Achievements mean games sell better, says study

CVG reports that a study by analyst Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) suggests that Xbox 360 games which feature a higher number and greater assortment of Achievements not only score higher in reviews but also perform better at retail – in the US at least.

“Consumers want their games to include both variety and abundance of Accomplishments,” EEDAR boss Geoffrey Zatkin stated. “Our research shows that incentives such as Achievements impact sales choices such as which game title to buy and which platform to buy it on; they also extend the replayability of a title.”

The firm also adds that there is evidence that some gamers take the time to research the available Achievements in a title before deciding on whether or not to purchase.

For those of you baffled by the above, Achievements are a system incorporated into all Xbox 360 titles that rewards gamers with points for reaching certain goals in a given game, such as completing a level. A gamer’s Achievement Points total, taken from the points earnt across all games that have been played, is then permanently displayed next to their online profile on Xbox Live.

Sony has said it will be introducing a similar system as part of its PS3 Home initiative next year, whilst upcoming Nintendo title Metroid Prime 3 boasts its own in-game ‘Accomplishment’ system.

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