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November 21, 2007Glenn Turner

I know I'm the only writer on this site who isn't enamored with achievements, but am I the only gamer who finds the constant barrage of achievement notifications distracting and detracting?

I was ready to write this rant several months ago when I was playing through the freshly released BioShock on my brand-new Xbox 360. Like many, early in the game I was quite engrossed in the world, utterly captivated by the night club scenery around me when, suddenly a pack of slicers startled me! My index finger nervously clutched the trigger, absently firing off a belch of electricity and, low-and-behold, I was slightly sickened to see that I had electrocuted the lot of them, as they were standing in thigh-deep water.* While I was regaining my bearings, a little window alert drew itself on the screen: "ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: 'Toaster in the Tub'."

My first reaction was: What the hell? I fatally (albeit accidentally) shocked these creatures and I'm 'rewarded' with a nauseatingly glib statement like 'Toaster in the Tub'? If the in-game alert doesn't take the game seriously, why should I? What do I have to do to experience Rapture in (relative) peace? Or am I doomed to be routinely interrupted with a groan-inducing platitude that conflicts with the authorial voice of the game, jolting me out of the game's carefully constructed atmosphere?

After a bit of hunting I found the option to turn off Xbox Live achievement alerts and, well, that put an end to that. Sure, I wish that the achievement alerts were turned off by default (and not necessarily all alerts along with it), but that one option rendered my initial disapproval virtually moot. That is, until I downloaded Half-Life 2: Episode Two via Steam. Having played both Half-Life 2, as well as Episode One via Steam, I expected the same seamless, solitary experience from it as the prior games. Instead, I found myself greeted with the same sort of alert system as Xbox Live. Et tu, Valve?

And again, I ended up poring over my in-game options, Steam settings, and searched online for answers with little luck. I eventually found the notification settings (under Steam's Friend settings – I obviously don't do much multiplayer gaming) but not until I had completed the game. So, while Episode Two has some eye-blearingly emotional moments in it, I still suffered through insipid achievement alerts like 'Gunishment!' and 'Twofer', alerts that are the equivalent of including Pop-Up Video commentary during The Tin Drum or Children of Men.

So what's next? Sony's PlayStation Network will soon be bringing their idea of achievements to PlayStation 3 gamers everywhere. Perhaps when you receive one, all activity will halt and you'll receive an exquisitely rendered trophy, spinning slowly on your screen, emblazoned with another cheap, trite phrase and the option to immediately position your trophy in your trophy case?**

I can appreciate achievements, I really can. Under the right circumstances, with the right game, they can be something fulfilling and meaningful to the right people. I don't have anything against people earning a bit of recognition for folks that work against a game to beat it. But, if there have to be achievement alerts, then the achievements shouldn't be trivial matters, and they really shouldn't be a visible part of the game's storyline. They should be achievements, rewards for going above and beyond the call of duty and nothing the casual player should encounter. These achievements certainly shouldn't be shoehorned into titles and handed out like candy to trick-or-treaters, as that sort of treatment does nothing but belittle the real achievements and shock the player out of their play-world. The alerts destroy the illusion, and for what? To notify the casual player that they managed to accomplish something completely pedestrian? Why? Shouldn't the in-game response & feedback be enough?

Perhaps I'm just stuck in my ways. After all, I'm an aging gamer that firmly enjoys completing single-player campaigns; I'm playing simply to experience these wondrous fictional worlds. I don't care about the extra challenges, unlockables or additional collectibles – I care about the primary experience. And I certainly don't feel the need to have a scorecard tallying my achievements, as I am firmly aware of my own in-game victories and failures. And as far as showcasing said achievements to the world, well, that's just not for me (and it's not because I don't have many achievements under my belt!) Additionally, I'm sure it doesn't help that the few friends I game with also neglect the achievement gamut.

When I was trying to figure out how to turn off Xbox Live achievement alerts, I asked several 360-owning friends if they could assist. I was greeted with the internet equivalent of blank stares and mentions of "Gee, I don't think you can", or "Uh... why?", and their ambivalence towards these intrusions astounded me. So I appeal to you, kind reader: Do you find these alerts instructive, or detracting? Do you earnestly care about immediately hearing about your achievements, or do you think your gaming experience would be better served without such notifications? Am I living in the disconnected, offline past, willfully eschewing the "next-generation" scoreboards, or am I justifiably riled up about intrusive & unnecessary information?

