The only thing that rivals my love for video games is my love for video game achievements. Microsoft was brilliant to add this system to its gameplay. The Gamer Point system enhances the social aspect of gaming by aggregating a gamer’s experience from multiple games into one number. Instead of comparing your scores on only one game, gamer points allow you to compare your entire Xbox 360 (or PS3) history against your friends’. The point system also adds another dimension to games that would not otherwise be easily scored–first-person shooters, role-playing games, and adventure games are good examples. Furthermore, the hunt for achievements can pleasantly extend your time playing a game. To some of us achievement hunters out there who love achievements as much as I do, this meta-scoring system can sometimes be more important than the events of the actual game.
Here are some tips to assist you in nabbing those gamer points.
- Play as many games as possible. This is probably the most important step in improving your gamer score. For most games, you can usually get 1/3 to 1/2 of the achievements on your first play-through.
- Before you start playing a game, review the achievement list on Xbox.com or in the Xbox menu. Like everything else in the world, your ability to succeed in your achievement hunting is limited by time. By knowing what the achievements are before you start playing, you can start to formulate a plan on how to get them in the most time-effective manner. There’s no need in playing the same mission over and over to get multiple achievements if you can get them all in one pass.
- Don’t get burnt out. While achievement hunting can be fun, it can also be frustrating and stressful. If you start to get mad that you aren’t getting the achievement you’re working towards, take a break and do something else. A little break can go a long way in sustaining the joy of gaming.
These are some ideas to help in achievement hunting. Do you have some other ideas? Please comment below.
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