Difference between revisions of "Handicap Achievements"
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
''Achievements given for completing some goal while under some type of optional handicap.'' | ''Achievements given for completing some goal while under some type of optional handicap.'' | ||
| − | Players who have mastered a specific game, or are so familiar with a game genre that they wish to have an increased challenge from the start of a game, typically need higher levels of difficulty in the gameplay to be able to enjoy the game. | + | Players who have mastered a specific game, or are so familiar with a game genre that they wish to have an increased challenge from the start of a game, typically need higher levels of difficulty in the gameplay to be able to enjoy the game. Game designers may feel a need to reward these players differently, so that they can feel that the extra skills and efforts they put into such gameplay is acknowledged. While achievements in general are persistent ways of recognizing what players have done in games, [[Handicap Achievements]] provides a means to reward players for completing a game, or a part of a game, in a more complex or difficult way than is normally required. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
Putting time limits can also provide a means of creating [[Handicap Achievements]]. [[Torchlight]] does this through the two achievements ''Swift Execution'' and ''Speed King'' with requires that the main enemy, Ordrak, is defeated in less than 5 and 8 hours respectively<ref name="Torchlight"/>. Working on a smaller time scale, [[Left 4 Dead 2]] has the achievement ''Bridge over Trebled Slaughter'' for completing the finale of a specific campaign in less than 3 minutes<ref name="L4D2"/>. | Putting time limits can also provide a means of creating [[Handicap Achievements]]. [[Torchlight]] does this through the two achievements ''Swift Execution'' and ''Speed King'' with requires that the main enemy, Ordrak, is defeated in less than 5 and 8 hours respectively<ref name="Torchlight"/>. Working on a smaller time scale, [[Left 4 Dead 2]] has the achievement ''Bridge over Trebled Slaughter'' for completing the finale of a specific campaign in less than 3 minutes<ref name="L4D2"/>. | ||
| − | Some games provide [[Handicap Achievements]] to players that complete levels, quests, or the entire game without using certain features of the game since these make the game easier. For example, the ''Akimbo Assassin'' achievement in [[Left 4 Dead]] of the [[Left 4 Dead Series]] is awarded for surviving a complete campaign using only pistols and [[Left 4 Dead 2]] provides a similar achievement, ''Confederacy of Crunches'' for doing so using only melee weapons<ref name="L4D"/><ref name="L4D2"/>. Also in [[L4D2]], the ''Guardin' Gnome'' achievement is a [[Handicap Achievements]] since it requires the players to carry Gnome Chompski for most of a campaign and thereby limits their combat efficiency. | + | Some games provide [[Handicap Achievements]] to players that complete levels, quests, or the entire game without using certain features of the game since these make the game easier. For example, the ''Akimbo Assassin'' achievement in [[Left 4 Dead]] of the [[Left 4 Dead Series]] is awarded for surviving a complete campaign using only pistols and [[Left 4 Dead 2]] provides a similar achievement, ''Confederacy of Crunches'' for doing so using only melee weapons<ref name="L4D"/><ref name="L4D2"/>. Also in [[L4D2]], the ''Guardin' Gnome'' achievement is a [[Handicap Achievements]] since it requires the players to carry Gnome Chompski for most of a campaign and thereby limits their combat efficiency. [[Team Fortress 2]] has several achievements involving using less effective weapons, including ''A Cut Above'' for using a knife to kill a Spy equipped with a gun, and two achievements for killing enemies with taunts: ''OMGWTFBBQ'' and ''Show Trial'' <ref name="TF2"/>. |
Of the many achievements in [[World of Warcraft]], a few are [[Testing Achievements]]. These include ''I Found One!'' for looting a brightly colored egg during the ''Noblegarden'' seasonal event, ''Represent'' for equipping any tabard, ''Shave and a Haircut'' for visiting a barber and getting cosmetic changes to one's avatar, and | Of the many achievements in [[World of Warcraft]], a few are [[Testing Achievements]]. These include ''I Found One!'' for looting a brightly colored egg during the ''Noblegarden'' seasonal event, ''Represent'' for equipping any tabard, ''Shave and a Haircut'' for visiting a barber and getting cosmetic changes to one's avatar, and | ||
''Dual Talent Specialization'' for testing the game's functionality of offering a different gaming experience with the same character<ref name="WoW"/>. | ''Dual Talent Specialization'' for testing the game's functionality of offering a different gaming experience with the same character<ref name="WoW"/>. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
== Using the pattern == | == Using the pattern == | ||
| Line 49: | Line 45: | ||
== Consequences == | == Consequences == | ||
| − | As a type of [[Achievements|Achievement]], [[Handicap Achievements]] can form a kind of [[Rewards|Reward]] and be used to create [[Meta Games]]. Given that [[Handicap Achievements]] are based on goals they are a type of [[Goal Achievements]] but they are arguable more of an [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]] than other types of [[Achievements]] since it is always possible to complete the underlying goal without requirements of the [[Handicap Achievements]]. | + | As a type of [[Achievements|Achievement]], [[Handicap Achievements]] can form a kind of [[Rewards|Reward]] and be used to create [[Meta Games]]. Given that [[Handicap Achievements]] are based on goals they are a type of [[Goal Achievements]] but they are arguable more of an [[Optional Goals|Optional Goal]] than other types of [[Achievements]] since it is always possible to complete the underlying goal without requirements of the [[Handicap Achievements]]. Like [[Goal Achievements]] in general, [[Handicap Achievements]] can support [[Game-Induced Player Social Status]] by letting players show of [[Game Mastery]]. By doing so they can also provide a [[Value of Effort]], which is somewhat paradoxical since the extra effort required is completely voluntary. |
Although similar in names, [[Handicap Achievements]] are not directly related to [[Handicaps]] since the latter relates to providing [[Player Balance]] rather than providing additional challenges for individual players. | Although similar in names, [[Handicap Achievements]] are not directly related to [[Handicaps]] since the latter relates to providing [[Player Balance]] rather than providing additional challenges for individual players. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
== Relations == | == Relations == | ||
Revision as of 14:31, 16 December 2010
Achievements given for completing some goal while under some type of optional handicap.
