Grind Achievements - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 08:07, 4 August 2022

2022-08-04T08:07:55Z

Staffan Björk at 10:10, 13 May 2022

2022-05-13T10:10:45Z

Staffan Björk: /* Can Instantiate */

2015-08-08T18:21:59Z

‎Can Instantiate

Staffan Björk at 07:56, 8 August 2015

2015-08-08T07:56:43Z

Staffan Björk at 11:00, 30 July 2014

2014-07-30T11:00:38Z

Staffan Björk at 08:12, 1 November 2012

2012-11-01T08:12:22Z

Staffan Björk at 11:01, 5 September 2011

2011-09-05T11:01:25Z

Staffan Björk at 00:46, 9 May 2011

2011-05-09T00:46:31Z

Staffan Björk at 23:32, 6 May 2011

2011-05-06T23:32:09Z

Staffan Björk at 08:17, 2 January 2011

2011-01-02T08:17:07Z

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Grind Achievements]] can easily be constructed from requiring the success of small goals, that is requiring [[Collections]] of [[Optional Goals|Optional]] or [[Enforced Goals]] to be completed. Given this, they can also can be constructed from the goals that make up [[Testing Achievements]] but combining them only makes sense when providing a [[Testing Achievements|Testing Achievement]] for the first success and then the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] after the specified number of successes have been achieved. Examples of [[Grind Achievements]] built on what could have been [[Testing Achievements]] include ''Club Dead'' in [[L4D2]] (awarded for having used every type of melee weapon to kill a common infected) and ''The Whole Gang's Here'' in [[Fallout: New Vegas]] (awarded for recruiting all companions).
+[[Grind Achievements]] can easily be constructed from requiring the success of small goals, that is requiring [[Collections]] of [[Optional Goals]] to be completed. Given this, they can also can be constructed from the goals that make up [[Testing Achievements]] but combining them only makes sense when providing a [[Testing Achievements|Testing Achievement]] for the first success and then the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] after the specified number of successes have been achieved. Examples of [[Grind Achievements]] built on what could have been [[Testing Achievements]] include ''Club Dead'' in [[L4D2]] (awarded for having used every type of melee weapon to kill a common infected) and ''The Whole Gang's Here'' in [[Fallout: New Vegas]] (awarded for recruiting all companions).
 [[Goal Achievements]] can also be used as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]] but since these goals most likely require [[Gameplay Mastery]], this solution is more likely to work for games striving for [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Although [[Handicap Achievements]] can be difficult to use as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]], most of the options and consequences of [[Achievements]] in general are available to [[Grinding Achievements|Grinding]] ones as well. The ''Hat Trick'' achievement in [[Torchlight]], awarded for beating the game with all three classes, can be seen as either a [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] built on [[Goal Achievements]] of completing the game or [[Testing Achievements]] of testing all classes.
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
-[[Collections]] with [[Enforced Goals|Enforced]] or [[Optional Goals]]
+[[Collections]] with [[Optional Goals]]
 [[Collections]] with [[Goal Achievements]] or [[Testing Achievements]]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-[[Grind Achievements]] can easily be constructed from requiring the success of small goals, that is requiring a [[Collection]] of [[Optional Goals|Optional]] or [[Enforced Goals|Enforced]] to be completed. Given this, they can also can be constructed from the goals that make up [[Testing Achievements]] but combining them only makes sense when providing a [[Testing Achievements|Testing Achievement]] for the first success and then the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] after the specified number of successes have been achieved. Examples of [[Grind Achievements]] built on what could have been [[Testing Achievements]] include ''Club Dead'' in [[L4D2]] (awarded for having used every type of melee weapon to kill a common infected) and ''The Whole Gang's Here'' in [[Fallout: New Vegas]] (awarded for recruiting all companions).
+[[Grind Achievements]] can easily be constructed from requiring the success of small goals, that is requiring [[Collections]] of [[Optional Goals|Optional]] or [[Enforced Goals]] to be completed. Given this, they can also can be constructed from the goals that make up [[Testing Achievements]] but combining them only makes sense when providing a [[Testing Achievements|Testing Achievement]] for the first success and then the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] after the specified number of successes have been achieved. Examples of [[Grind Achievements]] built on what could have been [[Testing Achievements]] include ''Club Dead'' in [[L4D2]] (awarded for having used every type of melee weapon to kill a common infected) and ''The Whole Gang's Here'' in [[Fallout: New Vegas]] (awarded for recruiting all companions).
 [[Goal Achievements]] can also be used as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]] but since these goals most likely require [[Gameplay Mastery]], this solution is more likely to work for games striving for [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Although [[Handicap Achievements]] can be difficult to use as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]], most of the options and consequences of [[Achievements]] in general are available to [[Grinding Achievements|Grinding]] ones as well. The ''Hat Trick'' achievement in [[Torchlight]], awarded for beating the game with all three classes, can be seen as either a [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] built on [[Goal Achievements]] of completing the game or [[Testing Achievements]] of testing all classes.
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 === Can Be Instantiated By ===
-[[Collection]] with [[Enforced Goals|Enforced]] or [[Optional Goals]], [[Collection]] with [[Goal Achievements]] or [[Testing Achievements]]
+[[Collections]] with [[Enforced Goals|Enforced]] or [[Optional Goals]]
 === Can Be Modulated By ===

