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Taiwanese man beats World of Warcraft

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 2nd 2009 at 3:30PM }

They said it couldn't be done. Well, to be fair, it can't -- however, if one were to track the completion of Blizzard's super successful World of Warcraft by the number of achievements a player had unlocked, then a Taiwanese player has effectively solved that game tape. A character named "Little Gray" on the Wrathbringer server has completed all 986 of the game's 'cheevos, killing 390,895 creatures and finishing 5,906 quests along the way.

However, this triumph of human resolve has been diminished by one small caveat: one upcoming winter holiday–tied achievement, titled "BB King," remains locked, but due to a glitched PvP achievement that apparently unlocked twice, his statistics say he's batting a thousand. With the game's Winter Veil festivities approaching, we expect Little Gray will unlock that last feat soon, at which point the credits will roll, and his account will be permanently erased. Or the server will explode. Definitely one of those two.

[Via CVG]

The best of WoW.com: November 24 - December 1, 2009

by Mike Schramm { Dec 2nd 2009 at 1:00AM }

Patch 3.3 is just around the corner in the World of Warcraft, and WoW.com is there as usual: we've got lots of information about what's coming in the new patch, including the new Icecrown raid instance, the cross-realm Dungeon Finder system, new loot and gear, lots of class updates and changes, and of course lots of new achievements and quests. Hit the break below to read ten of our most popular posts from the last week -- whether you're a new player or just coming back for the game's fifth anniversary, we've got something for you.

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Section 8 update fixes matchmaking, Achievements, more

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 24th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Timegate has released a title update for Section 8, which should fix several bugs in the game and tweak a few things. The main fixes include improved matchmaking, a fix for faulty Achievements and improved tank controls. AI bots will now also follow and defend human players, and the update also fixes latency problems and lost stats. There's a host of other smaller tweaks and changes as well, which you can read about on the Section 8 forums.

Likely not fixed by the patch, a precipitous drop in players since November 10.

Assassin's Creed 2 first Ubisoft title to incorporate 'Uplay' service

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 17th 2009 at 10:15PM }

With the launch of Assassin's Creed 2 today, Ubisoft has officially lifted the veil on its Achievement/Trophy-like "Uplay" program. First revealed at E3 (though minimally detailed), Ubisoft claims it to be an "online destination where gamers are at the center of a connected gaming universe," intended to link all Ubisoft titles across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Players can access the Uplay portal through the web or in-game, with AC2 being the first title to include the still-in-beta service.

Of the "four primary services" Uplay includes – titled "Win," "Help," "Share" and "shop" – only Uplay Win is currently available in the beta. Ubisoft explains Uplay Win as "[enabling] players to collect units based on their actions in the games and exchange them for rewards such as exclusive in-game content or digital items," the first of which are an Altaïr outfit and "access to the Auditore Family Crypt" (among other things). We've yet to fully plunge the depths of Uplay's offerings in Assassin's Creed 2, but if there's anything really exciting, we'll be sure to let you know all about it. Keep it locked!

Gallery: Ubisoft's Uplay

1 vs. 100 Achievements revealed, you'll need to be smarter

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 15th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Feeling a little miffed at your lack of compensation for playing 1 vs. 100? That is, unless you're one of the chosen ones, who, at some point during their lives, were anointed by unknown entity who deemed them worthy to appear in the big show. If you're not part of this esteemed group, you'll still be able to collect rewards for your playtime -- yes, we're talking about sweet 'Cheevos, the full list of which can be found after the jump.

Fortunately, there's no Achievement handed out for landing in The One's seat. That might push the community's more dedicated Achievement hunters to the brink of madness.

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How to unlock a one billion point Achievement

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 11th 2009 at 3:45PM }

As a congratulatory message to their Microsoft peers, the Interactive Entertainment branch recently sent the Windows team the banner you see above shortly after the latter launched Windows 7. It's a cute little example of how these two companies okay enough with the crap. We need this Achievement. Do you understand us, Microsoft? We need it. Knowing "the big one" is out there, but that it will be eternally inaccessible to us? Do you know what that would do to our psyche? It would end us, Microsoft.

We'll make you a deal -- we'll create our own Microsoft-branded operating system, and then you go ahead and pass one of those novelty-sized Achievements our way. How do you feel about "Doors XL?" No? How about "Glass-covered Portals 2010?" Or "Panes: Professional Edition?" Get back to us on this one, okay? We need it.

Madden NFL Arcade Achievements are funny, disturbing

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 4th 2009 at 7:15PM }

Everyone loves Achievements. That's a fact. As such, we really appreciate it when developers put some thought into their Achievements. While the 'cheevos for Madden NFL Arcade -- as unearthed by MGC -- are fairly standard in their execution, the names are all pretty amusing. We're particularly fond of "Like a Boss," likely named for the (incredibly NSFW) song of the same name. One that we're not so fond of is "2 Points 1 Win," making Madden NFL Arcade the second game to riff on an abhorrent internet meme that we refuse to explain (don't investigate if you value your sanity). Hit the source link for the full Achievement list.