Players who have mastered a specific game, or are so familiar with a game genre that they wish to have an increased challenge from the start of a game, typically need higher levels of difficulty in the gameplay to be able to enjoy the game. Game designers may feel a need to reward these players differently, so that they can feel that the extra skills and efforts they put into such gameplay is acknowledged. While achievements in general are persistent ways of recognizing what players have done in games, Handicap Achievements provides a means to reward players for completing a game, or a part of a game, in a more complex or difficult way than is normally required.
Examples
Games with achievement systems and different difficulty settings typically provide different achievements for each of these settings. Fallout:New Vegas of the Fallout series provides the Hardcore achievement for completing the entire game in the mode with the same name where players need to replenish food, water, and sleep regularly[1].
In a similar vein, Left 4 Dead 2 provides the Still Something to Prove for completing all campaigns on expert difficulty, and The Real Deal for completing any campaign on expert with the added difficulty of the Realism mode (which makes it more difficulty to see where items and other players are).
The action RPG Torchlight provide Beast Slayer II and Beast Slayer III for those players that complete the game on hard or very hard levels instead of the easy or normal levels (which gives Beast Slayer I). Further, Torchlight has a hardcore mode that does not allow respawning (so one cannot die without ending the game) and gives the achievements Hardcore Victor, Hardcore Hero, Hardcore Champion, or Hardcore God depending on whether one played on easy, normal, hard, or very hard level (Perfect Victory is also given for any type of game instance completed without a death)[2].
Putting time limits can also provide a means of creating Handicap Achievements. Torchlight does this through the two achievements Swift Execution and Speed King with requires that the main enemy, Ordrak, is defeated in less than 5 and 8 hours respectively[2]. Working on a smaller time scale, Left 4 Dead 2 has the achievement Bridge over Trebled Slaughter for completing the finale of a specific campaign in less than 3 minutes[3].
Some games provide Handicap Achievements to players that complete levels, quests, or the entire game without using certain features of the game since these make the game easier. For example, the Akimbo Assassin achievement in Left 4 Dead of the Left 4 Dead Series is awarded for surviving a complete campaign using only pistols and Left 4 Dead 2 provides a similar achievement, Confederacy of Crunches for doing so using only melee weapons[4][3]. Also in L4D2, the Guardin' Gnome achievement is a Handicap Achievements since it requires the players to carry Gnome Chompski for most of a campaign and thereby limits their combat efficiency. Team Fortress 2 has several achievements involving using less effective weapons, including A Cut Above for using a knife to kill a Spy equipped with a gun, and two achievements for killing enemies with taunts: OMGWTFBBQ and Show Trial [5].
Of the many achievements in World of Warcraft, a few are Testing Achievements. These include I Found One! for looting a brightly colored egg during the Noblegarden seasonal event, Represent for equipping any tabard, Shave and a Haircut for visiting a barber and getting cosmetic changes to one's avatar, and Dual Talent Specialization for testing the game's functionality of offering a different gaming experience with the same character[6].
Using the pattern
One of the easiest ways of providing Handicap Achievements in a game is to have Difficulty Settings and provide a separate Goal Achievement for each setting.
In general, Handicap Achievements can be created through considering Optional or Enforced Goals in a game and then adding some required limitation on how the player can behave. The Left 4 Dead Series does this in Akimbo Assassin and Confederacy of Crunches through restricting which weapons can be used in Combat, while Torchlight does it in Perfect Victory through requiring that the player's character never dies.
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narrative Aspects
Consequences
As a type of Achievement, Handicap Achievements can form a kind of Reward and be used to create Meta Games. Given that Handicap Achievements are based on goals they are a type of Goal Achievements but they are arguable more of an Optional Goal than other types of Achievements since it is always possible to complete the underlying goal without requirements of the Handicap Achievements. Like Goal Achievements in general, Handicap Achievements can support Game-Induced Player Social Status by letting players show of Game Mastery. By doing so they can also provide a Value of Effort, which is somewhat paradoxical since the extra effort required is completely voluntary.
Although similar in names, Handicap Achievements are not directly related to Handicaps since the latter relates to providing Player Balance rather than providing additional challenges for individual players.
Relations
Can Instantiate
with ...
Can Modulate
Can Be Instantiated By
Can Be Modulated By
Possible Closure Effects
Potentially Conflicting With
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
- ↑ List of Fallout:New Vegas achievements in the Steam Achievements system and percentages of gamers receiving them.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 List of Torchlight achievements in the Steam Achievements system and percentages of gamers receiving them.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 List of Left 4 Dead 2 achievements in the Steam Achievements system and percentages of gamers receiving them.
- ↑ List of Left 4 Dead achievements in the Steam Achievements system and percentages of gamers receiving them.
- ↑ List of Team Fortress 2 achievements in the Steam Achievements system and percentages of gamers receiving them.
- ↑ Main page on WoWWiki for achievements.