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 [[Achievements]], [[Collecting]], [[Game World Exploration]],
 [[Game-Based Social Statuses]],
-[[Goal Hierarchies]], [[Grinding]], [[Meta Games]]
+[[Goal Hierarchies]], [[Grinding]], [[Meta Games]],
 [[Rewards]], [[Value of Effort]]

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 [[Grind Achievements]] can easily be constructed from requiring the success of small goals, that is requiring a [[Collection]] of [[Optional Goals|Optional]] or [[Enforced Goals|Enforced]] to be completed. Given this, they can also can be constructed from the goals that make up [[Testing Achievements]] but combining them only makes sense when providing a [[Testing Achievements|Testing Achievement]] for the first success and then the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] after the specified number of successes have been achieved. Examples of [[Grind Achievements]] built on what could have been [[Testing Achievements]] include ''Club Dead'' in [[L4D2]] (awarded for having used every type of melee weapon to kill a common infected) and ''The Whole Gang's Here'' in [[Fallout: New Vegas]] (awarded for recruiting all companions).
-[[Goal Achievements]] can also be used as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]] but since these goals most likely require [[Game Mastery]], this solution is more likely to work for games striving for [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Although [[Handicap Achievements]] can be difficult to use as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]], most of the options and consequences of [[Achievements]] in general are available to [[Grinding Achievements|Grinding]] ones as well. The ''Hat Trick'' achievement in [[Torchlight]], awarded for beating the game with all three classes, can be seen as either a [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] built on [[Goal Achievements]] of completing the game or [[Testing Achievements]] of testing all classes.
+[[Goal Achievements]] can also be used as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]] but since these goals most likely require [[Gameplay Mastery]], this solution is more likely to work for games striving for [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Although [[Handicap Achievements]] can be difficult to use as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]], most of the options and consequences of [[Achievements]] in general are available to [[Grinding Achievements|Grinding]] ones as well. The ''Hat Trick'' achievement in [[Torchlight]], awarded for beating the game with all three classes, can be seen as either a [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] built on [[Goal Achievements]] of completing the game or [[Testing Achievements]] of testing all classes.
 A main design choice regarding the individual tasks involved in the [[Achievements|Achievement]] is if the exact same task can be done several times or if different tasks have to be done. The former typically requires that [[Spawning]] of monsters or quests are used and may consist of more [[Grinding]] since it is exactly the same task that is repeated. If different tasks are used this may maintain [[Thematic Consistency]] for [[Predetermined Story Structures]] and can promote [[Game World Exploration]]. The latter also adds the choice of having a set of tasks which all need to completed or just requiring that a subset is necessary through a [[Selectable Set of Goals]] (which gives players a [[Freedom of Choice]] as long as they are aware of all parts of the set). The first levels of the ''Milestone'' [[Achievements]] in [[Team Fortress 2]] do this, e.g. requiring 5 sniping [[Achievements]] out of all those available for the sniper class to give the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] ''Sniper Milestone 1''.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 [[Goal Achievements]] can also be used as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]] but since these goals most likely require [[Game Mastery]], this solution is more likely to work for games striving for [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Although [[Handicap Achievements]] can be difficult to use as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]], most of the options and consequences of [[Achievements]] in general are available to [[Grinding Achievements|Grinding]] ones as well. The ''Hat Trick'' achievement in [[Torchlight]], awarded for beating the game with all three classes, can be seen as either a [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] built on [[Goal Achievements]] of completing the game or [[Testing Achievements]] of testing all classes.
-A main design choice regarding the individual tasks involved in the [[Achievements|Achievement]] is if the exact same task can be done several times or if different tasks have to be done. The former typically requires that [[Spawning]] of monsters or quests are used and may consist of more [[Grinding]] since it is exactly the same task that is repeated. If different tasks are used this may maintain [[Thematic Consistency]] for [[Narration Structures]] and can promote [[Game World Exploration]]. The latter also adds the choice of having a set of tasks which all need to completed or just requiring that a subset is necessary through a [[Selectable Set of Goals]] (which gives players a [[Freedom of Choice]] as long as they are aware of all parts of the set). The first levels of the ''Milestone'' [[Achievements]] in [[Team Fortress 2]] do this, e.g. requiring 5 sniping [[Achievements]] out of all those available for the sniper class to give the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] ''Sniper Milestone 1''.
+A main design choice regarding the individual tasks involved in the [[Achievements|Achievement]] is if the exact same task can be done several times or if different tasks have to be done. The former typically requires that [[Spawning]] of monsters or quests are used and may consist of more [[Grinding]] since it is exactly the same task that is repeated. If different tasks are used this may maintain [[Thematic Consistency]] for [[Predetermined Story Structures]] and can promote [[Game World Exploration]]. The latter also adds the choice of having a set of tasks which all need to completed or just requiring that a subset is necessary through a [[Selectable Set of Goals]] (which gives players a [[Freedom of Choice]] as long as they are aware of all parts of the set). The first levels of the ''Milestone'' [[Achievements]] in [[Team Fortress 2]] do this, e.g. requiring 5 sniping [[Achievements]] out of all those available for the sniper class to give the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] ''Sniper Milestone 1''.
 Another design choice of course consists of how many times the individual tasks in total need to be performed. This typically depends on the type of activity but cannot be to low since that would instead create a [[Testing Achievements|Testing Achievement]]. A common strategy, as shown by [[Fallout: New Vegas]], [[Torchlight]], and [[World of Warcraft]] examples above, is to provide several different [[Grind Achievements]] which are identical except for the number of tasks that need to be performed. By thus creating [[Goal Hierarchies]], this allows new [[Grind Achievements]] to take over as goals as soon as one has been reached. The ''Milestone'' [[Achievements]] in [[Team Fortress 2]] has this structure as well, having several levels for each class for example ''Sniper Milestone 1'', ''Sniper Milestone 2'', and ''Sniper Milestone 3'' for gaining 5, 11, and 17 more specific [[Achievements]].
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 To show how many times a goal has been achieved and how many remain before the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] is rewarded, [[Progress Indicators]] are typically used in combination with [[Grind Achievements]]. Further, since games using [[Grind Achievements]] often have many of them, the information about them are typically available through [[Secondary Interfaces]].
-=== Narrative Aspects ===
+=== Narration Aspects ===
-As for diegetic aspects, [[Grind Achievements]] can be problematic for [[Narration Structures]]. This since they may break the [[Thematic Consistency]] by having events and encounters occur many times or by slowing down the unveiling of the [[Narration Structures]] with menial tasks.
+As for diegetic aspects, [[Grind Achievements]] can be problematic for [[Predetermined Story Structures]]. This since they may break the [[Thematic Consistency]] by having events and encounters occur many times or by slowing down the unveiling of the [[Predetermined Story Structures]] with menial tasks.
 == Consequences ==
@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 === Potentially Conflicting With ===
 [[Testing Achievements]]
 ==== with [[Spawning]] ====
-[[Thematic Consistency]], [[Narration Structures]]
+[[Thematic Consistency]]
 == History ==

