Some people consider it cheating. Some people don’t see a single thing wrong with it. What is your stance on trading FFA achievements on Halo 3? And are the achievements and the katana worth it?
I believe gamers as a whole tend to be competitive. Think about video games in the most basic sense. What it comes down to in the end is that you either win or lose. Obviously one of those scenarios is a bit more attractive than the other, and that is the one we strive for each and every time we play. Another driving force behind video games is the elusive high score. We always want to beat our friend’s high score. We always want to beat our own high score. We always want to beat “AAA” who holds the high score on every single freakin’ arcade game.
Microsoft was undoubtedly thinking of both of those things when they developed their achievement system. They devised a clever scheme to give us those points that we love simply for winning. Now along with a boost in our score we have something tangible that flashes across our screen periodically. The glory that is the achievement unlocked. Do you hear the angels singing?
As we unlock more achievements, our gamerscore climbs, and our obsession with that little number that resides next to our gamertag becomes more and more important. Keep in mind this number means absolutely nothing in real life. It doesn’t get a you a discount at Starbucks. It doesn’t get you free tickets to the big game this weekend. It doesn’t get you laid at the bar (unless maybe it is Guitar Hero night).
There are lots of those addictive achievements to be had in Halo 3. How amazing was it playing through the campaign for the first time and unlocking an achievement for every level you passed? Not only did you get points for each mission you completed, but the points continued to climb as you got farther into the game. What started off as 20 points for the first mission finished off with 50 points for the final mission. It wasn’t necessary to alter your play to attain all of these, they simply came along with the basic level completion.
However what happens when you add multiplayer achievements to the mix? I have heard the low rumbling of dissenting opinions traveling throughout the Halo community as it pertains to the matchmaking Lone Wolves playlist. There are nine achievements that can only be unlocked while playing in the newest version of ranked Rumble Pit.
- Score a Double Kill with a single spartan laser shot in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Kill 3 enemies within 4 seconds of one another in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Kill 4 enemies within 4 seconds of one another in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Score 5 grenade sticks in any ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Kill 10 enemies without dying in any ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Score a Triple Kill with the sword in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Splatter an enemy with the mongoose in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Kill 5 enemies by melee or assassination in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Board the same vehicle within 10 seconds after being boarded in any free for all playlist (Online).
Threads are popping up in various Halo forums about people rigging certain achievements in the Lone Wolves playlist. People who ask others to stop playing for the objective and instead gather in a meeting place on the map and exchange achievements during a ranked game. There are two sides to this, one being as long as everybody agrees to it there is no harm in arranging for everybody to take turns and unlock those particular achievements. There is the other side of it which discusses the disruption that occurs from people chasing achievements instead of playing the objective. Keep in mind these games are all ranked, none of them are social.
I personally wouldn’t forgo the objective for achievement trading with randoms, not even for a sword that I could carry on my back. Not because I think it is wrong, not because I think it is cheating, not because I think it lessens the achievements others have gotten through legit playing. I don’t do achievement trading on Halo 3 in the Lone Wolves playlist simply because I am much too busy enjoying the game to bother with trying to splatter you with a mongoose while everybody lines up in a nice straight line or to meet you and three other people where the sword spawns to arrange a triple kill.
You know what I am not too busy to do though? I am not too busy to pick up the Spartan Laser and aim it at everybody gathering in the middle getting ready to trade achievements. And I am not too busy to hold the trigger down and kill everybody in a single shot thus awarding me the “Score a Double Kill with a single spartan laser shot in a ranked free for all playlist” achievement. And with that I get one step closer to the sword.
Have you staged kills with randoms to unlock the Halo 3 FFA achievements or have you unlocked those achievements the legit way? How do you feel about the achievement trading that is going on in the ranked Lone Wolves playlist?
Posted by Lou on October 17, 2007 at 3:38 am
The saddest part is that I don’t have enough Halo 3 playing friends to be able to do a lot of this achievement trading,
Posted by Michael M. on October 17, 2007 at 5:08 am
It does make me angry to see that my friends all have 1000 GS points for Halo 3 when I’ve barely scratched 800. It makes me want to catch up by achievement trading because I feel inferior to them.
Posted by Narcogen on October 17, 2007 at 6:14 am
Of course, there are a couple of achievements you can get in unranked FFA games… some people might trade achievements there… I’m just sayin’.
Posted by Hobocore on October 17, 2007 at 6:14 am
I would trade achievements, although I’m not the one to suggest it during the game. I don’t even want the katana, I want that damn sexy ‘Security’ Helmet. Although to be fair, I haven’t even completed the meta games yet, let alone the lonewolves achievements, I’m not in any real rush.
Posted by JAY132/Jayshum on October 17, 2007 at 6:14 am
Without going into a rant (hopefully), there’s a few main reason’s I chose to get help and give help with these achievements.
Firstly, they’re attached to some of the Elite model’s armour permutations. These are very important to me as the Elite is my preferred multiplayer avatar, much better than than the Spartans! (You also get the Security Helmet for getting 1000 Gamerscore, I’m aware of that!)
Secondly, I chose to ask for help (and give help) as a way of putting two fingers up to Bungie for putting it’s Multiplayer achievements in Lone Wolf. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bungie, and they’ve more than proved they’re the most competent game developer on the planet, but this was silly! Halo is one of the most famous ‘Multiplayer’ games ever, multiplayer as in team-play (MLG is a good example of this). So putting them in Lone Wolf, a playlist where you’re on your own in essence, is just an arsey decision in my eyes designed to create longevity.