Halo Waypoint live with Dashboard preview program, includes Avatar Awards

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 30th 2009 at 5:15PM }

It's not quite Wonka's chocolate factory, but the Xbox 360 Dashboard update preview participants are getting a taste of some delectable bonuses regardless. Earlier today, those lucky folks were granted their promised early access to the Halo Waypoint beta. Lo and behold, 11 Avatar Awards arrived alongside the addition (five for each gender's Avatar, one for both), unlocking based on various Achievements from Halo 3: ODST, ranging from Recon helmets to ODST t-shirts. Microsoft has provided little in the way of details on the addition, so feel free to let us know if you see anything particularly strange or interesting.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Gamasutra examines Gamerscore and game completion statistics

by Xav de Matos { Oct 28th 2009 at 2:30PM }

In a new feature, Gamasutra looks at Xbox 360 Gamerscore and game completion statistics in search of a reason why some players stop playing games in their library.

According to the feature, a game's overall difficulty is the biggest culprit from discouraging players from completing a game. Using data of 14,000 players regularly surveyed provided by Microsoft and the top 13 Xbox Live titles in 2008, it was concluded the group unlocked less than half of the possible Gamerscore on average. Gamasutra notes that the selected users in the survey tend to be more hardcore than the average player, so overall completion rates are expected to be even lower.

Another point of the study was to determine the average completion of a game's campaign mode. Using data of games that award campaign completion Achievements, it was determined that only 30 percent of the surveyed group did not play games until the end. Gamasutra theorizes that the reason so many gamers neglect a game's campaign is due to frustration. Having experienced the -- sadly, often horrific -- world of Xbox Live, we'd also guess many of the hardcore gamers examined skipped the campaign in favor of pwnin' n00bs online.

Rumor: Assassin's Creed 2 Achievements and Trophies surface discreetly

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 25th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Once again, we've bitten the bullet of plotline spoilification for you lot, and measured the believability of two recently released lists of Achievements and Trophies for Assassin's Creed 2. Our initial impression is that they seem legit -- but they also contain references to a number of plot points and gameplay mechanics you may want to remain in the dark about until you get behind the wheel of Ezio Auditore Da Firenze.

Check out the rumored list of Achievements and Trophies after the jump. We'll contact Ubisoft to see if we can confirm their authenticity.

Read: Assassin's Creed 2 Achievements
Read: Assassin's Creed 2 Trophies

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Call of Duty Classic Achievements are pretty achievable

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 14th 2009 at 5:00PM }

Xbox360Achievements.org has uncovered the Digital Accomplitrons for Call of Duty Classic, set to to be bundled with special editions of Modern Warfare 2 and to be release on XBLA "eventually." Much like the most recent iterations of the Call of Duty franchise, Classic doesn't have a single multiplayer Achievement, which should hopefully keep everyone focused on actually playing the game. The Achievements that are there offer points for completing campaign levels, completing the game itself, and accomplishing a few more challenging objectives.

We're particularly fond of "Pea Shooter," which tasks players with completing a mission using only the pistol and no melee attacks. That's hardcore, son.

Left 4 Dead 2 Achievements confirm final campaigns, detail new features [update]

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 12th 2009 at 6:00PM }

The Achievement aficionados over at Xbox360Achievments.org have uncovered the Xbox 360 Achievements for Left 4 Dead 2. The Achievements offer some insane challenges -- "Survive a campaign on Expert skill with Realism mode enabled" -- and, if accurate, also confirm the recently uncovered "Dead Center" and "Hard Rain" campaigns. The Achievements also detail some new features and confirm other rumored features, most notably a defibrillator which can be used to revive teammates. Also mentioned is an adrenaline power-up to boost speed, deployable ammo upgrades and ... a bile bomb. We really hope that last one does what we think it does.

Head over to X360A for the full list (warning: watch for spoilers ... and Tanks).

Update: A Valve representative has confirmed the veracity of the two posters as official, saying simply, "They're legit."

Pitchford: Easy Achievements boost sales by up to 40,000 units

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 7th 2009 at 6:00PM }

We knew that there was contingency of Xbox 360 owners who place a remarkable amount of importance on their largely unimportant Gamerscore -- however, a recent Official Xbox Magazine interview with Gearbox president Randy Pitchford has got us worried about our fellow man. According to Pitchford, developers who tweak their game's Achievements to make them a tad easier to obtain can boost sales of said game "by something like 10 and 40 thousand units."

Yes, Pitchford claims that there are 10 to 40 thousand people out there who purchase games based on their capacity to bolster their e-peen. That represents around $2.4 million being spent on making an inconsequential number slightly larger. Our faith in humanity wasn't just shaken by Pitchford's report -- it was absolutely obliterated. We're gonna go watch Rudy a few times until that faith is restored.

[Image]

Dance the night away with Gay Tony Achievements

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 6th 2009 at 1:50PM }

Ahead of the impending release of The Ballad of Gay Tony -- as DLC or as a part of the Episodes from Liberty City retail disc -- Grand Theft Auto IV has been updated with new Achievements on Xbox.com. Ten new Achievements have been added for The Ballad of Gay Tony, totaling 250 points and bringing the grand total for GTAIV to 1500 points. Players are rewarded for various tasks in the expansion, including base jumping, cage fighting and -- Joystiq's favorite -- dancing flawlessly.

Head over to Xbox 360 Achievements for the full list.

Modern Warfare 2 Achievements and Trophies revealed

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 4th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Our fingers have turned to goopy nubs as a result of our transcription of the Achievements and Trophies in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. We didn't keep an exact tally of the accomplishments therein, but we're fairly certain the total number approaches eight skajillion. You'll find the efforts of our toils listed after the jump -- be wary, there are a few minor spoilers in there. For instance, at some point during the game, you kill a bunch of terrorists. Stop the presses!

Read - Xbox360Achievements.org
Read - AllPS3Trophies.com