* Like I said, this was early on in the game. As I delved deeper into Rapture, I had significantly fewer quandaries about frying the damn splicers, as opposed to simply bludgeoning them into unconsciousness.

** Thanks are due to Mr. LeFeuvre for this idea of PSN's future.


41 comments for ‘Disruptive Achievements’

#1 Sam Beirne Nov 21, 2007 03:16pm

I tend to be indifferent towards Xbox Achievements. They're not too bothersome, but I could care less about my Xbox Live Gamerscore. I don't pay any special attention to achievements that require action outside of what I would normally do in a game. My achievements, therefore, simply say, "you played this game," rather than, "you did something special."

The only time I get interested in scoreboards is when I'm playing a competitive game against other players. I like having the ability to compare myself to other players and track my own growth.

One good example of the use of achievements in competitive games is the concept of domination in Team Fortress 2. When you kill an opponent 3 times in a row without being killed by that opponent, the game informs you that you are dominating that player. He or she can then try to exact revenge by killing you. It fits into the context of the game and gives players a meaningful sense of accomplishment.

#2 Darren Nov 22, 2007 07:47am

Achievements in some games are ideal, for example Team Fortress 2; the achievement model adds a new dimension to an - admittedly - already brilliant game. It gives you more incentive to play with and master the different classes available.

I haven't tried Episode 2 yet, but I would agree wholeheartedly that I wouldn't want anything to detract from my immersion in Freeman's world.

Perhaps in a game like Half Life Episode 2, the achievements should only be opened up once the game has been completed once, to give it more replayability and avoiding the danger of such a brilliant, dark and involving concept becoming "just a game".

#3 Anonymous Nov 22, 2007 07:53am

Oi Dick Head, Are you some kind of idiot?

#4 Jim Canfer Nov 22, 2007 07:56am

I've had a '360 for over a year now and I can honestly say that when the Achievement notification pops up, it rarely distracts me.

I actually think that Achievements have opened up a different avenue of gaming for me. Like you I play a game to experience the game, but where before I would have likely have stopped playing the game on completion, I'll now go back and try and work out how to gain some of those extra Achievements.

This has opened up avenues of the game that I'd have not explored before or forced me to learn a new move, skill or way of doing something.

So I'm actually getting far more use out of the games than I would of, however I draw the line at doing something I don't enjoy for the sake of unlocking an Achievement.

For example, with the multiplayer gaming I won't go on and play against Billy Random just to unlock an Achievement. I only play against people I know in the real world or who are friends of friends, which makes it a far richer experience for me.

I think that the achievements can also motivate. If your in a slow or tough part of a game, gaining some points can be enough to spur you onwards. Or if a friend unlocks a tough achievement the competitive instinct in me will often try and match them.

I guess at the end of the day, Achievements are just a modern interpretation of the Arcade scoreboard.

#5 Matt Nov 22, 2007 08:00am

Personally i dont really understand the achievements that are stored within Xbox live and the like. Unless it could unlock content in previous games, then that would be something to behold?

Imagine, completing halo 3 to find out that within halo 2 there is a whole new area that would only exist if this had been done.

That's the future!

#6 Tom Nov 22, 2007 08:13am

Although its nice to maybe unlock additional items or features in a game I think it kinda makes the game boring. At the moment im currently playing through Splinter Cell Double Agent on the pc. If you achieve things like being able to get through the power plant without setting off alerts you get "special items" like explosive cameras??? I dont really want to either constantly restart the level or play so slowly and carefully that I am not enjoying the game.

I played through Half Life's episode 2, unfortunely I didn't know you could turn off the notifications! I also found that they broke the realism of the game as it would sort of pull you out of the Half Life world and back into reality. Restating what you have said, if we must have achievements, make them so they cant just casually be completed.

Tom,

#7 Anonymous Nov 22, 2007 08:35am

Lad, shurrup. You sound utter and completely warped. Why bother taking something so little to heart when it doesnt even bother any normal person. Start thinkin of better things to moan at you. Haha !!!!!

#8 Sam Archer Nov 22, 2007 08:39am

I like the Achievement system - it makes me go out of my way and play games that little bit more.

I feel like I've got my worth out of a game when I know I've got all of the Achievements I'm be content with (as well as finishing the game itself).

