Featured Gamer: Drakkenstrike
03.23.06
Currently sitting in the third leaderboard slot with over 23,000 points, Drakkenstrike knows how to get achievements. While he might not agree completly with the way the achievement system currently works, you cannot deny his skill or abilities. An all around friendly guy, we give you... Drakkenstrike.
Why don't we start by finding out a little about yourself:
I’m a 31 year old with a Bachelor’s Degree from DePauw University and a Master’s in Finance. I work in Corporate America as a Financial Operations Manager. I have been married for 5 years but have no children as of yet, although we plan to start within a years time. I have been gaming since I was about 6, and have been heavily influenced by games such as Pools of Radiance, Might and Magic and other great gold box titles of the early 80’s. I am an avid gamer in all aspects of the word, including all current consoles, handhelds, and most especially PC gaming. My passion lies in RTS’s, Strategy, RPG’s and PC FPS’s. I am also a huge WWII historian and collector and plan to tour Normandy, Bastogne, and the Eagle’s Nest in Summer 2007.
What is your gaming setup like?
I currently play on a 50” Samsung Plasma, and I will post my pics shortly on the forums. I have posted my PC Setup on the forums as well, located here: Drakkenstrike's Setup (Editor: Gah, we're jealous!)
What do you feel is the hardest achievement out there that you've gotten?
Honestly, none. A huge majority of the achievements can be unlocked with time and patience. It’s unfortunate that Microsoft does not do a better job of dictating the means by which these achievements are truly handled. For instance, there are some truly difficult achievements to perform (i.e. several of the old school arcade games), yet there are others that can be glitched or performed with a second controller that in no way represent skill or ability. It’s a shame that a game such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, which is remarkable, can be manipulated so that people like ST the King can get points by turning a difficulty slider down and achieve acts within the game at Lv 4 that are further along than I have obtained at Lv 12. Is it the fault of the player or the developer? I tend to lay blame on the developer for these issues, as well as Microsoft for their policing policies on it. I believe achievements should all be ridiculously hard across the board, let me explain.
I would love to see a day when developers cater achievements to only the hardcore of their genre. For instance, say a Final Fantasy game were to come out, I would challenge the developer by only unlocking achievements for specific “hardcore” acts within the game. Story progression is NOT an achievement, but getting 9999/9999 hit points for all your characters is definitely an achievement. Or, collecting all the Summons and ultimate weapons for each character. Those are achievements that only hardcore players in the RPG genre will take part in. Likewise, I believe The Outfit has the Multiplayer achievements correct by NOT allowing you to invite friends in Quick Matches and forcing the player to earn these achievements somewhat fairly.
Oblivion really messed up these things, and I believe a huge portion of the gaming crowd will complete only what is necessary to gain those possible achievements and in turn miss out on one of the best RPG franchises in history by bypassing hundreds of other incredible quests, weapons, dungeons and Oblivion gates scattered across the landscape.
That you haven't gotten, but know is possible?
As I said, anything is possible to get (minus some of the Arcade titles), the real question is, do I have the patience to go back and get them. For most games, no, I just have way too many new titles across all the platforms coming out that are better than the games I have already played. I already put 56 hours into Ridge Racer 6, probably 40 of which I loathed, so another 20+ hours to get 10,000 miles and 100 points is not worth my time or my real life sanity. Same goes for quite a few others that I am dangling close to full completions.
Be honest; Do you get achievements for fun or bragging rights?
I have been down this road with another individual which created a large commotion regarding my original day one placement in the Recreation zone. I must say though, I play for fun, and anyone who knows me both personally and through Xbox Live can tell you the same. I never boast or bad mouth people for what they feel is right in a game, and I most certainly never trash talk to anyone while playing. My comments above about ST the King were not directed at him, but to the direction of which developers mishandle achievements, so I apologize if he takes it personally as it was not my intent. I grew up in a household that just didn’t allow such things. Therefore, most of my play time is strictly with friends or people whom I have grown a bit closer to via Xbox Live. Yes, I like achievements, I’m human and being rewarded for anything is always good for one’s morale. But I do not thrive or structure my Real Life around them. I’ve always said, having a high Gamer score did not get me through college, buy our automobiles or pay the mortgage on my house, and it is certainly not indicative that I am any better at anything than anyone else in any genre. It simply says that I love to play just about everything related to games and I more than likely devote more time and have more means by which to obtain games than others.
