Dec. 13th: Finally tracked down an Xbox 360. $400 and a single game later, I'm happy. While playing NHL 2K6, I earn my first "Achievement Point." Turns out by performing certain tasks in the game, I earn points for my Xbox 360 profile.
Dec. 14th: While the previous days experience was unique, I continue playing NHL 2K6 as I wait for some rented games to arrive. I earn two more of these "Achievements." Per my investigation into this matter, I discover these points do not serve a purpose. They simply show up when you view your profile. You can't do anything with them.
Dec. 15th: King Kong arrives from the rental place. After beating each level, I earn 100 points towards my profile. I immediately call a friend to boast. Then I learn the grim news:
"Dude, I have 3,560 points. I beat Perfect Dark SIX times, I've played for 74 hours, and I have 10,000 headshots online."
Damn it. I tried to lie my way out it by saying I had 3,561 points, but that didn't go over. He's a smart one, and I'm not a good liar. There's only one solution - find a new friend or buy more games.
Dec. 16th: I walk into a game store. I look around for a few minutes and kidnap a customer. After quieting him down (he was a screamer) and removing the garbage bag from his head, I show him my profile page proudly showcasing my 1,050 points. He responds:
"That's all? You kidnapped me to show me a measly 1,000 points? I've played Condemned for 135 hours. I have more than that just from the demo at the store. You suck"
So, there's my new goal. I need to get Condemned and steal the kiosk from the store on George's recommendation. I think his name was George. Could have been Earl. Then again, that's not the important thing here.
Dec. 17th: Got Condemned. I almost had the kiosk too, but my screwdriver wouldn't undo the bolts on the floor. It's hard to do that while avoiding the nightstick of a cop at the same time. Anyway, the hours upon hours of grisly violence have potentially turned me into a stark raving mad lunatic, but I've got points. Many, many points. I call up friend #1 (George/Earl's restraining order prevented me from calling him again) to compare sizes… err, scores. His was still bigger.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
This story has been chosen as an Editors' Pick of the Week. You now have the grave yet giddy honor of selecting a story for next week's best of column if you like (time frame 2/1 â€" 2/7). Simply leave the title, URL, and a brief description of why you dig it on this week's post (link above).
Congrats!!
2 - Victor Plenty
The addictive power of arbitrary point systems has been demonstrated time and time again. A few years back I tried to harness this power for the good of some friends of mine who were struggling to keep a small business afloat. One of the owners looked over the intricate system of intangible rewards I had designed to help him keep his customers hooked, then said to me (a direct quote here): "This isn't going to do anything."
Less than six months later, that business folded.
3 - Julian Cook
I also know your pain, it was just the other day that I fixed a problem at work only to be told "err what are Achievement points, it is not in your contract" I loved it
4 - Richard
I have just loaded this website and i realize that it may have taken a while, i mean it is only two years after your diary entrys but boy was it worth it! finally somebody who knows how i feel, take for example earlier, after my recent driving ban and my car being impounded, I decided to take the bus to work this morning, this didn't seem to impress the driver if though i got a 7 hit combo on him! (no achievements, i knew i should have gone for 8) the journey was particularly irritating as the bus doesn't seem to have any NOS. I worked without it I did pick up a 27 person killing spree and made it through the church on only two wheels. any ideas on why my achievements didn't unlock? I have a while before i can retry this, around 30 years or so i'm told, so any hints will prove very useful to me.
thanks
5 - brett1598
add me if u have call of duty 5