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.