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VGH #15: Very Menu Heavy

VGH #15: Very Menu Heavy

Ding! Achievement unlocked! In this week’s show, we discuss the allure of trophies and achievements in video games. Feedback is read, “retractments” are issued, and the Last Call offers some sage advice for managing your backlogs.

iTunes

If you are so inclined, follow the links above and post your reviews of the show on iTunes and the Zune Marketplace. It’d be super nice of you to recommend us to your fellow game-loving friends, as well. Remember, we love our fans, but we’ll love you even MORE if you spread the word.

Episode Timeline:
Intro & Listener Feedback: 1:07
Hangover: 9:45
Achievements and Trophies: 29:45
Last Call: 68:48
Outro: 75:45
???: ???

This Week’s Music:
“Vector Sum” and “Tangent to Your Curve” by Brother Android (Bandcamp page)

Links:
VGHangover on Youtube – Catch clips from past episodes and listen to embarassing outtakes!
The Humble Indie Bundle – Support indie developers and gaming related charities!
Aisha Tyler’s Girl on Guy Podcast – Full of lulz. Remember it is “.net” NOT “.com”.

7 Comments

  1. StrandedBrit
    StrandedBrit July 29, 2011

    I would like to retract a statement I made in the previous episode ….. apparently my spokesperson missed the typo as I meant to say ‘the other casual 98% of the gamer population’.

    Randy congrats on that platinum!!!!!

    I’d be interested to hear freakys view on trophies 😀

    Personally I’m for them and I’m right down the middle in implementation. I do think that (especially in sp games) there should be some ‘level’ trophies as I think it’s a neat way of tracking progress especially friends’ progress in games. I do also like those trophies where it is more like challenges/different things.

    Also, thanks for the tip DJ, I think Motorstorm Apocalypse is getting kicked to the curb. There really isn’t any desire to go in that game other than saying I completed it. Adieu.

  2. Erik Kubik
    Erik Kubik August 1, 2011

    Oh trophies, I’ve never gotten a platinum I’m pretty close in MW2. I just need to go back and get the intel. They add something to the game but if you can’t get it on 1-2 playthroughs, then I usually forget about the trophies.

    I guess I sort of don’t care.

  3. Ellie Snow
    Ellie Snow August 2, 2011

    Another awesome ep!
    I agree with Erik. They definitely add something to the game. And I think they are important to certain types of games. I have friends who will comb through games repeatedly till they get every single one…. yippie for them. Whenever I get a trophy I feel that ping of satisfaction but once I finish a game I’m sorta over it, tho I might go back to it for lazy fun and end up with accidental trophies.
    Also, Thanks for the mention! ^_^

    • Randy Dickinson
      Randy Dickinson August 2, 2011

      Hey, Ellie!

      Thank you so much for listening to the show and for giving us your feedback! We’re really grateful to hear that people are discovering the show, enjoying it, and interacting with us. Keep in touch!

  4. freakyzeeky
    freakyzeeky August 4, 2011

    Another great show you guys! 🙂
    About trophies, all I have to really say about them is that I really enjoy collecting them. I don’t really know why that is, but it might have to do with my OCD in collecting things. Once I start collecting things, I can’t seem to start for a long time. When I was a kid, I’ve collected the entire Goosebumps collection of books, entire sets of Pokémon cards, and tons of pogs… remember pogs? 😆
    I dunno, I just really like collecting them. It’s a fun… silly hobby, and one that I enjoy doing. Like Randy, I like that feeling of accomplishment whenever I do get those platinum trophies, even coming from really bad, easy to play games. 🙂
    I do agree with Paul in that sometimes trophies and achievements tend to dictate how to approach and play a game, which is why I try to never look at the trophy list when I play the game the first time. There are hidden trophies, yes, but I tend to not to find out what they are until I finish that first playthrough to avoid potential spoilers.
    Trophy leveling is also a fun (if passive) meta-game, and because of my competitive nature, I tend to keep that level high. 😎

  5. Paul Sandhu
    Paul Sandhu August 6, 2011

    Wowow lots of comments on this show!

    I guess trophies really do resonate with people. Thanks for the support folks!

  6. Courtney
    Courtney January 5, 2012

    I like trophies! I’ll make sure we log in to my account if we ever play a 2 player game on split screen. Also, I think this is the episode that made me start playing monster hunter again.

Comments are closed.