How Xbox Live Achievements work

This post is for eggheads only -- we won't be talking about how to get Xbox Live achievements, or how the system of earning Gamerscore actually works. Nope, the latest Xbox Engineering blog post gets down and dirty with the actual software and hardware behind the Xbox Live Achievements system, and not only how your Xbox actually learns from whatever game you're playing that you just earned some points, but how you friends get to know it as well.

Turns out the sound we most connect with the whole system (that "Achievement Unlocked" beep) was an afterthought -- originally, Microsoft's team wasn't planning on having any notification of point scoring at all. The idea of achievements has evolved over time as well -- they did start out with the 5-50 and 1000 Gamerscore requirements, but since launch, devs have better learned how to use Achievements and how to customize them. Apparently there's a whole bunch of code and science behind the whole thing. Go figure! We always thought it was unicorn magic of some kind.

Reader Comments (33)

Even though i despise GFWL, i actually love the sound of an achievement being obtained.

it's.. i don't know, rewarding.

Bpop

@BrianH

GWFL? As in Games for Windows - Live? Thats a horrible service, at least for me.

I got Halo 2 on vista on release, ever since I've had issues.

At first it was an issue even connecting to the damn thing, and now its an issue STAYING connected.

Tried everything and I just gave up. Horrible, horrible experience.

@Faenix

GFWL* Fail on my part. >.>

@Faenix I've not had an issue with it really. I was surprised they assumed gamers would pay for a live sub without an 360.

It's nothing compared to Steam IMO. Was xbox encroaching on PC gamers really, although I own both, I know what needs to be where.

@sortius

You dont? how do you manage that?

I want to finish Halo 2 on PC already, but restarting on the last save cause the server and me got 'out of sync' is so annoying. Took me twice the hours to beat the first two levels. :/

@Faenix

I've also never had a problem with Game for Windows Live. Its weird that I've actually had more problems with Steam than for Games for Windows Live.

@TaintedKane

Damn, must just be me. Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and steam gives me no issues connecting - yet GFWL gives tons. FML x.x

@Faenix

The issues i have with GFWL is reinstalling the games or service.

the updates are poorly done, and some games won't allow for saves transfer.

Like Arkham Asylum, i had a 99% save file (well, i still do, on my other hard drive), and when i transferred it to my new hard drive, it was corrupted.

i was disgusted to find that's actually a "feature"

@BrianH The reason you like the ding is thanks to Pavlovian conditioning. Microsoft has us all trained to trigger an endorphin release whenever we hear it.

@BrianH

I think I'm one in a handful of people who hasn't had a single problem with Games for WIndows Live.

@Faceless Troll

Eh, not really.

The sound comes after the achievement, and for the most part, since achievements are random (at least for me, i don't go looking for them, i get em as i play), you cannot become conditioned to the sound, since first of all, the sound comes randomly, so you can't associate it to any one event.

The sound also always comes after, not before, so the sound doesn't cause you to react to anything (it cannot be a conditioned stimulus if it doesn't help you predict an outcome, it really isn't a stimulus for anything).

It is simply a nice sound.

@BrianH

The sound is also used for other events, like a friend coming online, so again, your brain won't associate it to any one thing in particular.

@BrianH Am I the only one who turned off that damned sound? It got old when you'd hear it during a cut-scene or something.

Next time please use a different sound for *a friend is online*.

Or make that can be turned off separately.

@ybfelix
The most frustrating thing ever and often results in cursing at said gamertag.

@ybfelix

What, i love that feature. It's hilarious when you're watching a video and like someone in the video punches someone. Then you can say to your friends "ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! Punched someone."

For those that don't really care, although it is a good read, if you right-click the link at the end of the Engineering Blog post and save as, you can have the achievement noise. I'm going to make mine my text message tone.

@YimYimYimi

Now my instant messenger play this sound when my girlfriend signs on, and it's my text message sound on my phone.

Awesome.

@YimYimYimi
Cool, but I like Portal sounds better. "Are you still there?"

I have to say, hearing the achievement sound is almost as rewarding as hearing the level up sound in World of Warcraft! It is so addicting!

@kadajett
What is "addicting"?

@Sally

When something is Addicting, it makes you really happy or fulfills a need and you want to do it over and over again. And over and over :P

Some sample code from the Gears of War source code.

if(enemies_killed >= 10,000) {
issueAchievement("Seriously...", 50);
}

Exactly this. GFWL is nothing compared to Steam.

@Omega2k3
Reported my own comment because there's still no delete button even with the new layout and the iPhone app added my comment to the wrong person. Nice going, Joystiq.

Learnt*

@AntiVillian

"Learnt is common in British English, learned in American English."

And an interesting forum post about the google results for the words:
http://www.englishforums.com/English/LearnedVsLearnt/bhnkq/post.htm

But, both are correct depending on where you're from.

i just wanted to say that i thought it was funny when i clicked on the link and got an ad for a sony tv

The World of WarCraft Achievement effect is better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtJR78xj68o&feature=related

:50.

@Drakkenfyre
Don't like to me like that.

@Drakkenfyre

Don't like to you like that? What?

An onscreen prompt and a slight beep compared to a flash panel, yellow swirls around your character, and a triumphant tone?

wow, This is really cool.

f**king achievements how do they work

..wait a minute

How Xbox Live Achievements work

Reader Comments (33)

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 4:06AM BrianH said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 5:13AM Faenix said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 5:13AM Faenix said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 5:29AM sortius said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 6:06AM Faenix said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 6:58AM TaintedKane said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 7:29AM Faenix said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 12:58PM BrianH said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 1:28PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 1:55PM Noodle Gunshot said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 6:13PM BrianH said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 6:15PM BrianH said

Posted: Jul 18th 2010 9:52PM wellsley said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 4:14AM ybfelix said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 4:46AM xJimmeh said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 1:27PM Tiptup300 said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 4:15AM YimYimYimi said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 6:55AM Mach2 said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 9:32AM Themoreyouknow said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 4:39AM kadajett said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 7:25AM Sally said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 11:51AM kadajett said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 5:05AM Swifty said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 9:55PM Omega2k3 said

Posted: Jul 18th 2010 1:19PM Omega2k3 said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 7:44AM AntiVillian said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 3:03PM sonicspike41 said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 9:05AM dnelson1025 said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 9:40AM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 1:24PM Chyld989 said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 8:29PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 12:51PM Shimmy said

Posted: Jul 17th 2010 1:27PM TRONdll said

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