5 Reasons Why Achievements Are Better Than Trophies

paulhunter | July 05, 2008 | Blog | Playstation 3 XBOX 360

This is a feature article (Part 1 of 2) from NextGen Player highlighting the advantages Xbox 360 Achievements have over Playstation Trophies. Next week, part 2 will examine the reasons why Trophies are better than Achievements.

With the launch of PS3 firmware update 2.40 on July 2, Sony has officially launched their own gamer reward system to compete with Microsoft's well entrenched Achievement system. Microsoft was the first the out of the gate, and has had two and a half years to refine and improve their product. With this experience under their belt, is Microsoft's Achievement offering better than their rival's Trophy system? Or has the extra time allowed Sony to develop a superior reward system?

In part 1 of our feature article, NextGen Player will examine the reasons why Achievements are better to Trophies. Next week, in part 2 we will examine the reasons why Trophies are better than Achievements.

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Comments

-1 thumbs!
ali3n | July 06, 2008

Most of those points simply make it sound like they're nit picking..
-1 thumbs!
Seeker X | July 06, 2008

The Trophies feature JUST CAME OUT! WOW, people...wow...
-2 thumbs!
Gamesta100 | July 06, 2008

1 means nothing to me because I don't own a 360.

3 is just pointless because obviously not all games have trophies for the same reason XBOX originals don't have achievements.

4 is reasonable except for the fact that trophies are brand new.

5 is the same as 4.
0 thumbs!
tallteen86 | July 06, 2008

It all makes sense, pretty much.

Sony made a boo-boo by releasing trophies well after the PS3 actually came out...

Unless they make it compulsory that future games have trophies, we'll only see sporadic support (mostly in the bigger retail games), I think....

Trophies are cooler though, and in the future, will be usable in Home (at the least as a display item, but some will apparently offer other features, such as wearable avatar clothing)....

TBH, I don't care much for achievements (I have a 360), but I might muster up some more interest with trophies, providing a lot of games I'll be getting support it....
-2 thumbs!
Ameer | July 06, 2008

1 is moot, as the system is new and you would expect scores and tallies to be low at this present stage (<week since="since" 2="2" was="was" and="and" can="can" be="be" built="built" in="in" 3="3" is="is" a="a" fair="fair" but="but" what="what" do="do" you="you" expect="expect" from="from" old="old" 4="4" reasonable="reasonable" claim="claim" to="to" fresh="fresh" i="i" see="see" any="any" real="real" form="form" of="of" integration="integration" happening="happening" because="because" this="this" walk="walk" before="before" it="it"></week>
- 0 thumbs!
  Fishlock | July 08, 2008
  
  I think you need to get some fresh air.
  - 0 thumbs!
    Ameer | July 08, 2008
    
    It's a glitch that's happened when I used the expression '<'week, which converted my comment into some weird html tag.
0 thumbs!
Bandito | July 06, 2008

that's a blower.
didn't it just come out???
3 thumbs!
pWheelie | July 06, 2008

One reason why they both suck: They don't mean a goddamn thing.
- 0 thumbs!
  Fishlock | July 09, 2008
  
  Said it like a true gamer, pWheelie
0 thumbs!
BANDITO ATTACK | July 06, 2008

if you're going to rip off one of your competitors 'thing's, you might as well do it better. i think they probably will. the same way m$ jacked the Miis from nintendo.

however xbl is so much bigger, and used much more than psn. whats the point of having 16,729 trophies if there aren't too many people that'll see them? :{
- 0 thumbs!
  Supernouva | July 06, 2008
  
  Yeah, as if. If Sony's gonna do something like that "better" they should have started on it earlier. Xbox 360 has ALWAYS had achievements from the day it was released, you think the PS3 is just gonna come in and steal its thunder, I severely doubt that.
0 thumbs!
Final Blade | July 06, 2008

_{Pretty much true to be honest. Regardless of whether trophies are new or not is besides the point. How Sony is utilizing the trophies and them not being retroactive pretty much ruins the point of the whole thing. Criterion is the only one who knows how to do things with the system and Sony just either doesn't care or don't know what there doing.}
-1 thumbs!
Bandito | July 06, 2008

there a waste of time and uslees don't stress
0 thumbs!
Tiger of Wu | July 06, 2008

*sigh*

So their main reasons boil down to "There are more 360 achievements."

Bravo guys, bravo -_-
-1 thumbs!
RabidChinaGirl | July 07, 2008

I thought most people who own a PS3 really only use it for Blu-ray (don't quote me on that, just something I hear often). If this were the case, Sony may just not have any incentive to work on the Trophy system -- though they do have a habit of half-assing everything now. Like people have said, the Achievement system is just older and better established, with a greater fan base for feedback and support.

On another note, there appears to be a growing trend of people posting their own editorials from obscure sites on GG.

Now, back to my vacation.
- -2 thumbs!
  Gamesta100 | July 07, 2008
  
  I haven't once used my PS3 for Blu-ray.
- -1 thumbs!
  Seeker X | July 07, 2008
  
  quote
  I thought most people who own a PS3 really only use it for Blu-ray
  Which makes one wonder WHERE one hears such things anymore.
  
  That being said, this whole thing is is about as insightful as a fanboy rant. I mean, it's not exactly an enigma which one is better right now. And even if they actually come up with reasons as to why the Trophies are better it's still a very shallow article.
  - 0 thumbs!
    kik36 | July 07, 2008
    
    I've watched one blu-ray on my PS3 and decided I will not be jumping the DVD ship anytime soon.
    - 0 thumbs!
      Seeker X | July 08, 2008
      
      Congrats, when I get a HDTV I'm sure i'll follow suit then.
-1 thumbs!
Silver Mirror | July 07, 2008

Wow Trophies have been out a few days and already there being attacked? It reminds me of Blu ray, as soon as it wins the format war analysts and sites everywhere rant that its going to fail.
0 thumbs!
anatomyofme | July 07, 2008

I use my ps3 bru ray as much as possible. Its only 17cents more to rent a movie on blu ray then dvd, so why not spend 17cents for a better picture?? Can we calm down about trophies please, it hasnt even been out for 2 weeks and already there's haters...
- 0 thumbs!
  Final Blade | July 09, 2008
  
  _{Sony aren't utilizing the trophy system to its potential and thats why there haters. Besides the fact Achievements have been out longer its going to be better.}
1 thumbs!
Gamesta100 | July 09, 2008

Wow I can't believe I got thumbed down for saying I've never used the PS3 for Blu-ray's.What's the point in me using Blu-Ray when I have an SDTV?

Seriously people need to grow up.
- 1 thumbs!
  RabidChinaGirl | July 14, 2008
  
  If you haven't already noticed, much of the GG community suffers from a physical impairment that causes them to compulsively thumb people down without sound reasoning.