Remember When Games Were Simple... [Words]

It's party game night, so I decide to load up "You Don't Know Jack" into my 360. I plug in the sensor bar from the "Scene It" series of games I already own on 360, and then turn on one regular controller to sign my profile in for easier dashboard navigation. I then proceed to sign in other "dummy" profiles such as Player 1 or Player 2 using the "big button" controllers and distribute them to my friends.  The game is loaded up and the splash screens start displaying and then it happens...

Another update!? Call of Duty Black Ops!?

Xbox 360 restarts, all profiles are signed out, the process starts over and the comments from the peanut gallery begin. Yeah, I could have hit 'Cancel' and went on my merry way, but then I wouldn't of been able to earn achievements! (bolded for importance). ACHIEVEMENTS, I TELL YOU! Alright, so I don't particularly care about achievements, but I do like game patches, especially the bug fixing ones. Besides, my wife actually does like achievements, so it's ideal to stay online; that way, it properly registers the unlock date and such.  There's nothing wrong with liking the "cheevos", really, because a lot of people really do. And however arbitrary you personally believe achievements or trophies or accomplishments (<.<) to be, I'm sorry to say, they are here to stay. I mean, who doesn't like a little pat on the back for the things that they do, especially when it's doing the things they love.

You love reading this blog post, right!? *High Five!*

Now, i'm a far sight from being considered an "achievement whore", but I'll admittedly go out of my way here and there to unlock one for shits and giggles, because sometimes they make you do some interesting things such as: play the game in a different way, challenge you to do a portion of the game better, or they simply act as a guide to hidden secrets or some potentially unfortunate spoilers.  Maybe achievements themselves don't get your jollies off, but I'm sure you find value out of something similar. Maybe you feel accomplished by your overall playtime, a high score or leaderboards ranking, or hell even just beating the game once, or perhaps multiple times... but, I digress.

An achievement system is just adding another layer of complexity to games, which is the point I'm trying to make. They're becoming less simple. Which, could be argued against, by the fact that a lot of modern games are actually becoming "simplified" and user interfaces are becoming more streamlined. The barrier to entry for playing videogames is far less daunting when they are available everywhere you look, which is why there are so many people playing them this day and age. Those arguments are irrefutable, but remember how it used to be! Please note, that I'm specifically referring to consoles. You insert the cartridge, press the power button, and then press start to begin playing. Simple.

Okay, sometimes you had to blow on that shit, but still... simple! And fun!

Achievements, DLC, matchmaking, social features, micro-transactions, DLC, in-game advertising, auto-patching, etc, are all just additional layers of complexity to the videogames we play today. Games aren't complex for the end-user solely... the game developers have to put a lot more into getting a game released. There is a lot more that goes into getting a game certified for release on next-gen consoles than most gamers even realize. Between making sure achievements are properly integrated and unlock appropriately, to making sure console specific features properly function under hundreds of unique conditions during gameplay. Having been part of a QA team that shipped a game for Xbox 360, I've seen the certification requirements manual and it is intense. Making games is hard work, especially when we expect so much out of them now.

Don't get me wrong. There are some modern-day features I love having in my games and if done right, I greatly appreciate the value they add. In this fast-paced digital world though, sometimes you just long for something a bit more simple, if even only for a moment.