with certain level of completment. Because a master play in a figthing game, or a excelent course clear in a race game.. Or something like in Sports Resort, the flower sign in each game only obtainaable while doing something uncommon or hard.
I want whorty thigs, not just trash achievements.
I hope they lauch an update with the achiv thing on…
Its a must the achiv, just if u dont like dont use it, but dont forget how the gaming is envolvin…
u CANT miss a feature that should be in every gadget on the market.
One aspect is comparing games and your friends know what games you like playing and what achievements you all have got. No one knows what wii games you’ve got only friends that come around your house. And I love multiplayer achievements. One’s you get together.
You buy games and you want more from them than enjoyment or memories. I BUY games for achievements. I don’t play wii anymore until Skyward Sword will come out.
i don’t think achievements are necessary either, perhaps with the next Nintendo home console
I get what he’s saying, but I too wish Nintendo used Achievment systems. I mean, yeah some of them are dumb, but others can increase replay value, like the one in CoD: Black Ops, where you had to kill 7 monkeys in under 10 seconds. It was fun trying to find a good spot when I went back through the Rebirth mission. And what about Halo: Reach? The one called “If They Came To See Me Beg…”. Where you had to assassinate an enemy to survive a fall that would’ve otherwise killed you – I had a blast watching my friend try to get that one. All I’m saying is that I think they’re a great little thing. Those who like them could be free to look for them, people don’t have to be involved or even do so much as look at them. Completionist veterans would have great fun with them, and those who dislike them wouldn’t be bothered by it. An Achievement System designed from that perspective, in my opinion, would be a win-win situation or everyone.
Ah, I love you Nintendo. Instead of giving us some dumb badge, you give us things we can USE!
I don’t understand this; They’ve been putting in achivement ripoffs in their games for the past couple of years in games like Wii Sports Resort and the different things on the select screen on New SMB Wii, but then they say this. Kind of lame, and with the whole “restricting freedom” thing has got to be BS; there are things called secret achivements!
I can understand where some people would prefer achievements…they’re not a vital part of the gaming experience, but I can understand why players would like to see them more often. It’s not like those of us who could careless about achievement have to do them. Most likely games could have an option to turn off achievements.
…personally I liken them to stickers. Nice to have (especially in grade school), but serve no useful function…whatsoever. Kind of like saying “I’ve got more pogs than you” or something.
The 3DS needs achievements. A game can be good with or without them but to me they add to the game. I’ve played games on my PS3 longer then I usually would have trying to get the trophies that I needed. To me it gives you something extra to do outside of the main game and keeps things interesting longer. Would I like to see a zelda game with achievements? Yes I would. I would be very happy if nintendo finally got with the times and gave us some of the achievement action.