#9 JB Nov 22, 2007 09:09am

I agree that achievements can be disruptive in single player games that are trying to build atmosphere. I can just picture the message "Crowbar Frenzy!" popping up in Silent Hill 5...

But many genres aren't trying to be that engrossing, so achievements work fine for them. Perfect examples are sports and racing games. Beating some track record or scoring enough points in a certain amount of time and getting achievements for it would just add to the sense of accomplishment. It's the same thing with multiplayer games. Beating your opponents feels good, but beating them and getting a message about your impressive kill streak is even better.

I know what you're saying though. Having just killed a big monster in GoW, I got a message saying I just killed the big monster... Seems redundant and takes you out of the moment.

#10 Greg Nov 22, 2007 09:45am

I will often play a bit of Counter-Strike: Source when I'm in the mood for some de-stressing after work. Many servers, unfortunately, like to throw in odd sounds such as an announcer voice yelling in "Multi-kill!" "Ultra-kill!" "God-like!", if you get on a kill streak. These can be satisfying at first, but then they go over-board, by putting in new sounds that don't fit in at all, such as obnoxious join songs, songs for when you do certain things, voices from cartoons people can spam, and it just gets plainly obnoxious. For me though, I just have to go through and copy a good "Null" sound, and use it to cover up all those add-on sounds servers love so much, so I can play in my own peace.

#11 Anonymous Nov 22, 2007 10:07am

Greg,

After you connect to a server type "settings" in the console and usually a menu will pop up in-game with the option to turn a lot of those sounds off.

#12 Anonymous Nov 22, 2007 10:43am

Someone call the whaaambulance!

#13 Anonymous Nov 22, 2007 11:57am

I don't take issue with the Steam achievement notifications, but I do find the 360 ones a little distracting. While playing through Episode 2 and Portal I often failed to notice the notifications pop up. The 360 ones, on the other hand, are almost impossible to miss. Which makes me glad I played Bioshock on the PC.

#14 Kastanok Nov 22, 2007 01:01pm

Got the Orange Box on PC. Thinking only of the games with achievments enabled:

Never had a problem with the achievements for Ep2, though I considered a fair portion pointless given that you get them just for getting so far into the game. By the end of your so many hours you've automatically racked up a third or so of the available achievements. So those were perhaps a little niggle but I just ignored them.

Other achievements such as the one which requires to carry the garden gnome through 80% of the game were incredibly frustrating to do but very satisfying once completed. And I sat back and laughed myself silly when I discovered the Rocket Man solution ;)

Portal - again, easily got achievements just for getting so far in the game. Plus the existing other challenges are a little imprecise - wouldn't it just be better to publish your fastest run/least steps/least portals for the master levels?

Team Fortress 2 - Here achievements are really worth something and often difficult to achieve. Plenty of oppertunity to expand upon the selection in future patches, too - particularly more skill based challenges. A lot of them so far encourage you to fully explore the options presented to you, so you at least play every class and every level once.

Overall... I like achievements; they have their place and that is in puzzles and MP games (like in Battlefield 2). Stories like HL series and BioShock really aren't suited to them.

#15 Stu Nov 22, 2007 05:38pm

Excellent article.

It's interesting that people who have been around games for ages (I'm 23, but I started with a Vic 20 in about 1988) - aren't as interested in this sort of thing than people who haven't been playing for ages.

Like you, I far prefer single player modes, and would go as far as to say that online gaming really doesent interest me. I may pick up Football Manager Live when it comes out, I may not - playing against other people doesent interest me, playing against a carefully crafted AI, that won't do ridiculous things to see if it can, does.

Could you imagine a massively multiplayer online version of say, Elite? - It would be complete chaos. The primary attraction of said game for me was that you could make your own way - do whatever you liked. If you wanted to make billions by trekking on a safe trading route, you could. If you wanted to fly off to the Frontier systems and battle pirates - or become one - you could. It's a shame that it's seen as 'cool' to disrupt other people's enjoyment/experience (ref, the famous Warcraft funeral, even the Leeroy Jenkins thing - if people want to plan meticulously, why shouldn't they?), which, in a way, is what the rewards system does to some.

Long live the Single Player game!