What achievement are you going after next?
I will get the Oblivion achievements in due time, but I must say, doing the Thieves Guild quests have been incredibly fun, and I suggest that path to everyone when starting off the game. Other than that, I plan on playing more Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter as well as all other upcoming titles as they are released.
What is your favorite game on the 360?
Interesting question. Currently, Oblivion, but I must say that Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is absolutely fabulous as well. Again, too bad the developers felt it necessary to allow players to unlock achievements by using codes to break the game. What a waste of possibly the two best franchises on the system currently.
Least favorite?
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland left a terrible taste in my mouth. It was atrociously ugly, had crap shoot controls and was just a pain to go through multiple times for all the gaps. I believe it was this game that made me realize the strengths and weaknesses of achievement points and how they affected my total persona.
Favorite multiplayer game?
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, most definitely. One shot kills, accurate hit models, and an extremely fun Co-op mode make this simply untouchable by any other game on the market right now. It also has some of the best eye candy on the system, so picking up the controller for one more game is never a chore.
What will people find you doing most often on your 360?
Gaming and talking to friends. As you can imagine, being a high rank creates a lot of friend invites/day. I would argue that I am probably one of the most accessible guys in the Top 25 since I accept every invite and try to help everyone that sends me messages. I haven’t been that good this week though as Oblivion is just too consuming to put down. I think most people here will tell you that I am very easy going individual, so you will never hear any harsh words from me.
Are you a hardcore Xbox guy or do you dabble in the dark arts (re: other consoles)?
I play everything under the sun for all current systems. I currently have about 25 games on preorder at Ebgames, with another 20 or so that I am awaiting SKU’s on to place a reserve. I am and always have been an avid PC gamer at hearth though, and regularly update my system about every 12 months. With the 360 out though, I have found less and less time to devote to my PC, but I was able to pull away for about 4 weeks to play SW: Empire at War, Civ IV, and LOTR: BFME II.
Do you have any strategies to share with us for any particular achievement?
Well, as long as developers continue to make glitchable and second controller achievements, I suggest you find a couple good friends on Live to work through some of the easier ones. I am not afraid to say that I committed some of these atrocious acts, and anyone in the Top 25 who states differently is out and out lying. Hopefully, either Microsoft or the Developers find fault in their current ways, or the PS3 does this correctly the second time out by enforcing their scoring system. Either way, develop a core group of buddies and work with them, pass ideas around, and enjoy the game first before you loose yourself in achievement points.
What 360 title are you looking forward to next?
Mass Effect looks awesome. It’s a Bioware game, and I must say these guys always have my dollar. From the almost flawless Baldur’s Gate series (PC – not consoles), Icewind Dale, and Torment, to the original Knight’s of the Old Republic, these guys have always made quality titles that have engrossed me from start to finish.
Closing comments?
Yes, as you can tell, I am not a huge fan of the Gamer score system as it currently stands. In all fairness, human law dictates that no one is good at everything. Gamer score does not represent that fundamental aspect of human nature at all. Instead, it shows that we as people will cheat, manipulate, glitch and lie our way up to the top of anything, and for what?....a place on a leader board that means nothing in the real world. And I am not alone, b/c as a community of mature gamers, we are all guilty here for doing some of these things above.
I would love nothing more than to see a system that imposes strict achievements, ones that force hours of legitimate play, expertise and dedication to unlock. Ask yourself, did you buy Oblivion for a 1000 points or because you wanted to get lost in a world unlike ours.
If you said the first, then you are truly lost, but if you said the second, then why would you care that the achievements fit the true scope of this or any other game? Does visiting EVERY dungeon to unlock 100 points make more sense than closing one gate in the main storyline? By not allowing one to change the difficulty level via a ridiculous slider to unlock achievements make the game any worse? Would enforcing a game lobby like The Outfit to not allow you to earn achievements via friend invites and forcing you to truly show skill make the Multiplayer any less fun for any other game? Do you really play only for achievements?
I don’t think so to any of the above, and as a true gamer, I would still play all these titles, but my Gamer score would truly reflect only those genres/titles that I truly had a passion and skill to achieve. More than likely, over time, we would finally see who the elite sports gamers, racers, shooters and rpg fanatics truly were.
