Half-Glass Gaming [Episode 32] : Shoot the Dumb Bear
The gang returns from a breakfast adventure at Denny’s, remembering fondly the Denny’s Atari Remix app that delivered food-themed versions of Atari 2600 games to our smartphones (yes, that’s a real thing). We also share a newly discovered PlayStation Vita game that is perfect for bathroom visits.
After the break, we break down the Trophies and Achievements craze. We don’t just touch on modern consoles, though; we go way back to Atari’s patch program from the 1980s (a thing Josh totally missed out on as a kid). From there, we explore the origins of Microsoft’s Achievement system and ponder the question: Do Trophies/Achievements enhance video games? Mandi and Josh are Trophy addicts, while Julian is beginning to warm up to them. The Reverend, however, is pretty neutral on the whole concept.
We’ve got Trophy/Achievement stories galore, from secret rooms in Portal 2 to the “gamification” of just about everything you can think of. Things take a strange, uncomfortable turn as we wander into Minecraft porn and upskirt camera angles in Lollipop Chainsaw, but we get back on course with the Retro Achievements emulator, which is a cool discovery indeed.
So put on some headphones and start racking up that gamer score, folks!
Here is a full list of games mentioned in this episode:
- Denny’s Atari Remix
- Asteroids/Hashteroids
- Centipede/Centipup
- M. C. Kids
- Sneak King
- Men’s Room Mayhem
- Long Live the Queen
- A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
- A Boy and His Blob
- Metroid
- E-Motion
- Pokémon (series)
- Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- LEGO City Undercover
- Call of Duty Black Ops 3
- The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
- God of War
- Skylanders (series)
- Fallout (series)
- Minecraft
- Call of Duty (series)
- Hannah Montana: The Movie
- The Last of Us
- Transformers: Devastation
- Darkest Dungeon
- Dark Cloud 2
- Valkyria Chronicles
- Valkyria Chronicles Remastered
- Shadow of the Colossus HD
- Portal 2
- Final Fantasy VII
- Cocoron
- Lollipop Chainsaw
- Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
- Aelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland
- Jurassic Park: The Game (2011 Telltale game)
- LEGO The Lord of the Rings
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Catherine
Retrovolve Staff
At Retrovolve, we love discussing, studying, and playing retro games, though not necessarily in that order.
Interesting episode! This isn’t a topic I have knowledge about, however, I enjoyed hearing your insight. I’m tempted to try out that retro achievements emulator but I strongly prefer to play games on their original consoles when I can.
I had that “play games on their original console” thing for a while. I agree that it feels a bit better. But I’ve sort of made peace with the fact that, unless I want to start dropping a lot of money on consoles and cartridges, the best I’m going to get is a USB controller that’s shaped like the right controller 😛
– The Reverend
I want some more consistency when it comes to Trophies and Achievements. I remember beating TLOU on PS3 and only having 3% of the trophies and thinking “wtf?” Sony and Microsoft should have some extra guidelines, no?
I agree, sometimes there is a huge imbalance to games that don’t offer them for level completions or even random things that are perhaps apparent, like using each weapon to kill a certain number of enemies. I personally think they shouldn’t link platinum trophies to single and multi player. I don’t often venture into multiplayer in more singel player driven games and as a result I am punished by it.
I agree, sometimes there is a huge imbalance to games that don’t offer them for level completions or even random things that are perhaps apparent, like using each weapon to kill a certain number of enemies. I personally think they shouldn’t link platinum trophies to single and multi player. I don’t often venture into multiplayer in more singel player driven games and as a result I am punished by it.
Glad I’m not the only one that plays games in the bathroom. Usually I just play Geometry Wars on my phone.
I used to manage my Fallout Shelter, now I just peruse retro mags.. Maybe that was TMI..
I used to manage my Fallout Shelter, now I just peruse retro mags.. Maybe that was TMI..
ROFL! I don’t keep magazines in my bathroom or I’d do that too.
I like joke trophies when you don’t know they’re coming. Like the first two trophies in the Deadpool game.
Yeah, joke trophies can be a nice little surprise. i typically do not look at the trophies list when I start a game, so they all have that element to them.
Yeah, joke trophies can be a nice little surprise. i typically do not look at the trophies list when I start a game, so they all have that element to them.
I think achievements might be better then trophies because its more like old school games with “highest scores”.
That’s a good point, and a really great way of looking at them. It is a little easier of a short hand to look and say oh, she has such and such and such score as opposed to; oh he has this many bronze, this many silver..
That’s a good point, and a really great way of looking at them. It is a little easier of a short hand to look and say oh, she has such and such and such score as opposed to; oh he has this many bronze, this many silver..
I think achievements might be better then trophies because its more like old school games with “highest scores”.