I’ve always enjoyed playing Halo with someone else on my team, whether it’s multiplayer or co-op. Halo 3 underlines this in my opinion.
I’d say it’s testament to the Xbox and Halo community however that someone like me (who’s honestly awful in Slayer or when playing alone!) should be able to complete the game 100%, and get all the extras that come with it. To those that consider it cheating, I ask you to stop taking a video game so seriously. Whilst I’m on it every moment I have free, I can still appreciate it for what it is; fun. If your one of these people who get’s their ‘fun’ by going and bemoaning people for doing this, then I believe you really need to grow up.
Final question to the blog owner:
If YOU were in a game in which someone had asked for help in the pre-game lobby, would you help, or just run around killing people still?
Posted by Sharkiest on October 17, 2007 at 6:38 am
The thing is, by getting that DK with SL achievement when they were lined up… you did achievement trade. Would you have gotten it if they WEREN’T lined up like that?
Posted by Eva Ribs on October 17, 2007 at 6:49 am
It made me stop playing Lone Wolves. Every single goddamned game. “Hey guy’s everyone meet in the middle.” I have 4 left, and they might be months down the road, seeing as I rarely pick up the sword, and I avoid sitting on the mongoose in all but the most dire of circumstances. And that’s ok with me. If you ask me, SPARTANs shouldn’t carry katanas anyway. It’s dumb.
Posted by Sensei322 on October 17, 2007 at 7:17 am
I happily agree to meet in the middle to trade sword kills, but I bring the rockets with me and, as you suggested, get a couple triple kills in the process. Doesn’t make the other achievement traders too happy, but I’m here to get the “W”.
Posted by TyR1N on October 17, 2007 at 7:18 am
To be honest i think it’s bull that bungie made those achivements only unlockable through ranked free for all matches. how often are you going to get a killtacular (killing 4 people within a few seconds of each other) when there are only 4 other people playing? i think it would take the same about of skill to unlock these in any other ranked gametype. Making them only FFA unlockables basic leaves it up to chance and dumb luck. there is no way to ‘go about’ getting a killtacular or boarding someones vehicle after they stole it from you. dumb luck.
Posted by Acheron86 on October 17, 2007 at 7:22 am
I admit to being one of those gamers who like the shiny unlockables; to that end, I was very much tempted to trade my way to the Katana. Ultimately, though, I earned every one fair and square, and the jubilant satisfaction I experienced after achieving those last five points (Overkill with an oddball, thank you!) was much more fulfilling than any “easy way out”.
FWIW, I enjoyed the extra challenge of trying to win games while limiting myself to the achievement requirements. I took it as an incentive to play with a new style, gaming from another angle… it’s a fun experience.
Posted by ZD on October 17, 2007 at 7:31 am
Wow, that perfectly describes my feelings about the situation. Just last night I was in a Lone Wolves room with 4 others who wanted to do achievements. So naturally, I go get the sword and kill them all while they are standing there in the middle of the map. And then proceed to play the match normally for the duration.
They didn’t get theirs and I got the “Steppin’ Razor” and “Overkill” at the same time.
Mean? Yes.
Gratifying? Absolutely.
:P
Posted by yankeyhotel on October 17, 2007 at 7:42 am
alright, i am just going to come out and say it, i did it, i wasn’t going to do it, i hadn’t really planned on doing it, it’s just… well… everyone else was doing it and it seemed like a good idea at the time. to be honest i wished i hadn’t done it. i wished i had waited. it would have meant more.
i have lots of excuses of why it shouldn’t really matter and like you said achievements really don’t matter. i don’t really ever get anything other than a sense of… well… achievement.
so there you go, did i cheat? maybe, maybe not i am sure. this will be debated for years to come. my final take on it is this: i feel a lot better about my “splatter an enemy with the mongoose” and “triple kill” than i do about my illegitimate “overkill” and “steppin razor” not-so-much achievement. So my advice to anyone and everyone is this, don’t do it, you will feel like you cheated, yourself. and you won’t feel better till you get the achievements the right way.
whew i fell much better. thank you bs angel for your blog / confessional. i will say 10 hail cortanas and 4 our spartans before i play tonight.
Posted by S on October 17, 2007 at 7:48 am
I have attained all of my FFA achievements so far legitmately and yes a few of them where tough. However I would attribute my Overkill achievement strictly to a stroke of luck becuase the guy I killed to start my Triple kill came back to attack me and I killed him again. I do believe the last two I have remaining (steppin Razor, and Two for One) are not attributed to skill but to lucky circumstance. I haven’t gotten that lucky break yet and if someone offers to help, i’ll take them up on that offer. Multiplayer Achievements take away from the experience becuase there are always those kids who only play for the achievements. So if people don’t like “achievement boosting” get the developers to stop putting them in the game, that simple. Then it’s fair for those who don’t or can’t have LIVE.
Posted by Morpheus on October 17, 2007 at 8:13 am
I do trade a couple. I mean, come on…it’s almost impossible to run over someone in the first place, and you’re asking us to do it with the slowest Light Ground vehicle of all time?? And an Overkill? There are only 5 people in Lone Wolves, including yourself. They’re saying you have to kill EVERYONE in the entire game within 4 seconds of each other. And there are no SWAT games to slightly help us with that!! So yeah, I did trade some off. Another thing–The Two For One. When are you EVER going to find any two people who will be stupid enough to ride on a Mongoose together(that’s the only way you’re ever gonna get it) in an FFA PLAYLIST?!? COME ON!!!