Until then, we are stuck in a system that does not work in the way for which it was intended. Over time, more and more players will forget why they truly play games in the first place, and that is a shame.
Thanks for the great interview, Drakkenstrike!
Why don't we start by finding out a little about yourself:
I’m a 31 year old with a Bachelor’s Degree from DePauw University and a Master’s in Finance. I work in Corporate America as a Financial Operations Manager. I have been married for 5 years but have no children as of yet, although we plan to start within a years time. I have been gaming since I was about 6, and have been heavily influenced by games such as Pools of Radiance, Might and Magic and other great gold box titles of the early 80’s. I am an avid gamer in all aspects of the word, including all current consoles, handhelds, and most especially PC gaming. My passion lies in RTS’s, Strategy, RPG’s and PC FPS’s. I am also a huge WWII historian and collector and plan to tour Normandy, Bastogne, and the Eagle’s Nest in Summer 2007.
What is your gaming setup like?
I currently play on a 50” Samsung Plasma, and I will post my pics shortly on the forums. I have posted my PC Setup on the forums as well, located here: Drakkenstrike's Setup (Editor: Gah, we're jealous!)
What do you feel is the hardest achievement out there that you've gotten?
Honestly, none. A huge majority of the achievements can be unlocked with time and patience. It’s unfortunate that Microsoft does not do a better job of dictating the means by which these achievements are truly handled. For instance, there are some truly difficult achievements to perform (i.e. several of the old school arcade games), yet there are others that can be glitched or performed with a second controller that in no way represent skill or ability. It’s a shame that a game such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, which is remarkable, can be manipulated so that people like ST the King can get points by turning a difficulty slider down and achieve acts within the game at Lv 4 that are further along than I have obtained at Lv 12. Is it the fault of the player or the developer? I tend to lay blame on the developer for these issues, as well as Microsoft for their policing policies on it. I believe achievements should all be ridiculously hard across the board, let me explain.
I would love to see a day when developers cater achievements to only the hardcore of their genre. For instance, say a Final Fantasy game were to come out, I would challenge the developer by only unlocking achievements for specific “hardcore” acts within the game. Story progression is NOT an achievement, but getting 9999/9999 hit points for all your characters is definitely an achievement. Or, collecting all the Summons and ultimate weapons for each character. Those are achievements that only hardcore players in the RPG genre will take part in. Likewise, I believe The Outfit has the Multiplayer achievements correct by NOT allowing you to invite friends in Quick Matches and forcing the player to earn these achievements somewhat fairly.
Oblivion really messed up these things, and I believe a huge portion of the gaming crowd will complete only what is necessary to gain those possible achievements and in turn miss out on one of the best RPG franchises in history by bypassing hundreds of other incredible quests, weapons, dungeons and Oblivion gates scattered across the landscape.
That you haven't gotten, but know is possible?
As I said, anything is possible to get (minus some of the Arcade titles), the real question is, do I have the patience to go back and get them. For most games, no, I just have way too many new titles across all the platforms coming out that are better than the games I have already played. I already put 56 hours into Ridge Racer 6, probably 40 of which I loathed, so another 20+ hours to get 10,000 miles and 100 points is not worth my time or my real life sanity. Same goes for quite a few others that I am dangling close to full completions.
Be honest; Do you get achievements for fun or bragging rights?
I have been down this road with another individual which created a large commotion regarding my original day one placement in the Recreation zone. I must say though, I play for fun, and anyone who knows me both personally and through Xbox Live can tell you the same. I never boast or bad mouth people for what they feel is right in a game, and I most certainly never trash talk to anyone while playing. My comments above about ST the King were not directed at him, but to the direction of which developers mishandle achievements, so I apologize if he takes it personally as it was not my intent. I grew up in a household that just didn’t allow such things. Therefore, most of my play time is strictly with friends or people whom I have grown a bit closer to via Xbox Live. Yes, I like achievements, I’m human and being rewarded for anything is always good for one’s morale. But I do not thrive or structure my Real Life around them. I’ve always said, having a high Gamer score did not get me through college, buy our automobiles or pay the mortgage on my house, and it is certainly not indicative that I am any better at anything than anyone else in any genre. It simply says that I love to play just about everything related to games and I more than likely devote more time and have more means by which to obtain games than others.
What achievement are you going after next?
