This "Star" Stuff Is Just Plain Embarassing

[Oddball-CAF]

  Nobody asked for it, but since I've been awarded what I personally see as a
kindergarten type "star" on my handle in-game, which I find embarrasing, I'm
tossin' my two cents in on this new "achievement" system.
  First off, I started writing each of 'em down to transpose in here in
this post. However, after getting to 25 and seeing that there was still a hell
of a lot of "scroll bar" left, I just plain gave up.
  Ramrodding my own squad with our own "achievement system" in place,
as well as compiling monthly stats on my herd, I'm fully aware of what is
ridiculously easy and what is not.
  My first thoughts about this new "system" is  a question of whether they are weekly based,
monthly based, or if one has "forever" to achieve 'em.
  My second thoughts are that it is obvious that it was not a well thought out
new "feature". If HTC has paying customers who are actually embarassed to
see a kindergarten-like "star" on their "forehead" in-game, then there's a
problem. And trust me, HTC, I'm NOT the only guy feeling this way.
  I know per one of HTC's posts that some of these are "tongue-in-cheek"?
I'd be interested to know just which of these they consider so and which
they think are "legitimate" and worthy of keeping/implementing.
  I suggest there be an "opt in" or "opt out" part to the whole system.
  My (cough) "favorite" is the "Bail out of a plane 25 times".
This is a guaranteed way to mold new players/customers, people who
are fresh to the game, who see that and see it as a positive thing.
Hell, it must be "cool to do" if you get an achievement for it.
  I'll get the crap bashed out of me in follow up posts for this, I'm certain.
But, hell somebody's got to say it.
  My suggestion is to pull out the entire "achievement system". Put some
-quality- time into it and think it through. Please don't shovel a mess like
this in front of us and expect the majority of us to give it any plausibility.

Regards,

Oddball
I misspelled "plausibility", I didn't have second thoughts about my post.
Thus, the edit. 

[Karnak]

Do ranks instead of stars.  Base the ranks on the type of achievement.

Luftwaffe ranks for German aircraft successes
Wehrmacht ranks for German vehicle successes
USN ranks for USN aircraft and boat successes
US Army ranks for US Army aircraft and vehicle successes
US Marine Corp ranks for US Marine Corp aircraft and vehicle successes
Regia Aeronautica ranks for Italian aircraft successes
FAF ranks for Brewster successes
RAF ranks for RAF successes
RN ranks for RN successes
VVS ranks for Russian aircraft successes
Red Army ranks for Russian vehicle successes
IJN ranks for Japanese navy successes
IJA ranks for Japanese army successes

It might be possible to select what rank you want an aircraft or tank to be scored in for those aircraft and tanks that were used by multiple nations when doing kill based achievements.  The Spitfire Mk VIII, for example, might be scored as either RAF or USAAF for that purpose.

[LCADolby]

Call me an old fuddy duddy but I'd like to see an option to turn them off   

[kvuo75]

remember, the system is in "beta" testing.


for those who didn't read the MOTD that pops up when you join the arena:

Version 2.29 launches a beta of a new achievement system.
We are currently testing the awarding and storage of
achievements.  Many achievements are set simply to make it
easy to test them.  Achievements will be deleted at the end
of the beta and there will probably be some resets during
the beta.

There is a beta forum on our message board to report bugs
with the achievement system or to make suggestions.

[The Fugitive]

remember, the system is in "beta" testing.

Exactly! Also, many of them were simple things they thought of off the top of their head just to test the systems.

Relax already.

[HawkerMKII]

Call me an old fuddy duddy but I'd like to see an option to turn them off   

+1 or toss the whole thing

[Stampf]

[remember, the system is in "beta" testing./quote]

Which hopefully means HTC may scrap the whole thing and chalk it up as a huge scotch induced mistake.

[Nutzoid]

I understand it's in "Beta testing", but what was the reason for having it in the first place? Why was it being considered in the first place?

Nutz

[Karnak]

I understand it's in "Beta testing", but what was the reason for having it in the first place? Why was it being considered in the first place?

Nutz

Achievement systems encourage people to play, to try different things and probably extend subscription lengths.

[Lusche]

I understand it's in "Beta testing", but what was the reason for having it in the first place? Why was it being considered in the first place?

My guess: Business

[caldera]

How about putting the star next to the player's name on the roster, instead of the text bar?  That way the people interested in scores could see who is a "star" achiever, without embarrassing those who prefer to remain low key. 

And as a special bonus, the "star" players would inevitably get more join requests.

[Halo46]

I understand it's in "Beta testing", but what was the reason for having it in the first place? Why was it being considered in the first place?

Nutz

Coddling all the children with low self esteem. Look at how many have wished for this crud on the boards for years.

[kvuo75]

i find it amusing why some people hate it so much?  and if you don't care, then don't care..

(reminds me of "score" -- if you dont care, then why do you care?)

at the least, it encourages people to do something other than take a base with 50 friendlies.  

[ToeTag]

Stars should be based on rank and nothing else.....reset monthly...maybe different colors for different score criteria...

[mbailey]

i find it amusing why some people hate it so much?  and if you don't care, then don't care..

(reminds me of "score" -- if you dont care, then why do you care?)

at the least, it encourages people to do something other than take a base with 50 friendlies.  

+1