Are Trophies Crucial For PlayStation 3?

Trophies are nice to have. They're shiny, they sit on a wall, and they inform all visitors that at one time, you did something pretty darn special. This is why many gamers really took to the Achievement system on the Xbox 360, and why those same gamers love the idea of Trophies on the PlayStation 3. But how important are they to the ultimate success of the machine?

One article that is getting a lot of attention thanks to a N4G listing is No Trophies = No Buy? over at the PlayThree blog. Now, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but as you can plainly see here, Trophies can - and are - awfully important to certain players out there. But the real question is, could this feature be a deal-maker or deal-breaker for would-be consumers? Is it really that crucial? In attempting to sell the PS3, should retailers include Trophy support as they run down the salesman checklist (Blu-Ray, more reliable than 360, can play HD movies out of the box, free Network, etc.)? Will a customer's ears perk right up the minute they hear the PS3 now has a similar system to the 360's Achievements? All of these are very interesting questions, but regardless of the answers, it behooves Sony to deliver as many title with Trophy support as humanly possible. Even if it doesn't factor into a purchase decision, it's still a nice addition, yes?

So, what does the reader think? Are Trophies super important to you? Are you disappointed when you bring home a PS3 game, only to find it doesn't support Trophies? If the PS3 and 360 versions of a game are identical, but the 360 version boasts Achievements and the PS3 version doesn't include Trophies, will you instantly purchase the 360 version? Hmm...

9/15/2008 Ben Dutka

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Comments (49 posts)

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kj313
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 11:16:52 AM
Reply

I don't think its that drastic Ben. But I will say that's kind of odd. That something so similar, but yet its only on one console. I can say the same for the in game music player. Y isn't games compatiable with that feature? Keep in mind these are minor flaws or bonuses not featured on the ps3. I think though, why isn't sony really pressured to bring these features. Maybe their not getting dyer consumer feedback on those features?? Idk just speculating.

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LegioN
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 11:18:48 AM
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To be honest, i really don't care all that much about trophies. Never have, never will.

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Zapix
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 11:28:48 AM
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I see trophies as an incentive, especially with PSN games. It's possible that if The Last Guy had trophies I would have gotten it. If it had custom soundtracks, I might have gotten it. Trophies for me give me a reason to push at a game beyond playing for sheer fun. Adds replay value imo.

Think of it like offering a wild animal food. An animal can get food on it's own (ie, there's plenty of games out there) but if you put something out for the animal it will want (trophies, custom soundtracks, etc), it will gladly take the offering (we buy something because we've been tempted!)

It's not the main reason to buy a game, but it's definately something worth noting. With HOME coming and the display of trophies, that will only push that point.

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Matt78
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 11:29:18 AM
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I think trophies should have to be implemented into the game just like achievements points for all xbox 360 games. Trophies do add to a game and really allows you to get your moneys worth out of them. I mean they do not necessarily make the game any better but I like to see my accomplishments and the date I completed them just as a record if nothing else to be forever on my ps3 for all my friends to see.

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djjake
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 11:48:56 AM
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i think if xbox gets achievements in the game, why haven't they added it to the ps3 version, yeh its early days but it can't be the hardest thing in the world to quickly program

for me i would like to see most games having trophies

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Tim Speed24
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 11:51:14 AM
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Trophies don't make or break a good game. But Trophies do make me want to play a game far more than the story mode. Take COD4, I was done with the main story and had fun online....this is where most games would get stale.

But the rewards system (like Trophies) kept me playing to unlock more and more (same with RSV2)...theres always another "carrot" to chase after.

I've played Uncharted 20 hours more than I would normally play a game like this just to unlock the trophies.

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zerostar39
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:05:41 PM
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they are unimportant to me. I never understood what all the excitement was about.

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Thinker
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:08:59 PM
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While I don't care whether a game has trophies or not, I do understand that for other gamers, it might be an attraction - for whatever reasons: bragging rights, sense of achievements, etc.

For that reason, I would say that anything that appears to enhance PS3 games' replay value is worth it.

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tanner1
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:10:35 PM
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Trophies make u go back 4 more

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pavlovic
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:12:35 PM
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Trophies, achievements... for me, not important at all.

For example, the PAIN trophies, you have to spend your life playing the game, with some many games out there I prefer playing more games than getting trophies for one or two.

There are some dumb trophies or achievements, to name a few in Warhawk you receive a trophy for being killed 5 times in a round by ground mines, a price for being bad at a game? In GH3 you got an achiviement for playing a song without sound...

When you play for fun I really don't see the point of getting those trophies. I know people that buys games just for the trophies. I buy them just for the fun.