Posted by GCSharks on October 17, 2007 at 8:45 am
From the get go, or when I realized you could boost, I knew I would.
I’m a high school senior with many more obligations than I have time to list, and I wanted to get Halo 3 out of the way ASAP. So I played Co-Op with my brother (been doing that since Halo:CE), and played a few other games. Then, when I had time… I boosted.
Changed my language to the second-from-last, and started it up. I don’t feel any remorse or guilt – everybody, and I mean everybody I played with was doing the same thing. Shoot, I don’t even have everything unlocked yet – I still need Mongoose Mowdown.
Berate me all you want, but I feel that what I did was justified, or at the very least fair. Requiring those achievements in a FFA playlist, a ranked one to be specific, was (in my opinion) a poor move on Bungie/MS’ part. I don’t mind the ranked requirement so much, nor the FFA requirement, but together they were just too much for me to tolerate.
My little explanation – enjoy.
Posted by Vlad3163 on October 17, 2007 at 8:54 am
@ Morpheus:
Mongoose Mowdown is actually pretty easy to get. I got it legit (the guy was actually trying to kill me/escape). The only ones I have difficulty with are the multi-kills, but they wouldn’t be achievements if you didnt have to try for them amirite?
Posted by bs angel on October 17, 2007 at 9:00 am
Final question to the blog owner:
If YOU were in a game in which someone had asked for help in the pre-game lobby, would you help, or just run around killing people still?
Honestly, I’m not sure. I have only played maybe four or five games in the Lone Wolves category and haven’t been put in this situation yet. My guess is that I wouldn’t do it along with everybody else because I would be focusing on the objective, but like several people pointed out here, there are only four other people in the game and if they are all doing it, then that leaves you playing with yourself. So then you are faced with the option of killing everybody who is gathering for achievement trading, participating in the achievement trading, or sitting in the corner picking your nose. None of those sound great to me.
I certainly wish the achievements were unlockable in any of the ranked playlists. That seems to make more sense to me.
Posted by Silvercube on October 17, 2007 at 9:01 am
Halo 3?
Whats that?
Sorry, I’ve been to busy playing the new content on Lumines, and Team Fortess 2…. XD :p
Posted by Xupa on October 17, 2007 at 9:23 am
After spending the first 10 days trying to get the achievements legitimately, and succeeding in 6 of the 9, I realized that the more I tried, the higher my rank was getting and the less likely it would be to get them. Seeing as how there were only 3 that I didn’t have (2 for 1, Steppin Razor, and Overkill) I succumbed to the ghostly calls of the achievement spirits and traded these three. I am now able to play any playlist I want without having to think about the 5 gamerpoints I was missing on my card I’m still missing.
Posted by Fezzer on October 17, 2007 at 9:33 am
I really don’t care that people are doing it and I don’t really see it as “cheating” if everyone is involved. In fact it’s not really cheating when you* think about it. The only way you could possible construe this as cheating is that you’ve somehow cheated yourself by not getting the acheivements the “correct” way. But since when were there rules about how to get an acheivement? The only dilemma facing you is your own sense of ethics on how to play the game. There is really no right or wrong that exists here except for within your own imaginary guidelines you’ve made for yourself in an imaginary game with imaginary points.
*The “you” I reference is any individual playing a game, it is not personally directed at the blog writer.
/rant
It annoys me that there are even acheivements in FFA. I never play that. Why would I when I have such an awesome clan to back me up in team games?
I see the FFA achievements as a burden. I thought H3 might be the first game I got all the acheivements in just because I play it so much, but now I don’t know. I can’t be bothered to play FFA enough to get those few achivements. So I imagine I would participate in the trading when I happen to venture into Lone Wolves someday just to get the achievements done and never look back at that playlist again.
Posted by Regicid3 on October 17, 2007 at 9:56 am
I wanted the Marathon helmet more than I wanted to get a legitimate double kill with a single laser kill. That’s the only one I cheated on. I’m not much of a FFA player, I played Lone Wolves to Level 20 and I got them all.
Posted by Morangie on October 17, 2007 at 10:09 am
I don’t have any problem with people who refuse to cheat to get the achievements, or people who cheated to get them (being one of those people myself) but those of you bragging about how you said you wanted to trade, got the achievement yourself then refused to help others are scum.
If you don’t want to trade, say so in the pre-game lobby then if the other 4 still meet in the middle, its their own damn fault. If you have your mic muted and don’t hear anyone asking, again its their fault for gathering in one place. But agreeing to trade, getting the achievement then refusing to help the other players is asshattery of the highest order. You agreed to trade, they helped you and then you refused to help them.
They are cheaters, you are a cheating prick. And the last thing xbox live needs is more pricks.
Posted by Elzar the Stacker of Delicate Pastries on October 17, 2007 at 10:52 am
I want to live in a special place where acheivements that are a legitimate indicator of *skill* are acheivements that you *earn*, not trade.
Then again, I supposed that “Acheivement Unlocked” doesn’t really imply that you’re worthy of that acheivement.
