Last week marked the first Cub Scout meeting of the school year for my children. I was never a scout. I never got to experience working toward merit badges, belt loops and patches.
Instead, my badges and milestones were in the form of completed video games. I still have multiple Nintendo Game Boy cartridges from my childhood of games fully completed. But I can”t wear or display my gaming achievements like my children can with their patches and belt loops, at least in the same capacity.
Sony”s Playstation, Microsoft”s Xbox and a lot of games on Steam have started using achievements and reward systems to extend playtime.
However, this concept is nothing new and is a common method of engagement in countless activities. Cub and Boy Scouts are prime examples, as is the grading system used at schools or the use of stickers on homework.
Alcoholic”s Anonymous implements the concept with its sobriety coin system.
Humans, by nature, are competitive and proud, which contribute to our desire to display our accomplishments. Just as some Boy Scouts aim to get as many merit badges as possible or a student aims to be valedictorian with a 4.0 grade point average, numerous gamers become “achievement hunters” for the sole purpose of bragging rights.
There are many people who dislike achievements being built into games, because many of them are simply rewarding the player for playing the game. The player doesn”t have to do anything special, just go from point A to point B, from point B to point C and so on.
But it is the rewards for alternative missions or play styles that improves games. Countless games have been able to extend their playtime two-fold because of people aiming to obtain all its achievements. It is a way for the consumer to get more bang for their buck, which should be celebrated when considering the cost of newer games range from $40 to $60.
This approach can be applied to a greater extent throughout numerous aspects of life. Imagine the pride and motivation a poor performing student would feel if the rewards for participating in class or turning in homework were tangible. The same can be said for the work-world, like employee of the month but extended to number of customers helped, or orders placed.
Accomplishments don”t need to be competitive in nature, they can be a physical status of progression or goals achieved.
As the adage goes: life is a game, so play it.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