But certanly trophies and achiviements don't hurt anyone and many people enjoy getting them. So bring them in every game.

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JPBooch
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 4:38:31 PM

Not really true, I played PAIN off and on Sunday and Unlocked all of them except for two. I probably have put about 10 to 15 hours total playing time into it. The only trophies I dont have are trill and ninja pwn (king of pain is unlocked as soon as I get trill) Anyone is more than welcome to add me on their PSN to check my time stamps. PSN docbooch

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The_Benny
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:13:39 PM
Reply

It's been interesting seeing the responses since they were brought in. Obviously there was some vocal criticism of the achievements system when only the 360 had it, which has changed to this whole "no trophies = no sale" attitude in some corners, or at least people being genuinely disappointed when games or expansions don't include trophy support.

Now of course everybody is doing it: Steam, Blizzard, Microsoft and Sony all have them, EA look like going the same route with PC titles (and console ones if they can get their EA accounts into it somehow) and I imagine other publishers are looking into it. It's a shame they aren't all integrated with one another, of course, but that's hardly unexpected. A big incentive for the publishers is that it potentially encourages gamers to prioritise a game that boosts their score with that specific publisher, almost like a loyalty scheme that doesn't actually give out real rewards.

From the gamer's side of things, when well implemented they can definitely add something to games. When you've finished a game you really enjoyed and want reasons to keep playing they can provide little goals to play in ways or do certain things that you otherwise would not have done, or reasons to go back to a game months after completing it. You can get big chunks of replayability from something that's fairly simple for the developer to implement, which is great.

It has lead to some less welcome outcomes though. Online achievements in particular have given rise to team matches on the 360 where some players completely ignore the game itself so they can chase achievements, avoiding any kills that don't specifically help them work towards one.

It definitely looks like something that's here to stay though, to the point that it's going to become odd when games don't specifically include some form of achievements/trophies.

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Daedusian
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:19:25 PM
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I really like having trophies, they make me explore a game even further with them. For example, PAIN just released some trophies, so now I have a bigger incentive to play the game. I enjoyed the game b4 but always got bored rather quickly. But now that there's trophies, I'll enjoy the game more. So overall I think they are pretty important. Not so much "super important," but important nonetheless.

To me even the in-game trophies are fun to acheive, if that relates at all to this...

Last edited by Daedusian on 9/15/2008 12:21:18 PM

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snglbck26
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:26:28 PM

Daedusian - I agree 100%.

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snglbck26
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:21:40 PM
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I never gave trophies much thought when I first heard about them. As I earn them playing Warhawk, for example, I find myself saying "I did that....that's pretty cool". That being said I don't play the game looking for trophies but play because it's fun. If they come up great if not that's fine too.

I definitely don't make a decision to purchase a game because it either has or doesn't have trophy support. I do find it adds to a better overall gaming experience as I earn them.

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tlpn99
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:22:04 PM
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I don't really care for trophies, Once I have completed a game I replay it for the only fact that I enjoyed playing it not to get a trophy that was missed the first time round.

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tramp
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 12:51:24 PM
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i see games as investment,i have spair time and it mostly go's into games or sports.....so i see trophies as a way of making my investment go that bit longer.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 1:44:02 PM
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Trophies don't get me goin, but I can see why people like them. I might have put more time into those monster hunts in FFXII if I got a trophy for each one that i could stick up on a shelf at my future HOME pad. Of course I get the feeling that as I browse other people's trophies I'll be able to see just who has no life. The bragging rights could backfire too, who wants to play online with someone who clearly plays the game like a cheap spammer? I'm just thinkin out loud, trophies are pretty new and 3rd party developers probably couldnt care less at this point, but as people migrate over to the trophy lovers side I bet this will change.

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Riku994
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 2:00:49 PM
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None of the games i own support trophies and i really dont mind that much, but I do look forward to them being in future titles *coughGHworldtourcough*

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LinkJr
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 2:01:31 PM
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Since the first to market set the standard for the current generation people expect all next gen consoles to be equal. I think the UI for the 360 has some great aspects and the ps3 is catching up now. They will eventually all be the same give or take. I don't really care about trophies, but enough people do and said so that Sony heard them and made the change. Enough people like the Wii UI so that M$ is getting a similar overhaul.

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Geobaldi
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 2:02:46 PM
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Personally I could care less on the trophy issue. Just because a game doesn't have them isn't going to make me skip over it. Or make me more likely to play it if it does. I know what I've accomplished in any given game and really don't need a trophy to remind me of it. And if people don't believe that I've done what I've said I've done, I'll gladly have them sit and watch me do it. Bragging rights are more fun when you've done the specific deed in front of people lol. In all trophies are a non issue for me

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Zaben
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 3:06:24 PM
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Doesn't influence my buying decision at all but they do add to the replay value and would cause me to play the story mode as if it wasn't just a tutorial on how to play online.