I suppose I’m the only meat puppet who wants rank and skill to reflect my (admittedly average) abilities, and not a psuedo-self that I’ve glitched/traded/standbyed my way up to.
Posted by Tortacular on October 17, 2007 at 11:39 am
My main issue is that it impacts on the experience of other gamers. When I go into a Lone Wolves game and the other four people are off in a corner doing whatever, it kind of lessens the experience for me.
I prefer to get them randomly, I can actually enjoy getting them that way. But then I don’t care about achievements or getting a sword to put on Master Chief’s back. Why would Master Chief wear a Katana anyways?
Posted by TTL L askan on October 17, 2007 at 11:48 am
I would never cheat an achievement. It’s like staging sticks for your montage- cheap.
I leave my mic off in lone wolves PGL anyway.
If I get em I get em.
ZD: I got stuck in lone wolves in a three person game. The other two guys agreed to trade the boarding achievment..easiest laser double kill I ever got. Just happened to blow the ghost up too. ;)
Posted by Queen 0f Blades on October 17, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Meh, I don’t mind achievement trading. I don’t mind helping people get them, but I myself won’t ask. I just wish they weren’t all in Lone Wolves. I would have had the Kill frenzy and sword triple if you could get it in a team game. I know, it’s supposed to be more challenging and what not, but it just bothers me. I would much rather play a team game than lone wolves, so I’m not really enjoying myself when I’m playing in LW, which defeats the purpose of games in general. But my compulsiveness keeps me from just forgetting about the achievements. T_T
Posted by Bleet Tameheart on October 17, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I personally don’t venture into FFA. I just simply don’t like the concept, where two people try to duke it out, and someone chucks a random nade and kills them all. Whenever I’m on Halo 3, it’s always with at least one friend, but more likely with three others and we venture into team tactical or whatever the playlist du jour is.
Even though I don’t have those achievements (nor do I have an extreme desire to get them), I personally wouldn’t mind helping others get it. I mean, I probably wouldn’t have stepped foot into Lone Wolves anyway, so why not shorten my stay?
Posted by R on October 17, 2007 at 1:21 pm
A lot of people complain about these achievements being only unlockable in the FFA playlist, but I think Bungie actually nailed that one. Its certainly better than having them in a team playlist, where some person will spend the entire game trying to unlock that achievement instead of helping the team out. Chasing after achievements obviously changes the way you normally play the game, and at least in a FFA playlist you’re only messing up the game for yourself. Putting them in ranked FFA was the only place Bungie could make sure that they weren’t detracting from other people’s playing experience, and make sure that you actually had to work for them. I still don’t like it, but I can see where Bungie’s coming from. As for achievement trading, meh, if people want the achievements bad enough, they’ll find a way to get them.
Posted by Spartan DC-17 on October 17, 2007 at 1:57 pm
I’m not worried about the achievements too much. I venture into Lone Wolves just because I enjoy to play the rumble pit playlists.
Posted by Lt Anders on October 17, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Achievement trading…
Hm, I can’t say no(since I helped and was helped) to getting them. Even now, if someone needs them (I always ask) I team up and try to help them get the achievements. I legit got all but the sword(well two guys followed me and I had to find a kill a random third), Laser DK, Mongoose (Hitting someone doesn’t splatter sometimes…) and the re board (with me defending the others vs #5 who had no mike).
So in the End, I agree(since it’s in FFA…). Had it been in all ranked (or even all games save custom) then I don’t think it’d be an issue.
If you really want the achievements, be a lvl 1 and hope you get construct or snowbound or the pit(only maps with swords or lasers).
Help getting them Is what I like to do. It’s a fair to help others who can’t get some by themselves. Not everyone is good at halo. My first game ever had 4 people in a row go up the purple lift on construct(with their backs turned save the last guy) into my double maulers.
And if you really suck…you could do the language trick to have 5 friends get into one party…
Posted by halol on October 17, 2007 at 2:50 pm
As someone who’s incredibly busy, and as someone who wants to get nifty armor without waiting for Lady Luck to come along, I can wholly sympathize with those who want to trade achievements. If you want to go ahead and spend X amount of hours trying to get them the legitimate way, more power to you; however, there are those of us with other commitments who’d like to get a few extra points or new armor.
Cheating would be using a gameshark to get achievements. Trading is just an efficient way to get things done if you have better uses for your time than waiting for rare, opportune moments to come along.
(For example, I managed to get a rather beautiful overkill once, but it happened to be in a social skirmish match. I lament the fact that I was essentially robbed of an achievement merely because I was in the “wrong” gametype. Take a page from Ubisoft, Bungie, and make more of your achievements available through any playlist, a la Rainbow Six.)
Posted by Josh on October 17, 2007 at 2:52 pm
It does annoy me, because its just cheap, if you want the achievements, you should earn them.
On the flipside, I’m annoyed because nearly all the multiplayer achievements are on Lone Wolves only, and thus some of them are really hard to get, such as Overkill and Steppin’ Razor, but the two mentioned there are, as an earlier comment said, the ones which unlock Elite perms. Being partial to the worty race, I am really annoyed by the combination of this and the plain lack of Elite perms in the first place – is a Honour Guard helmet too much to ask?
Personally, I haven’t cheated, and i’ve come really close to the Overkill a few times, but I don’t know whether I will definately never cheat for those.
