I've always had a thing for achievements, but whether you love them or hate them, they let really interesting data emerge.
For example, I've just been playing Downwell (fantastic game) on PS4, and it's really interesting to see the level of drop off between areas. Now, the game has just come out on PS+ (today? yesterday?), so that will affect the overall % with people trying it out for free and finding it's not for them, but it's interesting none the less. For example:
Here is the breakdown on the areas. Downwell is a quick roguelikelitelikelite, and each areais split up in to 3 stages. Each stage can be completed in less than a minute, so theoretically someone could fly through the game in under 10 minutes. Not something a first timer would do, but it gives you an idea of what kind of game it is.
We can see that 46.2% of the people have beaten the first 3 stages (again, pinch of salt due to PS+). After that, though, the drop off is massive - right down to 16.8%. Almost half again drop off for the third area, and then slightly less so for the fourth (arguably the easiest area).
You can do the same for things like Bloodborne:
Only 63.3% of people beat Cleric Beast (although technically optional, the path typically leads you to him), 59.6% beat Gascoigne, and then only 47.8% went on to beat the next mandatory boss.
You can do the same on Steam (although you can cheat those), and I think Xbox One has added it too.
There's the arguement against achievements/trophies that they hand them out for just playing the game, but I love that it lets me see stuff like this. Data is fascinating.
For example, I've just been playing Downwell (fantastic game) on PS4, and it's really interesting to see the level of drop off between areas. Now, the game has just come out on PS+ (today? yesterday?), so that will affect the overall % with people trying it out for free and finding it's not for them, but it's interesting none the less. For example:
Here is the breakdown on the areas. Downwell is a quick roguelikelitelikelite, and each areais split up in to 3 stages. Each stage can be completed in less than a minute, so theoretically someone could fly through the game in under 10 minutes. Not something a first timer would do, but it gives you an idea of what kind of game it is.
We can see that 46.2% of the people have beaten the first 3 stages (again, pinch of salt due to PS+). After that, though, the drop off is massive - right down to 16.8%. Almost half again drop off for the third area, and then slightly less so for the fourth (arguably the easiest area).
You can do the same for things like Bloodborne:
Only 63.3% of people beat Cleric Beast (although technically optional, the path typically leads you to him), 59.6% beat Gascoigne, and then only 47.8% went on to beat the next mandatory boss.
You can do the same on Steam (although you can cheat those), and I think Xbox One has added it too.
There's the arguement against achievements/trophies that they hand them out for just playing the game, but I love that it lets me see stuff like this. Data is fascinating.