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 [[Grind Achievements]] share many of the consequences of [[Achievements]] in general, e.g. being a type of [[Rewards|Reward]] and a basis for [[Meta Games]]. Since they consist of reaching some form of goal multiple times they promote [[Collecting]] as a gameplay activity. Achieving them are also quite naturally require [[Grinding]] and when the individual tasks have clear properties as goals the [[Grind Achievements]] create [[Goal Hierarchies]].
-Although maybe not as efficient as [[Goal Achievements]], [[Grind Achievements]] can provide [[Value of Effort]] [[Rewards]] by offering to show how dedicated players have been to the game, a gaming group, or game community. This since dedicated membership can in itself provide [[Game-Induced Player Social Status]].
+Although maybe not as efficient as [[Goal Achievements]], [[Grind Achievements]] can provide [[Value of Effort]] [[Rewards]] by offering to show how dedicated players have been to the game, a gaming group, or game community. This since dedicated membership can in itself provide [[Game-Based Social Statuses]].
 == Relations ==
 === Can Instantiate ===
 [[Achievements]], [[Collecting]], [[Game World Exploration]],
-[[Game-Induced Player Social Status]], [[Goal Hierarchies]], [[Grinding]], [[Meta Games]]
+[[Game-Based Social Statuses]],
 [[Rewards]], [[Value of Effort]]