Posted by bs angel on October 17, 2007 at 3:18 pm
I suppose I would be more interested in attaining the achievements if I was passionate about the armor. I can understand others being that way though because I am passionate about my colors. I still have the same basic default armor, but my color coordination is fabulous. : )
Posted by gamertag belpers on October 17, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Some will some won’t so what. Some will cheat, some will play fair, some will find ways to make elephants fly in forge, some will play just to piss off their teammates, some will kick ass and be top ranked in the world, some will just have fun. It’s a game for entertainment from many different perspectives.
Everyone’s out for something different, and I’m so thankful that bungie created a format that allows you to run with those like and avoid those you don’t.
Oh well. So now we know that a person’s achievements say nothing of a player’s skill, strategy, and luck. Now we know if we want to know who’s really better… game on!
Posted by Matthew on October 17, 2007 at 5:43 pm
I think it’s absolutely disgusting. I’ve been thrown into a few lobbies in which these pussies where whoring for achievements. I can’t stand it. It ruins the game because, if the other four agree and I don’t, then I’m screwed. They’ll gang up on me and I’m left with the choice of losing a 4-on-1 match or quitting and being penalized. It’s BS. I didn’t come into Lone Wolves to help anyone get anything – hence the name, “Lone Wolves.” I came in to frag and enjoy myself. And all my achievements are ones that I’ve gotten through my own hard work. I actually get satisfaction out of getting them, because I worked for them.
If they want to cheat – and it IS cheating – and accomplish things without any effort or challenge, then be my guest. But I will be the one running you over in mid-Kill Frenzy and lasering your Mongoose before you can hit someone with it.
Posted by Dan on October 17, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Yeah, I defintly agree. I saw your post on the hawt post and I play halo3 also. People always want to do achievement trading but i agree with you, i have to much playing to kill people not trade achievements.
My gamertag- XIG FaTaLBuNnY
Posted by rolanda on October 17, 2007 at 6:34 pm
ok, my daughter would love you. i am going to have her read your blog, check out what I just wrote about her at
http://www.petersonpeople.wordpress.com
Thanks-
Rolanda
Posted by Kellan on October 17, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Personally, I feel this to be a complete and total failure on Bungie’s part. Im rank 40 in the Lone Wolves playlist, and to keep my rank I have to play legitly. Everyone up at the top already has the achievements, and nobody talks. Its rather hard to not get last place (rank down) and galavant around High Ground in a mongoose. Besides that one, I dont use the spartan laser, sword, or any other weapon thats completley impractical for the Lone Wolves gametype. If I chose to try to get the Steppin Razor achievement, Id get my ass kicked, hard, by the near pro’s I play with. And now that I am ranked in this playlist, I cannot get any of these achievements, simply because it would hurt my rank to do so. I think it was a massive mistake to relate it to one playlist. Rank I have no problem with, but to free for all? Wth bungie? It just doesnt make sense. All I know is that I will never reach 1000 out of a 1000 gamerscore, and that makes me kinda sad.
Posted by p_bro on October 17, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Really I can’t say I got the achievements legit, but I went to the last laguage and got it there with a bunch of consentual individuals, ruining no ones game. If people have a problem with that they can just float and sputter.
Posted by Brian on October 18, 2007 at 4:19 am
I only got help with my “Laser Kill”. I admit it. Im ashamed. But it’s the only one I needed help with. It was always taken when I went…
But I am trying soooo hard for that Overkill. But either somebody quits (and thus Overkill is lost), or two of the players always seem to be sparring on the other side of the map.
Overkill is defenitely the most difficult achievement. Thanks Bungie.
Posted by M20 on October 18, 2007 at 5:58 am
I love it when people ask to unlock achievements. I like to get in position before they arrive, then ambush them. It’s glorious betraying fun! I usually end up winning those games because I start out with the objective of winning the game instead of unlocking achievements. I will be really proud when I do unlock the hardest ones without resorting to collaberation.
Posted by Anon Emus on October 18, 2007 at 7:33 am
I’ve traded before. Generally, if everybody else wants to, I will, but otherwise, I just want to play to have fun. I got the 2x Spartan Laser kill this way, as well as the Mongoose Mow-down. Why? I’m just not good enough to get those on my own any time soon, and on top of that Lone Wolves isn’t my kind of game. Killtacular? I’ll try that on my own. 10 kills without dying? I still see a challenge in that.
But that’s all sort of beyond the point. Some of these achievements are too valuable AND to difficult just as they are. As others have said, even a causual player should be able to unlock the vast bulk of options just by playing long enough at a decent level. 1000 GP for the security helmet, as well as a number of other things? They shot themselves in the foot a bit.
Make the unlockables more accesssable, and people wouldn’t feel as driven to get them the easy way. You know, realistic goals and all that.
Posted by Heptarch on October 18, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I think that, if these multiplayer achievements were available on ALL ranked playlists, I would join in condemning the practice of assisted achievements. I resent that anyone — even Bungie (and especially MICROSOFT) — wants to dictate what gameplay is more rewarded.
That’s because I am a team player. That is to say, I much prefer playing team-oriented games. “Every man for himself” doesn’t do much for me. Even in the occasions where I’m riding the top seat on the list. What difference does it make whether I splatter someone with a Mongoose on a Team Objective game, instead of a Lone Wolf game? I mean, c’mon… REALLY!
