I've achieved the impossible, have you?

There are three universal mis-truths: "No, your bum doesn't look big in that", "It's not you, it's me", and "I didn't do it for the glory".

Lies, damned lies - and the last one is the only one I'll admit to!

Who doesn't want recognition and glory? Why shouldn't I have praise bestowed upon me when I achieve something great?

I never used to be like this. Before those infernal Xbox achievements got under my skin I used to play games for pleasure, maybe even the thrill of getting to that elusive end sequence - rescuing the damsel in distress or saving the planet from the forces of evil...

Now, I'm a shell of a man - replaying the same section of game over and over until that familiar chime and the little achievement icon pops onto my screen. I admit it, I've become an achievement whore.

I'd owned my Xbox for well over a year before I understood the appeal of achievements. It wasn't long before all the games I'd already completed were dusted off and replayed religiously to boost my points.

In comparison with some of the die-hard gamers out there with scores reaching into the tens of thousands, I've accumulated a rather lowly figure to date - around 7,000 by last count. And I'm determined to get more!

Many balked at the very idea of this kind of points system when it was first unveiled but such is its appeal that even Sony has introduced a similar "trophy" scheme for the PS3. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, eh?

There's no shame in clubbing a game to death with your controller to eek out every last ounce of playability... in fact it represents fantastic value for money.

I no longer play to see those end credits drift down my screen, I play to find my 500th agility orb in Crackdown, my 50th gargoyle in Fable II or complete a ridiculously long wheelie in GTA IV. I now don't rush through a game but inspect every square inch of my 3D environment, checking every nook and crannie for a collectable.

Achievements have added an entirely new dimension to gaming. Microsoft, I salute you!

(Photo credit: Dirkusmaximus)


What are the easiest/strangest achievements you've uncovered? From 5G for pressing Start in The Simpsons to 10G for restarting a race several times in Flatout: Ultimate Carnage, let us know...