#16 polts Nov 22, 2007 08:47pm

i like achievments i think it was a great idea, and i love comparing my gamerscore with other xbox 360 owners,

#17 Anonymous Nov 22, 2007 09:11pm

There is a massivly multiplayer game very similar to Elite. It's called EvE Online, and it is my favorite game at the moment.

I played Elite when I was a lot younger than I am now, back in the 80's some time... I loved it, and always wondered what it would be like if the game universe was populated by real people. I found out, and it is awesome.

Back on topic, I agree that achievements should not be given just for playing through a game. They should be something you actually have to put a bit of extra effort in to achieve.

#18 Anonymous Nov 22, 2007 09:12pm

Great article!

I still remember fondly when my beloved Ultima went to a large 3rd person avatar (snigger). I was running along the beach of the Pirate Isles with the sand scrunching under my feet, beating up giant crabs.

It was sooooooooo beautiful and immersive.

Nice to know there are some gamers (and game designers) that love that feeling of becoming fully immersed into a striking fantasy world. Its certainly better than worrying I picked up a +5 powerup.

#19 WholeFnShow Nov 22, 2007 09:27pm

Whoa, big crowd here. Good stuff.

I just finished plowing through Episode 1 care of Orange Box, and I have to agree that meager achievements are, at the very least, distracting. There shouldn't be any sort of in-game recognition for completing a level other than actually completing the level.

I appreciate the application of achievements toward recognizing ridiculous bits of gaming that serve no purpose to the plot. They should basically act as hidden side quests, in my opinion. I often times pick random objectives for myself in every game I play that has any semblance of immersion. Portal, for example, I began shooting down every camera I saw on instinct because I didn't like the way they followed me. I had absolutely no idea that there was an achievement for doing so. That was intensely gratifying that the developers figured, "some jackass is probably going to take the time to actually do this. Let's put something in to let him know we saw it coming." I freaking loved it. When I first played through HL2, I carried a shoe as far as the game woule let me in the first level. I did everything I had to, but I always went back and grabbed the shoe. If there had been an achievement for that back when I played it on Xbox, that would have been absolutely stellar. Similar to that is the Death From The Grave medal in Halo 3. Recognition of something that people do, that isn't necessarily useful or smart at all.

Again, there really shouldn't be any sort of visible recognition given for completing a level or killing x number of enemies. Those things are going to happen. It's silly to glorify it, far as I figure.

#20 Glenn Turner Nov 22, 2007 10:26pm

Welcome BBC readers, and thanks to all who commented! I'm still digesting all of them, but I have a few quick replies:

"I can just picture the message "Crowbar Frenzy!" popping up in Silent Hill 5..."

That's a horrifying thought, but sadly, probably pretty close to reality. Prove us wrong Konami! Prove us wrong...

"I don't take issue with the Steam achievement notifications, but I do find the 360 ones a little distracting. [...] Which makes me glad I played Bioshock on the PC."

I don't particularly keep up with much PC gaming (aside from Steam or GameTap-based games), but isn't the Games for Windows Live initiative bringing achievements to the PC? Halo 2 has them, Shadowrun and, I believe, Gears of War has them too.

"When I first played through HL2, I carried a shoe as far as the game [would] let me in the first level. I did everything I had to, but I always went back and grabbed the shoe. If there had been an achievement for that back when I played it on Xbox, that would have been absolutely stellar."

As an earlier commenter has mentioned, gnomes are your friends! (Although that achievement reminded me of the The Amazing Race challenges where contestants have to carry a Travelocity gnome through an entire leg of a race. Next for achievements: product placement? Or am I too late for that?)

#21 Daniel Nov 23, 2007 12:44am

Curse you Glenn Turner! I'm actually in the process of writing an article quite similar to this and must say, have similar ideas.

I'll post you a link when I'm done but I believe we cover different ground.

My main problem with Achievements is the way they affect people playing games. For instance, playing through a game and dropping it after 100% Achievements unlocked and moving onto the next big conquest. I believe they act as a measure to limit a gamers own creativity when playing games, as instead of constructing their own challenges, they may think "oh, this is all I need to do?"

Anyway .. like I said .. link when finished!

#22 MSP Nov 23, 2007 03:31am

Didums #3 Anonymous. Were your parents very closely related?

#23 Anonymous Nov 23, 2007 03:39am

The achievement setup on Oblivion on the 360 was a good one. As opposed to gaining achievements through doing 'skill' based tasks, they just directed you to explore all of the main aspects of the game.