If they want to add artificial restrictions on the situations that will win you an achievement, even if you obviously have the skill, then I begrudge no gamer who will use artificial means to gain his achievement.
How about that? Teamwork, in defiance of the Lone Wolf philosophy.
Posted by SidearmS on October 18, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I can say that the only one I had to get with help so far is the Two For One Kill. I still lack the Sword and Quadruple kill achivements. But the rest, all gotten by luck and playing straight up. If I were to enter a game and the idea was thrown about, I would do it just to have it done.
My feeling is this: If all the players say yes, then you lose two minutes or so of game time. THEN you play the game type, and in that regard I don’t mind it at all.
For the two for one, I ran into two other guys on Higher Ground. I was in the act of firing when I hear one of them say they want to try for 2 for 1. So why not? 90 seconds later, we all had the 5 points and were gleefully killing each other. In a way, you make the level harder by letting the legit players go nuts. It makes you play harder and better knowing you have to play catch up.
Consider it a summit if you will; meet once for mutual gain, then everyone for themselves.
My joke is “now everyone stand in the corner so I can shoot a rocket and get that 4 kill”. I get laughs, I get replys, but the point is that there is an answer. Always.
But I also consider my veto more carefully now. Achivements are tougher in say, ODDBALL (which I hate), than Slayer. And it is money whenever your veto a Crazy King, you get Oddball. So I am more decisive with my map choices now.
I feel I am a better than average Halo 3 player, but some of those Achivements are head scratching indeed. 10 Kills In A Row is easier to get than 4 kills in 4 secs. I know this for a fact.
And what is worse, this or glitching?
XBox 360 – But we all still play Halo 3 in the end…
Posted by Lionheart on October 18, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Achievement trading?
Heard that.
If you ask me? Utter Bullsh*t.
Little kids screaming into their microphones “HEY, IF YOU COME HERE SO I CAN SPLATTER YOU, YOU CAN HIT ME WITH THIS WEAPON.”
Its annoying, I mute but still. I cant shake this feeling that there is someone on the map cheating for achievements.
I have been an achievement freak since GRAW, and I may not be very succesful at it, but MS hit the spot with these things.
It adds to the replay value.
Now, MY 360 doesnt have XBOX LIVE, I just have fun getting all the meta game achievements (Heroic-6 skulls) and getting all the MP achievements in Campaign (the ones that can… DAMN YOU, USED CAR SALESMAN!)
Mark each and everyone of my words: Once I get XBOX LIVE, all my achievements will be by skill and legitimacy.
Posted by Excardon on October 18, 2007 at 7:02 pm
I haven’t played much Lone Wolves, but I will tell you this much…
I will be that jerk that kills you while you try to get your achievements.
Just play the game and earn it the way it was meant to be earned.
I’m with angel though, if someone is lining up to do some achievement boosting, I’ll jump in and steal that opportunity as long as it isn’t requiring me to go out of my way to do so.
Posted by Matthew on October 18, 2007 at 11:25 pm
One of my favorite moments so far was getting a killtacular on epitaph with 2 grenades when everyone tried to go for the active camo at game start. I was trying to kill one guy, and got 4, and that game clip will be saved forever ;)
Posted by Richard on October 22, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I managed to get all the achievements excluding the overkill, 2 for 1 and steppin razor all in one night. I mean you just have to keep trying. I find myself sitting there every game holding the spartan laser waiting for a ghost to be boarded (I figured that a ghost/ any vehicle being boarded would be the perfect chance to unlock that achievement) As for the steppin razor and overkill it’s all about luck. I hope I’ll get it eventually it’s my last 3 achievements..
Posted by Murasaki on October 25, 2007 at 4:55 pm
It’s called an achievement. It does not say HOW you accomplish it:
Sheer dumb luck?
Bullheaded perseverance?
Social Engineering? (I.e. convincing someone to fall on your sword)
It does NOT matter. It just is.
But I DO think that the kill frenzy should be 10 kills w/o dying in Lone wolves OR 20 kills without dying in Team slayer.
Posted by Shafaey on October 27, 2007 at 7:39 pm
maaaaaan im almost there but i need xbox live to get da rest of da achievements!!!
Posted by Achieving Satisfaction : buttonmashing.com on October 27, 2007 at 7:47 pm
[...] in getting a few of the tougher achievements that can only be earned in ranked FFA matches. BS Angel talked about this earlier. I’ve been spending the majority of my Halo 3 time in Lone Wolf matches, so I’ve been [...]
Posted by Court on October 29, 2007 at 2:12 pm
I don’t trade or cooperate with achievement hounds but they don’t really bother me that much. I take great pleasure in denying them their precious achievement booty.
I come to matchmaking to play a game, not collect some imaginary achievement (think about it, if someone has to hand it to you, have you really achieved anything?). My job and my family are achievements. Collecting a medal in a video game which has absolutely no lasting impact on my life is a ridiculous thing to be obsessed with so why ruin the game for those of us who don’t get to play for hours on end. If you come into my game looking for help, know that I will do the opposite and your obnoxious whining about how you would have “earned” the achievement you were looking for if it weren’t for me is music to my ears.
Posted by Driver1914 on October 30, 2007 at 7:19 am
I’ve been on both sides of this issue and can honestly say it’s absolutely your choice. Choose to get involved – fine, no harm done every one consented it’s legit. Choose not to get involved – fine that’s your choice. If someone mentions it in the pre-game lobby, just say you don’t want to be involved and that will be the end of it. If the others agree to do it still then by all means blast away – you made known your intentions.