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bluejello
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 3:51:53 PM
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As a recovering 360 achievement-whore, I am very excited and interested in PS3 trophies. Sometimes it gives you a challenge to shoot for other than just playing till the end of the level or game. Super Stardust HD had me saving my bombs to get the trophies for that. And it made the game more challenging and exciting when they unlocked. Also they give you something to talk about with friends. "hey how'd you get ______ trophy?" and it becomes another point for us gamers to talk about and get competitive about.
Now is it the most important aspect of the game? No definately not. Do I think every game should have trophy support? Absolutely. Every 360 game does. But I would take more DLC or exclusive content or titles over trophies any day.
By the way, totally off topic but wouldn't it be awesome if Sony bought the rights to the Ghostbusters game and made it a PS3 exclusive? Sony pictures owns the rights to the movie... that would piss off a bunch of xboxaholics.

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Shellshock92
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 4:18:53 PM
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I HATE the fact (Almost)everyone feels trophies are a GREAT thing for PS3,I feel(MY OPINION)that this leads to Trophy WHORES,my brother is one of those people,WarHawk has this feature,while it is nice to say"Hey I got Porcupine,NICE",but when you get to the point where we compete to hard for trophies it gets annoying.2 people in one room named"Trophyit UP!!"I am upset we stoop to that level,earn it for real,and PLEASE don't talk SH*T about your Level,I DON'T GIVE A FLYING F**K!!!!

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Reccaman18
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 6:44:36 PM

You can calm down a little bit there. Its not really anything to get steamed about. So what if people like trophies? I think they are fine. Gives me something new and challenging to do. I'd be fine w/o them, too.

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JPBooch
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 4:53:16 PM
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I am admittedly one of those people shellshock talks about, but thankfully don't talk crap about my level. I think my trophy addiction won't last very long though. I do love the fact that my favorite anticipated games has them and being able to play through them and get all the stuff out of them is cool. I have been doing that for years with the games I love, Metroid Prime - had to unlock the photos, James Bond - had to get all the platinums. If there is a way to spam it, I'll probably cave in and do it.
Of note, I really was looking forward to Force Unleashed until I found out it doesnt have trophies. I wont buy it now, maybe a rent. So chaulk me up in the column Ben was talking. This was an article about wether you buy a game for them or not by the way.

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Advent Child
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 6:19:12 PM
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Actually I would prefer if we didn't have trophies

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Nasty80
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 6:30:30 PM
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If every game had trophies, then i would care

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aaronisbla
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 7:11:49 PM
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I think most if not all DLC games that are playable online should have trophies. It adds some value to the game and will help you sell more.

Disk based games i could care less about trophy support

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I_defenestrate
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 7:41:08 PM
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I like the idea of achievements and trophies. They have been a deciding factor in which version of a game I will buy when a cross-console game comes out. I go 360 simply for the reason it has achievements versus no trophies. It's not because I'm a 360 fanboy, it's because I feel like I get more out of my games with that incentive to play it more or differently. I would buy Force Unleashed for the PS3 if it had trophies.

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knobby585
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 9:23:21 PM
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alright, this has nothing to do with trophies, but, i'm a huge fan of PS3(obviously) but i'm buying a 360 so i can play HALO3, FABLE2, and GOW2. The only problem is, i need a Badass Live name... I was thinking PSXtreme, or, PS3-FTW(For The Win), or PS3-Rep... any got any ideas? wut about u ben...?

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Tatsujin
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 9:33:34 PM
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Lol, Don't be such a fanboy over the XBL (Like Xbox fanboys are to us) Just, pick out the same name you got for your PS3 or something..

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knobby585
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 8:58:13 PM

well, when we first got an Xbox original, my and my bro thought up the name knobs34, which is what my PSN name is too, and when my brother got a 360, he used knobs34 again and so i can't use my PSN ID. that is why i need a new one. I'm getting my 360 tomorrow(wed.) and i need a name... damn

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xnonsuchx
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 9:33:40 PM
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Personally, I couldn't care much less about trophies/achievements/whatever, so it doesn't affect what games (or system(s)) I buy. I guess it's important to l33t-types who feel a need to brag, but I think they're a minority...just usually a very (whiney) vocal one.

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LightShow
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 9:56:15 PM
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I would be a lot more excited if after all this time after announcing trophies more than 5ish actually had them. It kinda defeats the purpose of having an achievement-esqe feature if so little games actually featured it

from the majority of what i hear from my 360-owning friends, achievements are nice, but few actually farm them for gamerpoints. i have a feeling Trophies will have a similar effect.

