dtgreene: (For purposes of this topic, let's assume that there is a way to view achievements in-game, and the achievements aren't reliant on any service or client.)

Imagine if a game had an achievement, one that is not a secret achievement, whose title is a clue to a puzzle. Perhaps imagine if the achievement name even had a password you had to enter at a certain point in the game, either for an easter egg or to progress further in the game.

Now, further imagine that checking the achievement list is clearly the intended solution to the puzzle, and that a player who doesn't do this would likely not be able to continue.

How would you feel if a game actually did this?

Hickory: So, an achievement that prevents continuing. Coming from somebody who has absolutely no interest or time for achievements, that would be like DRM via another name.

rjbuffchix: I would still feel it is immersion-breaking. It would actually give the achievement an in-game purpose, unlike what I see as the typical use of achievements, but simultaneously disrupts the game, like what I see as the typical use of achievements. How about instead putting a character or item in the gameworld, which would accomplish the same purpose you mentioned? For example, how about if the player finds a book in the game, whose title is a clue to a puzzle.

AB2012: Achievements already feel "tacked on" enough without needing to feel even more artificial & immersion breaking. "Congratulations you killed 100 monsters / read 20 books / walked 1,000 steps" are already there now precisely because developers feel forced to stuff them in without being able to think of anything creative of why they're there in the first place beyond a strange need for some to have every trivial action applauded & "recognized" by peers viewing their profiles.

dtgreene: (For purposes of this topic, let's assume that there is a way to view achievements in-game, and the achievements aren't reliant on any service or client.)

Imagine if a game had an achievement, one that is not a secret achievement, whose title is a clue to a puzzle. Perhaps imagine if the achievement name even had a password you had to enter at a certain point in the game, either for an easter egg or to progress further in the game.

Now, further imagine that checking the achievement list is clearly the intended solution to the puzzle, and that a player who doesn't do this would likely not be able to continue.

How would you feel if a game actually did this?

rjbuffchix: I would still feel it is immersion-breaking. It would actually give the achievement an in-game purpose, unlike what I see as the typical use of achievements, but simultaneously disrupts the game, like what I see as the typical use of achievements. How about instead putting a character or item in the gameworld, which would accomplish the same purpose you mentioned? For example, how about if the player finds a book in the game, whose title is a clue to a puzzle.