Posted by Billy Bob on November 1, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I must say i have done achievments with this grouping system, i was so worried about the armor i didnt care that it was cheating. I can say however that all of the achievements i cheated on i have earned again the real way after the fact. Now that i have gotten all the achievments i play along wen people try to do it then i kill them all at the same time and get 4 kils instantly
Posted by Will Pheagin on November 2, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I really dont see it as cheating, at least compared to the cheating that would go on in Halo 2. I mean, think about it. Are you really effecting anyone elses rank in a way that would give you ANY advantage (rank-wise)? With me at least, if i ask for help with achievements, I usually tell them i will lose anyways because im not trying to win, so how would that give me an advantage? I admit i could see it getting annoying every game getting asked, but i would gladly give a helping hand to anyone who asked for help. But i can usually tell who’s not going to help. It’s either one of two people. 1. The person(s) without a microphone, 2. the person(s) not talking. If everyone has a mic symbol, you might actually have a chance.
But anyways, i really dont consider it cheating when you’re really not hurting anyone else in anyway, just trying to get some help with achievements that are solely based on luck and whoever happens to be around.
My last 3 are Mongoose Mowdown (easy), Steppin Razor (Extremely hard, especially since i get a double kill i either get killed or cant find anyone), and Overkill (same as sword, but cant get last kill needed).
I dont consider it cheating at all.
Posted by avgJones on November 2, 2007 at 1:31 pm
a·chieve·ment /əˈtʃivmənt/
–noun
1. something accomplished, esp. by superior ability, special effort, great courage, etc.; a great or heroic deed: his remarkable achievements in art.
Posted by JediDreams on November 5, 2007 at 11:48 am
lol…. this is silly. its not cheating, but it is lame when you hear that at the beginning of every match. and there are certain maps attributed to getting you your achievements, you just gotta know what they are, for example:
Epitaph: perfect for the Lee R Wilson memorial (5 grenade sticks)
Snowbound : Overkill and Two for One shot (if its a king of the hill game, and the hill is over the active camo, youre money)
High Ground : Mongoose mowdown, try and get the mongooose that starts at the base, not the beach :)
hope this helped anyone needing at least a starting point. i got ALMOST all mine legit *still need an overkill to get em all* :(
Posted by Poopie Pants on November 10, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I think its funny, cuz they all aggree on doing the achievments at the start of the match and i go in there and just start killing everyone. They just stand around like dumb fuks. lol
Posted by PinkBulletz14 on November 11, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Is it bad if you go into the match needing the 5 grenade sticks and you just run around trying to stick people till you’ve got it? Or, you’re playing a king of the hill match sitting on the outside with the laser trying to get the two for one??? What do we consider “legit” and what’s not? I never traded any with others, but I did do the two scenarios I just spoke of, and I don’t know if it was legit or not. I don’t care. LoneWolves is not my fav playlist. I just wanted the sword. Let me ask the people who say it’s cheating this: When the other four people stood out in the middle about to trade and you killed them all for your overkill do you consider that “legit”? Cuz if you want to get technical it’s not….
pic
Posted by Kyle on November 13, 2007 at 8:18 pm
i got all of them legit and when people ask me i say i got it myself y cant u u have to be good to get it and not cheat i consider people who do ask for help dont deserve there kills and should wear a big sign that says HEY!!!! IM A NOOB I CHEATED ACHIVMENTS AND MEANS I SUCK SO KILL ME!!!!
Posted by RTD on November 16, 2007 at 11:02 pm
yeah i got all but 3 so far (all the legit way) which is very satisfing.. im having trouble with 2 for 1, over kill , and the getting ur vehicle back one.. but im determined to get em all legit .. ne one kno the best way to get the 2 for 1 ??
Posted by MIke on November 19, 2007 at 11:48 am
stepping razor, triple kill and the overkill achievements can be done in team slayer if i am not mistaken. i am not a fan of lone wolves so i rarely ever play it so most of my achievements have occurred within team based games. trading achievements seems like a small matter in the whole scheme of things. i myself have never done it but i can see why people would want to just it done with.
Posted by Rob Flynn on November 23, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I’ve gotten all the MP achievements..most from just playing but I did have to get help from other people for the steppin razor,2 for 1,mongoose mowdown, and maybe next time buddy. I see nothing wrong with achievement trading anytime a person needs an achievement in lone wolves I try to lend a helping hand I’m not like some bastards who hear whats going on and try to disrupt it..then bitch at everyone for making the decision to be a helpful gamer.
Posted by Muk1000 on November 25, 2007 at 5:27 am
Although he says it in most… uncouth terms, I think Geoff over at Rooster Teeth said it best:
“I want to send out a message to all of you cheating little shitheads on XBL. When I’m playing LoneWolves on Halo 3 and you ask me to help you cheat for achievements in the pre-game lobby, I’m totally going to say ‘Yes!’. Then, when you are busy spending all that time lining dudes up for your spartan laser achievement, or your overkill, I’m going to melee you in the back of the fucking head at the last moment, then proceed to make it my life’s goal to make your life miserable for the next five minutes. You’ve been warned. ”
Yes, it’s cheating. It’s no different than beating a game by punching in a code. It’s something meant to be earned, and you’re not earning it. Plain and simple.
