Achieving Achievements on the Wii

So, there hasn't been an update for a while, this is partly due to a lack of interesting topics to write about, and because the topics I *do* have to write about, it never seems I have time to sit down and actually write them!

What have I been doing that has been preoccupying my time? Well, apart from work, and my strange social life, it's spent between watching reruns of Andromeda in HighDef (which for any of you who have not seen the show in HD, is amazing- as anything in HD by default is amazing) and playing on a combination of SNES, XBOX360 and Wii.

Well actually, scratch that. I have been playing my super nintendo and 360.. not so much the wii. Well actually, I picked up my SNES to run through DKC once, and to play Chrono Trigger and Tetris attack briefly.. But really it's just been all about the 360 these days.

What happened to the Wii? Well, I almost picked it up again to play Sonic when it came out for virtual console.. But then it came out for Xbox Live Arcade.. and *why* would I play a game for the wii when I can get it on the 360 with better graphics, better controller .. and the prospect of gaining achievement points?

Achievements points

An awesome concept, marketing ploy, and the entire reason I play video games. (well, Not the *only* reason)-- but it certainly makes me more engaged in playing games I would have put down long ago because of boredom/ frustration, and also makes me more inclined to pickup the game again and replay.

I've found, that playing games without achievement points is almost completely pointless. I have little to no interest in playing games without these added steps of accomplishment! The exception is zelda, which in itself is rewarding... however could be made so much better with the introduction of achievements.

I would love Nintendo so much more if they had some sort of achievement system, something that made me want to play and buy/rent their games, because right now, I'm just not that interested in their short gameplay, and their quality of graphics. The Xbox just has so much more to offer me right now, high definition graphics, sound, free demos, and.. achievements, giving me a reason to keep playing even games I don' t really enjoy, or games I'd never otherwise play ever again.

If nothing else, Nintendo, I will continue to play my trusty SNES, because next to achievements, theres nothing better than a SNES controller and its creaking d-pad between your sweaty palms as you battle King K.Rool on a pirate ship.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy...

Whoever said work can't also be play, clearly has never stepped inside the office of a creative company. And why should the workplace not be stimulating and colourful and playful? Maybe it is somehow expected that lawyers offices and so called 'suit and tie professions' be neutral, drab and ... 'professional'. Whereas, for those 'artsy kids' it's somehow more accepted that they can be *crazy* and *wild* yet still professional at the same time.

There seems to be a gap between the appearance that a lawyers office maintains and that of a design agency. Both are successful, both are respected. But the office with the creativity, and interest, and the most 'play' hands down will be the design agency.

Now to bring this into real life. I recently switched work places, (actually I did more than that, I switched from Print to Web design.. an interesting and somewhat large step) At my old job, I was used to the interesting people, and their creative input, but the office had been pretty standard.. desks, everything in perfect alignment and portraits/plaques on walls.