Virtual Earning Power
Curious blog entry title perhaps, but it is my theory of where the new PlayStation Trophy system is going and where Xbox Achievements need to go.
I think Achievements were a brilliant idea. They entice gamers to play games longer, to play games differently and, until now, may have enticed those with both a PS3 and an Xbox 360 to take the 360 version of multi-platform releases.
Thing is, pioneers aren't guaranteed success. There are numerous cases where the pioneer opened the door only to have a more refined version from a later contender to win over the customers. In fact, Microsoft has won many battles using this exact tactic.
And so here we are with Sony introducing the Trophy system. In essence it is the same thing as Achievements BUT there is an additional novel idea in there. Users have a level. The more they earn trophies the more they level. The harder the trophy the more the trophy contributes to the next level. That just might be enough to sway a multi-platform choice.
But I highly doubt Sony is going to let the leveling stop there. Sony has stated they want Home to be more gamer focused. Like a massively multi-player game I fully expect that a user's level will carry weight in Home. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if it granted users certain benefits. Maybe users get more emotes at lower levels, increasing to clothes, furniture and maybe even bigger houses or access to exclusive 'clubs'. This is on top of how game makers can have the trophies appear/react in Home.
The idea of giving away virtual goods is brilliant since the goods are inexpensive to create but will garner an amazing amount of loyalty from Sony's customers as people become more attached to things that are seemingly more tangible than a number. Home becomes the embodiment of a gamer's success.
This is good for Sony and good for those developing for Sony's platforms. When Sony first released details of Home I wasn't terribly interested, but with their increasingly gamer focused features I could see myself being much more interested.
While the idea of leveling by playing a lot of different games is hardcore focused, the hardcore are influencers. I do think Microsoft needs to react in some capacity. One benefit Microsoft has is that 360 games have always required Achievements. Not only can Microsoft use the nearly 3 years of data to see what users achieved, but if they do turn Gamerscore into some greater meaning, a lot of people gain the benefit instantly.
I don't think this is where Sony is going with Trophies. I think it is a great Idea and I hope I am wrong and you are right because then as gamers we would gain more then just trophies. Unfortunatly I don't think Sony would do this because they want to make as much $$$ as possible through HOME. Perhaps we could end up with some special items but I think you may have thought this through a bit better then even Sony has.
... so said 'Wolf26pack' on 07/06/2008 @ 01:16:58 PM [Direct Link]
But still, PSN is FREE of charge and Live isn't. Sony is entitled to give us something that we must pay for. And after all, HOME is partially free of charge. No one is forcing you to pay for bonuses.
... so said 'Filip' on 07/06/2008 @ 04:11:58 PM [Direct Link]
Actually that would offer more incentive. I see no reason to earn Trophies for showing off. I prefer Skill Points like in Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction. They earn you bonus material such as skins, cinematics, etc. Perhaps not fantastic stuff (best bonuses go to Jak III, imho), but it's _tangible_ incentive that's beyond making your e-dick grow.
... so said 'Shmup' on 07/06/2008 @ 06:04:23 PM [Direct Link]
Hey guys. I generally think this is inevitable. Perhaps if timing gets tight for releasing Home that it won't make the first cut but that level needs to mean something more in my opinion. Otherwise it is more or less a direct copy of Achievements.
Remember, Sony will be making advertising dollars within Home, just like Microsoft does from the Xbox 360 dashboard. So incenting folks into Home helps lure advertisers.
... so said 'Joseph Molnar' on 07/06/2008 @ 07:29:36 PM [Direct Link]
Well maybe so, but its not planned or being talked about heavily yet, maybe later down the line but not atm..
Plus, they have said they will have no virtual 'currency,' for Home parallel to real money.
In other words, you wont be able to get X item via X currency, and also get that item via real money.
At this point its just wishful thinking IMO.
... so said 'Sentry' on 07/08/2008 @ 04:24:27 AM [Direct Link]
Well, right now, I think this type of games happens on a more potential level like the creations of flash games. And more so happens on social media sites for they are free and many to choose from.
... so said 'Luke Alexander' on 11/11/2009 @ 12:13:12 PM [Direct Link]