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 [[Goal Achievements]] can also be used as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]] but since these goals most likely require [[Game Mastery]], this solution is more likely to work for games striving for [[Challenging Gameplay]]. Although [[Handicap Achievements]] can be difficult to use as a basis for [[Grind Achievements]], most of the options and consequences of [[Achievements]] in general are available to [[Grinding Achievements|Grinding]] ones as well. The ''Hat Trick'' achievement in [[Torchlight]], awarded for beating the game with all three classes, can be seen as either a [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] built on [[Goal Achievements]] of completing the game or [[Testing Achievements]] of testing all classes.
-A main design choice regarding the individual tasks involved in the [[Achievements|Achievement]] is if the exact same task can be done several times or if different tasks have to be done. The former typically requires that [[Spawning]] of monsters or quests are used and may consist of more [[Grinding]] since it is exactly the same task that is repeated. If different tasks are used this can maintain [[Diegetic Consistency]] for [[Narration Structures]] and can promote [[Exploration]]. The latter also adds the choice of having a set of tasks which all need to completed or just requiring that a subset is necessary through a [[Selectable Set of Goals]] (which gives players a [[Freedom of Choice]] as long as they are aware of all parts of the set). The first levels of the ''Milestone'' [[Achievements]] in [[Team Fortress 2]] do this, e.g. requiring 5 sniping [[Achievements]] out of all those available for the sniper class to give the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] ''Sniper Milestone 1''.
+A main design choice regarding the individual tasks involved in the [[Achievements|Achievement]] is if the exact same task can be done several times or if different tasks have to be done. The former typically requires that [[Spawning]] of monsters or quests are used and may consist of more [[Grinding]] since it is exactly the same task that is repeated. If different tasks are used this may maintain [[Thematic Consistency]] for [[Narration Structures]] and can promote [[Exploration]]. The latter also adds the choice of having a set of tasks which all need to completed or just requiring that a subset is necessary through a [[Selectable Set of Goals]] (which gives players a [[Freedom of Choice]] as long as they are aware of all parts of the set). The first levels of the ''Milestone'' [[Achievements]] in [[Team Fortress 2]] do this, e.g. requiring 5 sniping [[Achievements]] out of all those available for the sniper class to give the [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] ''Sniper Milestone 1''.
 Another design choice of course consists of how many times the individual tasks in total need to be performed. This typically depends on the type of activity but cannot be to low since that would instead create a [[Testing Achievements|Testing Achievement]]. A common strategy, as shown by [[Fallout: New Vegas]], [[Torchlight]], and [[World of Warcraft]] examples above, is to provide several different [[Grind Achievements]] which are identical except for the number of tasks that need to be performed. By thus creating [[Goal Hierarchies]], this allows new [[Grind Achievements]] to take over as goals as soon as one has been reached. The ''Milestone'' [[Achievements]] in [[Team Fortress 2]] has this structure as well, having several levels for each class for example ''Sniper Milestone 1'', ''Sniper Milestone 2'', and ''Sniper Milestone 3'' for gaining 5, 11, and 17 more specific [[Achievements]].
 === Diegetic Aspects ===
-[[Grind Achievements]] that depend on [[Spawning]] to provide the required tasks most often have a problem with [[Diegetic Consistency]].
+[[Grind Achievements]] that depend on [[Spawning]] to provide the required tasks most often have a problem with [[Thematic Consistency]].
 === Interface Aspects ===
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 === Narrative Aspects ===
-As for diegetic aspects, [[Grind Achievements]] can be problematic for [[Narration Structures]]. This since they may break the [[Diegetic Consistency]] by having events and encounters occur many times or by slowing down the unveiling of the [[Narration Structures]] with menial tasks.
+As for diegetic aspects, [[Grind Achievements]] can be problematic for [[Narration Structures]]. This since they may break the [[Thematic Consistency]] by having events and encounters occur many times or by slowing down the unveiling of the [[Narration Structures]] with menial tasks.
 == Consequences ==
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ==== with [[Spawning]] ====
-[[Diegetic Consistency]], [[Narration Structures]]
+[[Thematic Consistency]], [[Narration Structures]]
 == History ==