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Jed
Monday, September 15, 2008 @ 11:44:27 PM
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Trophies are a cool thing to have. I like to show off how good I do at a game. I will also play a game a little longer to get more trophies. But they have no influence oner weather or not I buy a game.
Seriousley, If you look at a game and trophies are the reason you do or dont buy it, is it that good of a game??

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Gabriel013
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 1:25:13 AM
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I used to think they were not important but now I'm on my second playthrough of Mass Effect (Just hours after finishing my first 55 hour playthrough.) to unlock the Biotic achievements and when I'm done I'll play through again for some others. If this game didn't have achievements it may have been weeks or months before I went back for another play through.

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Alienange
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 6:20:34 AM
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God of War 3 will sell like hot cakes whether it supports trophies or not. A good game is a good game and I buy good games. Now if GoW3 came out with a trophies version and non trophies version... I'd get the trophies version, even if it cost $5 more.

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karneli lll
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 6:57:13 AM
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trophies are like the bonus features in a dvd or blu ray,adding to the value of the game.

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GamerKid123
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 9:41:41 AM
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TBH i think having Trophies will give byers another potentail reason to buy the game, so yes, i think it is important.

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Maz
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 2:39:00 PM
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i really like trophies i got bout 6 7 on buzz quiz tv and id really like to see trophies for gh3 but trophies had 2 b brung in to compete wiv achievments

Maz

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shaydey77
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 2:43:43 PM
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trophies are important.Its like anything in life..you have a goal to get to youll keep trying and trying..well thast how i felt with the crash tour in the burnout series...kept going till i got gold in all the crashes..i can see this as something similar.

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bamf
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 @ 5:30:04 PM
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In the PS3's first year, for me I would and did buy the 360 versions of multi-platform games. This was due to the 360 version being a better version when it came down to things like - graphics, loading times etc. Also I could add to my gamerscore when unlocking acheivements. The acheivements did encourage me more to play the game after I've played through once, or to explore more in the game.

It wasn't until the PS3 versions had better ports and PS3 versions would be identical visually and would play the same, that I started getting the PS3 versions of the games. The factors for this is that 1. The game is identical. 2. Playstation Network is free, even though I don't play much. 3. Blu-ray discs don't scratch, keeping a higher trade value over the skating ring of a dvd surface. And with trophy support thats a 4th reason.
I much prefere collecting trophies than just getting a score, and leveling up is way better than a gamerscore on 360.

I've been playing trough Uncharted allot when usually I play through once and then place back on the shelve never to be played again. Now I'm after the Platinum trophy and all I need is to complete the game on Crushing mode an it'll be mine.

Last edited by bamf on 9/16/2008 5:31:20 PM

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vampko
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 @ 4:36:25 PM
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I'm disappointed when a game doesn't add them, mainly because it seems pointless to not implement them. Developers should feel obligated to implement trophies. If it's being done to all the 360 version's of games, why can't they do it to the PS3 versions too? On a side note, the one feature that gets the most neglect, that REALLY needs to be used, "Custom Soundtracks", is something that always bothers me greatly when it's not optional.

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NetheRealm
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 @ 4:52:53 PM
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I couldn't care less about do-nothing trophies BFD. Custom Soundtracks is however Extremely important to me because I'd much rather listen to my favorite downloaded music than anything I've ever heard preprogrammed in a game.

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cegmp
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 @ 9:38:41 PM
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If it is there then I'll use it, if not then i wouldn't care much. But i do see why some people would consider this a must. It pushes me to complete pixel junk eden just to unlock the trophies! However, it definitely is not an incentive for me!

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tizzle
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 @ 9:41:49 PM
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i rlly dont think people wont bye a ps3 bcuz it dosnt have trophies and music in all games but because it is expensive ya the music would be really nice but trophies jus show wat u did in the past

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PaiNT_kinG
Thursday, September 18, 2008 @ 12:23:58 AM
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what is them trophies stuff,i haven't seen a game that support it since that update came out for trophy support,wtf????

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CptGreedle
Thursday, September 18, 2008 @ 3:21:22 PM
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Heck, I don't have a 360, and I never knew about the Achievements feature at all. I found out about it when the announced the PS3 would add Trophies.
I like Trophies, and it adds a lot to the game play for some games, but it is not a selling point for me. Plus, not enough games support it yet.
What, 3 games so far? Either way, ALL the game should have some kind of trophy system, or at least most of them.
So, it is nice, but not a console seller to me.

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