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Sony bribes you with trophies so that you'll play Playstation 3 games
Although it's slightly tardy, Sony's new virtual trophy system for the Playstation 3 is here. Trophies should have been part of last week's 2.40 firmware upgrade, which was also known as the "oops, never mind!" upgrade (it was quickly pulled after messing up some people's PS3s). This week Sony followed up with the 2.41 upgrade, also known as the twoferone. And along with marginally useless features like being able to voice chat from the main menu, trophies are finally in effect.
Your profile has a new section that lists trophy-enabled games, with a complete list of possible trophies and how you earn them inside each game's folder. Instead of giving you points, like the Xbox 360's gamerscore, the trophies are arranged by difficulty, from bronze to platinum. There seems to be some sort of leveling scheme associated with the number of trophies you get, similar to earning experience points in an RPG. You can check your friends' profiles to see how much better they are at any given game than you. An entirely new system of bragging rights is in place. Now get in there and show us what you're made of!
Oh, wait a second. There aren't really any games that support trophies at this point. Sony has a list of upcoming first-party titles that will support trophies. There are also a few downloadable games with trophies (I had to buy one of these to see how the whole trophy thing worked). But it's unclear which already released games and which third-party games will get trophies. Sony PR manager Al de Leon told me that Criterion's Burnout: Paradise will add them in a patch. He said they'll be part of the Playstation 3 version of 2K Games' BioShock when it comes out this October.
Playstation Network director of operations Eric Lempel told Gamespy that Naughty Dog's Uncharted: Drake's Fortune will add trophy support in a patch. Lempel pointed out that it'll take additional work for third-party developers to retroactively adapt their games. The unspoken corollary to this is that additional work usually requires additional money, which Sony isn't offering. Or, as Lempel put it, "it's not something that we're trying to force on them, since it eats into their development schedules". I like how "not forcing" is a different way of saying "not paying". Nevertheless, Lempel blithely predicts that every single PS3 game will get trophies.
By Scott at 10:26 AM ON 07/09/08
The photo is great. :)
By treggs at 8:37 AM ON 07/10/08
"I like how "not forcing" is a different way of saying "not paying"."
And why would they pay them to add trophy's Sony provides them a platform for them to create and sell games to make money why would it be beneficial for Sony to pay developers to add trophy's, do you want Sony to put all profits into making the PS3 a success so when it comes to the next gen Sony haven't got enough funds to challenge Microsoft and the XBOX wins by default?
Maybe you should think about things first idiot
By Auryn at 11:48 AM ON 07/10/08
To Treggs:
The writer of this article is already biased against the PS3. Maybe they are irritated that its taking so long for Sony to make trophy's, and I understand that. But its not as if Trophy's actually do anything in-game, so I don't think its anything to be irritated over.
And "Bribes" people to play PS3 games? Really?
By Bagheart at 5:47 PM ON 07/10/08
May it please be noted that Tom never said "I think Sony should pay companies to add trophies to their games." He deciphered the PR lingo, big deal. Regardless of whether or not there is bias against the PS3 here, it came off more as a realistic view of the gaming industry. If you want a company to do something to an already finished product, you're going to have to pay them.
By Bagheart at 5:48 PM ON 07/10/08
May it please be noted that Tom never said "I think Sony should pay companies to add trophies to their games." He deciphered the PR lingo, big deal. Regardless of whether or not there is bias against the PS3 here, it came off more as a realistic view of the gaming industry. If you want a company to do something to an already finished product, you're going to have to pay them.
By Tom Chick at 5:58 PM ON 07/10/08
Yeah, what Bagheart said. Twice!
Firstly, the "bribes" comment is tongue in cheek. But for many of us who are hooked on the 360's achievements, the trophies are an exciting development, and weirdly enough, an incentive to play PS3 games.
Secondly, I'm not at all biased against Sony. I love my PS3, and there are a lot of Sony games I absolutely adore. But there's no denying that Sony does a lot of, well, "non-smart" things and deserves to be called on them. Many of us in the gaming media will do the same for other publishers, developers, and platforms.
Finally, Lempel clearly understands that game developers aren't going to support trophies if there's no incentive for them to do so. He knows Sony can't "force" a third-party to do anything, so that's a strange choice of word in what looked like a carefully considered email exchange with Gamespy. What Sony -- or any other publisher -- does is *pay* companies to do things. That's just the nature of the business relationship. So unless third-parties think they're going to get something out of the deal (improved sales? player good will? a little somethin'-somethin' from Sony?), don't expect to see them retroactively adding trophies.
By Treggs at 9:24 AM ON 10/08/08
well it doesn't matter how he worded it he thinks they should pay, and to me its obvious they should not, anyway all the first games to support trophies will have accelerated sales because of it this should be incentive enough for them to add trophies
By Evil_pineapple at 6:06 PM ON 01/27/09
I believe that the Ps3 & the xbox 360 are virtually the same (trophies & achievements) , except the Ps3 has more to offer and expand on, the fact that i am posting this comment on my Ps3 internet browser. The problem is though sony as stated previously they take the 'do it later' approach to their console, but if they buckle down they can be major compation to microst.
Evil_pineapple :
I believe that the Ps3 & the xbox 360 are virtually the same (trophies & achievements) , except the Ps3 has more t...More »