August 23rd, 2010

Nintendo 3DS design not final; no achievements system

16 Comments

What should I start with? The fact that the above video confirms that the Nintendo 3DS design is *not* final or the fact that we’re not going to be getting a built-in achievements system with the 3DS?

Now, the video is in German, and there isn’t a complete translation of it but, as GoNintendo reports those two little tidbits were confirmed by a Nintendo representative.

It’s nice to hear the design isn’t final (perhaps left-handed gamers can still hold onto to hope for a second analog stick?) but the lack of an achievement system is still worrying. Could that point to, once again, a lacklustre online experience? Or are Nintendo simply shunning a few conventions to make way for their own unique take on online gaming?

  • K

    I hope this doesn’t come across as a stupid question, but what is an achievement system?

    • Bassmaster

      Acheivments are preset goals in a game and you get gamerpoints(at least for the 360) if you reach these goals for example if you beat the story in a game you get like 100 gamerpoints. Hope I was clear enough hearing this news is a little bit saddening but it’s not to big of a deal for me.

    • Matt

      if you have ever played the X360 it has achievement that you can complete which makes the game much funner

    • Tom Phoenix

      Achievements are essentially optional game objectives. While you do get some sort of icon (a badge, trophy, medal or something similar) for completing them, they exist for their own sake for the most part. However, developer and some players like them beacuse they prolong the gameplay and add an additional layer of challenge to the game. Basically, they are objectives for people who like pursuing 100% completion.

      But while they are a relatively simple way for a developer to add extra padding to the game, like anything else, they require significant time and effort to implement. So in order to make it easier to implement, the hardware manufacturer can create a platform-wide achievement system which establishes a standard on how achievements are integrated. As a result, the developer has a much simpler time implementing achievements, since all they have to do is tie their game to this platform-wide system rather than having to build one from the ground up. Plus, since this system applies to all games on a specific platform, it makes it easier to show off their achievements with others online. Essentially, this is how services like Steam and Xbox Live deal with achievements.

      I hope that helped clarify things a bit.

  • Hardcore_Sadism

    Who freaking cares about achievements? If you have fun with a game achievements should not matter.

    • http://www.3dsconnect.com/ Kyle

      Well, achievements do offer a lot of replayability. I’m not too downed about it either, but it would have been a nice inclusion.

  • Foxshot

    I believe that is the final design because IGN did a interview with the Nintendo 3DS developer (forgot his name) and ask him if this was the final design and he spoke “Ha Ha, I believe you can take this as the final design”.

    • 2Devon202

      haha your right!

    • http://www.3dsconnect.com/ Kyle

      He might have been talking about the basic layout. You know, two screens, sandwich, stuff like that. I think there will be a few tweaks before it’s done at least.

  • Deekay

    Personally, I hate achievements for many, many reasons. I’m glad they won’t be on the 3DS.

    • http://www.3dsconnect.com/ Kyle

      Can you give a reason? Because I personally love achievements. Sure they may be useless except for the occasional unlockable here and there, but it is a lot of fun to challenge yourself to try to get them all. I think they offer a lot of replayability in games!

  • Foobrew

    @Foxshot – That same guy said that Revolution was the Wii’s final name too.

  • Roy

    If achievements are nesecary for a certain game, then just put them on the cartridge.

  • SOMERANDOMTRAINER

    Eh… I would take the whole “no achievements” comment with a grain of salt; it’s sorta hard to tell who knows what they’re talking about and who don’t with all kinds of conflicting information going around.

    Perhaps they just mean they won’t have a conventional achievement system. Personally, I’d like to see each game have an achievement “grid,” like in Kirby Air Ride or Super Smash Bros Brawl. I found both of those systems compelling and did really add replay value.

    Even if there are no achievements, I wouldn’t care. Miyamoto has already discussed the fact that he dislikes achievements, so I don’t think this means there won’t be a good online service.

  • http://www.feld0.com Feld0

    German? I speak it fluently. I could translate the vid if you want me to, though I doubt we’ll find out anything new. I’m hoping they’ll add a second inner camera with that “non-final” statement. And honestly, I’m not too sad about the lack of achievements.

  • Snowyday

    Come on Nintendo we want a achievement system.