Gearbox: Easy Achievements Means Extra Sales - NintendoPals.net Nintendo Friend Codes Forum

Smashsoul1992 · 10-10-2009, 07:52 AM

Speaking to OXM in the UK, Gearbox head honcho, Randy Pitchford, stated that easy achievements can increase a triple-A game's sales by up to 40,000.

Pitchford stated, "the achievement hunter, who's going to make purchase decisions around the achievements per minute ratio - he's probably buying ten to twenty titles a year, or at least playing that many." He continued, "he's playing a lot. So he's a very frequent customer, and you want to be in that pile. That's just business."

"The time it takes is minimal, because you're designing achievements anyway, and you can probably affect your sales by something like 10 and 40 thousand units. If you're talking about a triple-A game selling between 1 and 2.5 million units. You're talking tens of thousands of units of impact there."

"Unfortunately most people in the industry don't think through it that much. You have designers designing achievements, and they're the worst," said Pitchford, something that I think we all can agree with.

It's no surprise to find Pitchford talking about achievements with such a passion after he expressed his love for them when we interview him last year.

It's interesting to see him using the terminology "achievements per minute" though, as the quicker the list, the more likely it is to encourage a rental. However, that being said, Gearbox aren't really known for easy achievement lists, so maybe he's talking about finding that right balance. Maybe he means... make them attainable, like the Borderlands list seems, but not impossible.

Either way, the more achievement talk in the industry means the more people will take it seriously. I mean, it's only been just under 4 years...

Exactly!

Source

I read this article in my latest issue of OXM and I couldn't agree with what is being said any more. So what do you guys think, do games with easy achievements boost their sales slightly?

Splodey · 10-10-2009, 09:54 AM

Definitely. The only reason anybody buys games like Avatar or King Kong anymore (granted King Kong was fun when it first came out) are because they have easy ass achievements. Sad but true :P

Goten · 10-10-2009, 10:05 AM

*shrugs* Ugh Avatar

I agree though, people do buy games for achievements.

LiquidSnake · 10-10-2009, 10:40 AM

Well they don't really BUY them unless they hit the $20 mark. Everyone rented Terminator Salvation for the quick achievements. NOTE: RENTED.

Sales-wise I doubt it works like that. I wouldn't pay $60 for a game just for easy achievements.

Splodey · 10-10-2009, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by LiquidSnake

Well they don't really BUY them unless they hit the $20 mark. Everyone rented Terminator Salvation for the quick achievements. NOTE: RENTED.

Sales-wise I doubt it works like that. I wouldn't pay $60 for a game just for easy achievements.

The article isn't saying that consumers buy games just for easy achievements, it's just saying that having easy achievements might make games more welcoming. Therefore creating more sales.

Misterpwnage · 10-10-2009, 04:58 PM

Yes, the sales are boosted slightly.

Quote from my friend "Imma get Avatar, because it has MAD EASY achievements. Only reason to get it"

frnk_du · 10-13-2009, 08:12 PM

It may bring up your gamescore, but I buy games for the gameplay, graphics, playability,...etc.

Stuff like that.

Granted, I also want a high gamerscore. But I would rather do that over time with good games I buy.

Gearbox: Easy Achievements Means Extra Sales
10-10-2009, 07:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Smashsoul1992 Time Lord United Kingdom Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 647 Total Awards: 8 Friend Codes	Speaking to OXM in the UK, Gearbox head honcho, Randy Pitchford, stated that easy achievements can increase a triple-A game's sales by up to 40,000. Pitchford stated, "the achievement hunter, who's going to make purchase decisions around the achievements per minute ratio - he's probably buying ten to twenty titles a year, or at least playing that many." He continued, "he's playing a lot. So he's a very frequent customer, and you want to be in that pile. That's just business." "The time it takes is minimal, because you're designing achievements anyway, and you can probably affect your sales by something like 10 and 40 thousand units. If you're talking about a triple-A game selling between 1 and 2.5 million units. You're talking tens of thousands of units of impact there." "Unfortunately most people in the industry don't think through it that much. You have designers designing achievements, and they're the worst," said Pitchford, something that I think we all can agree with. It's no surprise to find Pitchford talking about achievements with such a passion after he expressed his love for them when we interview him last year. It's interesting to see him using the terminology "achievements per minute" though, as the quicker the list, the more likely it is to encourage a rental. However, that being said, Gearbox aren't really known for easy achievement lists, so maybe he's talking about finding that right balance. Maybe he means... make them attainable, like the Borderlands list seems, but not impossible. Either way, the more achievement talk in the industry means the more people will take it seriously. I mean, it's only been just under 4 years... Exactly! Source I read this article in my latest issue of OXM and I couldn't agree with what is being said any more. So what do you guys think, do games with easy achievements boost their sales slightly?


10-10-2009, 09:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Splodey New Xbox :D Inver Grove, Minnesota Join Date: May 2008 Location: Inver Grove, Minnesota Posts: 1,232 Total Awards: 13 Friend Codes	Definitely. The only reason anybody buys games like Avatar or King Kong anymore (granted King Kong was fun when it first came out) are because they have easy ass achievements. Sad but true :P __________________ [Current Halo 3 Service Record] CoD MW2 K/D Ratio: 2.49


10-10-2009, 10:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Goten Buu's gonna eat you up! Norfolk, VA Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 1,704 Total Awards: 21 Friend Codes	shrugs Ugh Avatar I agree though, people do buy games for achievements. __________________ Thanks Zwei for the sig and avvie!


10-10-2009, 10:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
LiquidSnake Big Boo King Texas Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 749 Total Awards: 3 Friend Codes	Well they don't really BUY them unless they hit the $20 mark. Everyone rented Terminator Salvation for the quick achievements. NOTE: RENTED. Sales-wise I doubt it works like that. I wouldn't pay $60 for a game just for easy achievements. __________________


10-10-2009, 04:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Misterpwnage Gigas NY Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NY Posts: 1,454 Total Awards: 5 Friend Codes	Yes, the sales are boosted slightly. Quote from my friend "Imma get Avatar, because it has MAD EASY achievements. Only reason to get it" __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhLxnlNcxv8&NR=1 You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"


10-13-2009, 08:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
frnk_du Piranha Plant Anywhere I want!, CA Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Anywhere I want!, CA Posts: 84 Total Awards: 1 Friend Codes	It may bring up your gamescore, but I buy games for the gameplay, graphics, playability,...etc. Stuff like that. Granted, I also want a high gamerscore. But I would rather do that over time with good games I buy. __________________