The worst kind are the 'play an online game' ones, although they do encourage people to get involved in online multiplayer, still cant get a single game on Street Trace: NY on the arcade though...

#24 Anonymous Nov 23, 2007 03:49am

your a complete knobjocky

#25 Anonymous Nov 23, 2007 04:13am

Interesting comment.

Historically games were ALL about hi-scores and reaching level 7 without losing a life.

You're article made me think that in the current generation of games, with their ultra-rich content, non-linear elements and holywood-sized budgets - games can be enjoyed in other ways.

In the same way you would enjoy a book or a film, or music for that matter.

Maybe then, "Achievements" are an effort to keep the competitive element there. It does add something to the online experience - seeing who has what badges - but I agree - they can be irrelevant in one player.

My current bugbear those, is with those morons who ask for help in getting them.

#26 Anonymous Nov 23, 2007 04:31am

"So I appeal to you, kind reader"

You make some very valid arguments in your article about trite messages, and then use the above one yourself.

How do you know I'm a kind reader?

Try to be more objective and not over-familiar, that's such an Americanism....

#27 Dave Nov 23, 2007 04:49am

I think that the achievement system is really good and it doesn't put me off whilst I am playing.

Some games are better than others in the way they deal with achievements, Bioshock is probably one of the better games for this. I love the Irony achievement which I found by chance but when it popped up on my screen my first reaction was 'cool!'.

If it means that I play a game for that bit longer or do a bit more exploring than I normally would then it's all good!

#28 Paul Nov 23, 2007 05:18am

What a ridiculous article. Given that you found out how to turn off notifications (probably AFTER you started writing), there's absolutely nothing to complain about, and no point to make. It's like complaining that the ceefax subtitles are activated on your TV. They're optional!

Secondly, video games are distantly abstract from reality, and the achievement system on the Xbox 360 is part of that abstract view. You could say that they model the emotion of satisfaction, or success, and so in fact add to the game experience (as they do for me and many, many other gamers). This is why most people give you that blank look when you ask about switching them off. It's not because they are lame sheep, it's because they have accepted the system as a positive addition to the experience.

Daniel (commenter above this), that's an even worse topic of discussion. And you are quite mistaken if you think that's new ground. The achievement system has been really successful at prolonging the life of a large number of games. To be honest I can't be bothered to explain why if the reason is not obvious.

#29 becky Nov 23, 2007 06:10am

I am not bothered about achievements and really could not care less about them. What you say about achievements being unworthy is actually true, they have been de-valued (not that they ever had value), by pointless achievements.

Have you played The Simpsons Game? You get an achievement just for pressing the start button.

#30 Phloam Nov 23, 2007 06:28am

So long as you can easily turn them off I don't see what the problem is.

#31 FridgeRaider Nov 23, 2007 06:32am

I have to say I personally like achievements. Only, however, when they are meaningful. Not for example 'Meet the Hunter' in HL2: EP2 which is basically just an achievement awarded for continuing in the story. You haven't had to do anything extraordinary to achieve that, you've just progressed as the story intended. It feels somewhat hollow.

Sticking with HL2: EP2 as an example, the achievement 'Rocket Man' where you need to take the gnome from the start for quite a significant distance is a far more rewarding achievement, because not only have you had to play the game, but you've had to carry round some peripheral object with you and ensure that it doesn't get lost along the way.

With the harder achievements also comes extended replay value, to make sure that when you play the game through the next time you do something that you didn't do previously, which you may have missed or have been unable to do.

Multiplayer game achievements like Call of Duty 4's challenges, and the bonuses you get for 3, 5 and 7 kill streaks (UAV, Airstrike and Helicopter respectively) are extremely vitalizing. They give you an incentive to try different things, to alternate tactics and weapons.

Achievements are great...they just need to make me feel like I've landed on Free Parking, rather than having collected £200 for passing Go.

#32 Anonymous Nov 23, 2007 07:35am

@Sam Beirne

> "could care less"

*couldn't care less

Captain Semantics strikes again.

#33 Mark Christian Nov 23, 2007 08:40am

I don't think he is, no. But I know just what kind you are.