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 High-Score lists can sometimes function as keepers of [[Grind Achievements]]. This is the case when the scores they keep track of start to depend on endurance rather than meeting challenges that steadily become more and more difficult. Early console games such as [[Pac-Man]] and [[Donkey Kong]] qualify to this, since reaching the highest recorded levels require uninterrupted gameplay for several hours (the first perfect score for [[Pac-Man]] took about 6 hours, which by 2010 been shaved to less than 4 hours<ref name="Pac-Man"/>).
-More modern games, especially those built as online games or distributed through online platforms such as Steam or XBox Live, have specific grind achievements. The cooperative first-person shooter series [[Left 4 Dead Series|Left 4 Dead]] also has many [[Grind Achievements]]. Looking at the second installment in the series, [[L4D2]] rewards using certain types of weapons and ammunition (hitting 50 common infected with incendiary ammo gives ''Burning Sensation'', killing 100 with a chainsaw gives ''Chain of Command'', and decapitating 200 infected with a melee weapon gives ''Head Honcho''). Performing other easily done activities are also rewarded (''Cl0wnd'' for honking the noses of 10 infected clowns, ''Cache Grab'' for opening 5 foot lockers, and ''Grave Robber'' for picking up 10 items dropped by fallen survivors), as is achieving more important gameplay closures (e.g. ''Shock Jock'' for  reviving at total of 10 dead survivors through using defirillators and ''Gas Guzzler'' for collecting 100 gas cans in the game mode scavenge).<ref name="L4D2"/> Similarly, the class-based first-person shooter [[Team Fortress 2]] has [[Grind Achievements]] for both general activities (e.g. ''Race for the Pennant'' for running 25 kilometers, ''Batter Up'' for having done 1000 double jumps, ''Firefighter'' and ''Hardcore'' for reaching 500 and 1000 kills respectively, ''Supreme Soviet'' for getting ÜberCharged 50 times) and those specifically for the individual classes (''Team Doctor'' for accumulate 25000 heal points as a Medic and ''Hot on Your Heels'' for killing  50 enemies from behind with a flamethrower).<ref name="TF2"/>.
+More modern games, especially those built as online games or distributed through online platforms such as Steam or XBox Live, have specific grind achievements. The cooperative first-person shooter series [[Left 4 Dead series|Left 4 Dead]] also has many [[Grind Achievements]]. Looking at the second installment in the series, [[L4D2]] rewards using certain types of weapons and ammunition (hitting 50 common infected with incendiary ammo gives ''Burning Sensation'', killing 100 with a chainsaw gives ''Chain of Command'', and decapitating 200 infected with a melee weapon gives ''Head Honcho''). Performing other easily done activities are also rewarded (''Cl0wnd'' for honking the noses of 10 infected clowns, ''Cache Grab'' for opening 5 foot lockers, and ''Grave Robber'' for picking up 10 items dropped by fallen survivors), as is achieving more important gameplay closures (e.g. ''Shock Jock'' for  reviving at total of 10 dead survivors through using defirillators and ''Gas Guzzler'' for collecting 100 gas cans in the game mode scavenge).<ref name="L4D2"/> Similarly, the class-based first-person shooter [[Team Fortress 2]] has [[Grind Achievements]] for both general activities (e.g. ''Race for the Pennant'' for running 25 kilometers, ''Batter Up'' for having done 1000 double jumps, ''Firefighter'' and ''Hardcore'' for reaching 500 and 1000 kills respectively, ''Supreme Soviet'' for getting ÜberCharged 50 times) and those specifically for the individual classes (''Team Doctor'' for accumulate 25000 heal points as a Medic and ''Hot on Your Heels'' for killing  50 enemies from behind with a flamethrower).<ref name="TF2"/>.
 The action-adventure game [[Torchlight]] gives [[Grind Achievements]] for most types of activities and events possible in the game: walking (''Walkabout'' for taking 25000 steps), gambling (''Gambling Addict'' and ''Gambling Fiend'' for doing this 50 and 100 times), fishing (''Angler'', ''Fisherman'', and ''Fisher King'' for catching 50, 100, and 100 fish), smashing items (doing this 1500 times gives ''Master Smasher''), selling items (10000 transactions gives ''Cash for Trash''), getting gold (having collected 250000 gold gives ''Rich''), killing enemies (''Wabam!'' for 5000 monsters and ''Supreme Slayer'' for 50000 monsters), achieving critical hits (''Gibbed'' for blowing 25 enemies to pieces), drinking potions (''Potion Whiz'' for 5000) and dying (having done this 500 times gives the consolidation price ''Tormented''). ''Enchantment Overload'', given for successfully enchanting one item 10 time, many not seem like a [[Grind Achievements|Grind Achievement]] from its description but is also one since each enchantment has a slight risk of ruining the items and the accumulated risk statistically means that many items will have to be enchanted to get the achievement (in fact, the game design mitigates the risk by having another achievement build on these failures since ''The Need for Greed'' is given for suffering 20 disenchants.<ref name="Torchlight"/>