I will get the Oblivion achievements in due time, but I must say, doing the Thieves Guild quests have been incredibly fun, and I suggest that path to everyone when starting off the game. Other than that, I plan on playing more Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter as well as all other upcoming titles as they are released.
What is your favorite game on the 360?
Interesting question. Currently, Oblivion, but I must say that Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is absolutely fabulous as well. Again, too bad the developers felt it necessary to allow players to unlock achievements by using codes to break the game. What a waste of possibly the two best franchises on the system currently.
Least favorite?
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland left a terrible taste in my mouth. It was atrociously ugly, had crap shoot controls and was just a pain to go through multiple times for all the gaps. I believe it was this game that made me realize the strengths and weaknesses of achievement points and how they affected my total persona.
Favorite multiplayer game?
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, most definitely. One shot kills, accurate hit models, and an extremely fun Co-op mode make this simply untouchable by any other game on the market right now. It also has some of the best eye candy on the system, so picking up the controller for one more game is never a chore.
What will people find you doing most often on your 360?
Gaming and talking to friends. As you can imagine, being a high rank creates a lot of friend invites/day. I would argue that I am probably one of the most accessible guys in the Top 25 since I accept every invite and try to help everyone that sends me messages. I haven’t been that good this week though as Oblivion is just too consuming to put down. I think most people here will tell you that I am very easy going individual, so you will never hear any harsh words from me.
Are you a hardcore Xbox guy or do you dabble in the dark arts (re: other consoles)?
I play everything under the sun for all current systems. I currently have about 25 games on preorder at Ebgames, with another 20 or so that I am awaiting SKU’s on to place a reserve. I am and always have been an avid PC gamer at hearth though, and regularly update my system about every 12 months. With the 360 out though, I have found less and less time to devote to my PC, but I was able to pull away for about 4 weeks to play SW: Empire at War, Civ IV, and LOTR: BFME II.
Do you have any strategies to share with us for any particular achievement?
Well, as long as developers continue to make glitchable and second controller achievements, I suggest you find a couple good friends on Live to work through some of the easier ones. I am not afraid to say that I committed some of these atrocious acts, and anyone in the Top 25 who states differently is out and out lying. Hopefully, either Microsoft or the Developers find fault in their current ways, or the PS3 does this correctly the second time out by enforcing their scoring system. Either way, develop a core group of buddies and work with them, pass ideas around, and enjoy the game first before you loose yourself in achievement points.
What 360 title are you looking forward to next?
Mass Effect looks awesome. It’s a Bioware game, and I must say these guys always have my dollar. From the almost flawless Baldur’s Gate series (PC – not consoles), Icewind Dale, and Torment, to the original Knight’s of the Old Republic, these guys have always made quality titles that have engrossed me from start to finish.
Closing comments?
Yes, as you can tell, I am not a huge fan of the Gamer score system as it currently stands. In all fairness, human law dictates that no one is good at everything. Gamer score does not represent that fundamental aspect of human nature at all. Instead, it shows that we as people will cheat, manipulate, glitch and lie our way up to the top of anything, and for what?....a place on a leader board that means nothing in the real world. And I am not alone, b/c as a community of mature gamers, we are all guilty here for doing some of these things above.
I would love nothing more than to see a system that imposes strict achievements, ones that force hours of legitimate play, expertise and dedication to unlock. Ask yourself, did you buy Oblivion for a 1000 points or because you wanted to get lost in a world unlike ours.
If you said the first, then you are truly lost, but if you said the second, then why would you care that the achievements fit the true scope of this or any other game? Does visiting EVERY dungeon to unlock 100 points make more sense than closing one gate in the main storyline? By not allowing one to change the difficulty level via a ridiculous slider to unlock achievements make the game any worse? Would enforcing a game lobby like The Outfit to not allow you to earn achievements via friend invites and forcing you to truly show skill make the Multiplayer any less fun for any other game? Do you really play only for achievements?
I don’t think so to any of the above, and as a true gamer, I would still play all these titles, but my Gamer score would truly reflect only those genres/titles that I truly had a passion and skill to achieve. More than likely, over time, we would finally see who the elite sports gamers, racers, shooters and rpg fanatics truly were.
Until then, we are stuck in a system that does not work in the way for which it was intended. Over time, more and more players will forget why they truly play games in the first place, and that is a shame.
Thanks for the great interview, Drakkenstrike!