#34 johnis Nov 23, 2007 08:59am

as a responce to the Bioshock achievements comments that you made, I kinda liked them because they were engrossed in the same atmosphere of the game. they had this old 50s flair in them being disturbing at the same time. and i saw them as achievements that residents of the underwater world could have obtained, while living in it.

all in all i wouldnt care less about achievements in games. i think that they target a much younger audience and be reason for a morning scholl bus conversation. mind you when I was younger i didnt really pay any attention to them either, and i have been playing games for hm... 12 years now.what was it? woldfenstein 3d i think.

#35 D. Riley Nov 23, 2007 02:07pm

Quote:
Try to be more objective and not over-familiar, that's such an Americanism....
Being subjective is a wholly American trait? That's news to me.

People who want objective write-ups clearly don't understand what the word means. People who want objective reviews of games, for example, are asking for plot summaries. WOW! SO EXCITING!

To the article: I'm actually less enthused about achievements now than I was when I first got my hands on an Xbox. I very rarely experience the immersion that people talk about in complaints re: achievements (maybe in a Silent Hill game, but come on. Bioshock's hour long load times and repetitive splicers singing repetitive songs kill any chance immersion has to take hold) so that's not really a problem for me.

Achievements have become kind of passe for me. I don't really hunger for them, nor am I bothered by their existence. I'm mostly interested in them for retro-type games. Like Symphony of the Night. It's interesting to see what developers put in the game that were fan-made challenges before achievements were around.

#36 hobbie Nov 25, 2007 07:37pm

I find that I ignore achievements for the most part, as I've had this system for so long. Since the latest update, I find myself actually pausing the game on occasion to see what achievement I just earned. Minus the witty title, the objectives sometimes amuse me.

Also, I would like to know how to disable the pop-ups entirely. That would be nice when watching any media content.

#37 Carmen Dec 2, 2007 12:00am

Glenn, I totally get you on this and see what you mean. I feel the exact same way, and as you I'm surprised that 360 players don't seem to care. I don't own a 360, but any time I am playing one its a bit of a shock to see "Achievment Unlocked" or "Someone or other is online" during a tense mission in Gears of War or something. Why? Why does noone else seem to get this. Games like Bioshock go well out of thier way to create a contained atmosphere, but at some level all games want to give the player a contained atmosphere of some sort, whether it be in a shooter, a soccer game, etc. So then why have people accepted the very things that destroy this suspension of disbelief - these intrusions - and even welcomed then? I find it amazing that everyone I seem to talk to is also, as you say, "totally enamoured" by achievements.

Furthermore, I do play shooters like Ibara and racing games for 'skill', but I don't see why anyone needs a system telling them they "achieved" something. The real goal shouldn't be some predefined marker by the designers of the Achievements, it should be to keep pushing as far as you can go. THAT's a real achievement.

#38 John Kahler Dec 5, 2007 07:46am

I totally agree, Glenn. I just got a new XBOX 360 on Monday the 3rd, (of December) especially so I could play Virtua Fighter 5. Now I'm very disillusioned by the whole XBOX 360 interface popping up in apparently all the games. When I play a game I want to forget about the console, not be plagued with messages popping up for this stupid new achievements business. If anything the game should notify you in it's own style and theme, and at appropriate times, or perhaps leave new scores to an appropriate section. Perhaps it has purpose for XBOX Live, but I don't even have any interest in putting my console online. If you could turn the notices off, that would be great, but it seems only some games let you. So, stuff it, my console may only be 2 days old, but I'm annoyed enough to sell it off now.

#39 Fiddytree Dec 23, 2007 04:42am

I'm pretty indifferent to the whoel thing, except when i'm playing a game like Guitar Hero. For some reason I have to look everytime I get a Guitar Hero Achievement so after I just get the 500 note streak, I mess up on note 501. The good thing about achievements is once you get them once, you don't have to worry about them showing up again so once you've played through a game, you don't have to worry about it

#40 Anonymous Mar 15, 2009 10:59am

Great Article! I'm glad to find I'm not the only one bothered by this trend. Thankfully there is a means to disable the annoyance on all platforms.

#41 Matthew Sep 11, 2009 06:31pm

I have been thinking about this for years nice to see that I'm not alone.

I first felt this way when I played Half-Life 2: Episode 2, but I found your article today because I just picked up Braid on Steam and every time I achieve something (like completing a world) I get a popup telling me "You completed a world!" - It's like having a three-year-old watching me play.