Posted by DES on November 30, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I co-sign with Muk, I been playing the game since it first dropped and ive never asked anybody for smack and i do admit ive helped a couple of ppl along the way to get theirs under the condition it was quick n simple. For me personally I like the challenge of unlocking achievements cuz till this very day, i unlock some and im like “Oh snap, i played well, i EARNED it” Sometimes I play so well i unlock 2 achievements in 1 match but there is no other feeling like sacraficing a few levels of your lonewolves to chase ONLY the achievement you want from that particular game to finally get it, then to earn your levels back like taking candy from a baby…
Posted by Michael on December 3, 2007 at 9:45 pm
if people want to go and trade, let them. I have maybe 4 more to go and wen I get a mic, I will ask for help. if you want to be a player that says yes, than kills all and not help anyone else, that is your fault for being a jerk. If someone asks me, I will help them and maybe thay can help me as well. I don’t care if you have to earn it. I earn my triple kills in team slayer all the time and I kill all the time with the sword but thats on team slayer. I earned it, just not in the favored game type bungie wanted me to. It doesn’t matter, Triple Kill is a Triple Kill whether its team or FFA. I think the armor is pretty cool and should be reasonable to get. Not everyone has XBL and not everyone is good enough to get them but I know I can beat anyone of my fri
Posted by Subchunker on December 10, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I haven’t done it. I don’t have many of the achievements. But do I think it’s cheating? Not at all. The achievements in Xbox 360 games are NOT tied to skill. The hidden skulls do not require skill, just persistence. Would I trade? Yes, because I like to complete these things and I like the stuff that unlocks when you do. I bascially don’t because I don’t trust guys to not slaughter me as I stand and wave at them, hoping to get achievements. Do I care about my gamerscore? Not really. My gamerscore is basically an indicator of how much of a game I’ve played through. ANyone can grab a tone of gamer points. Just play King Kong, TMNT and Madden.
Posted by TytheBaker on January 3, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I traded for the Overkill once and felt bad, but like 5 games later I got a real one so I feel better
Posted by Mat on January 15, 2008 at 10:23 am
i gotta say im half an half here. i mean i have nothing wrong with people wanting to achievement boost, hell, look at the stuff that goes on in the orange box. i havent boosted for any of my achievements, my steppin razor fell into my lap with planning, sword reflex and a bit of luck. HOWEVER what DOES irritate me is the utter elitist attitude of the higher ranked games. i wasnt lucky enough to get the D.K w S.L achievement and iv been putting a lot of effort in for it. as i see it this one is literally down too luck so why not? so i ask for people to help and a lot say no. thats cool with me, ill happily settle down for a proper game but what DOES piss me off is the way that people will take advantage of other peoples charity.
i mean yeah they might wanna play a game, thats cool, but we’re asking for about a minutes grace for them to leave us alone and fight the other players. is it really too much too ask that people just lay off for a few seconds if someones decided to be generous and help a guy out?
seriously, i aint got any issues with them wanting to play halo but a little consideration too others would be nice. they dont have too but they could at least be polite and refuse openly etc
Posted by Mat on January 15, 2008 at 11:24 am
double post i know. sorry.
i just reread what i wrote and with inspiration from the good gentlemen who posted before me, i wanted to clear it up a bit.
i have no problem wih boosting, ill help anyone who asks politely
if im not in the mood ill tell them beforehand that im not going to help and if they still want to try and set something up, im not gonna purposely take them down unless i run into them. fair game i think
however, i will NOT pretend to help and then turn on them.
what kind of sadistic dick would want to ruin everyones game by dropping to such pathetic tactics? give the guys a chance theyre only trying to get an online achievement. so what if its doing it differently to how we play? thats no reason to be an elitist arsehole. besides, if your so much better than them you should be able to take them down head to head. personally if i see such cowardly tactics i gotta admit i take extra effort to take the jerk down hard. i dont protect the boosters but ill focus on the coward.
get some honor you cowards.
chances are the boosters are better than you and are just being generous and kind members of the community
Posted by Dragonlord686 on March 15, 2008 at 1:24 pm
The only ranked FFA achievement i have is overkill (thank you gravity hammer), and that wasn’t by cheating. But the rest are impossible to get so i would probably trade achievements.
Posted by Grin on March 17, 2008 at 11:18 am
I started halo 3 about 4 weeks ago.
I have gotten every achievement except for overkill. I’m starting to think I’ll never get it.
In one match I got 3 triple kills 2 double kills. After all 3 triple kills the 4th kill was within 2 seconds away from the limit.
When I play a game, I play until I decimate it. I’ll most likely loose my mind before the highest rank.
bleh……
Posted by knetworx on March 31, 2008 at 8:17 am
These achievements don’t reflect your skill at all. If they did, you would only get 5 points for beating a level on normal difficulty, and 500 points for getting a double kill with a spartan laser in a ranked free for all playlist. I’ve gotten all my achievements legitimately, but I’m ranked up in the 30s in lone wolves. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a DK with a laser, or 10 kills without dying, or a triple kill with a sword, when you’re playing against people who are ranked in the 30s? And people ranked that high don’t f*** around with trading achievements, so I don’t even have that option. I don’t have enough friends who play Halo to do the language thing. So basically, I’ll be forever stuck with 985 points. How is that fair? Somebody who played Halo 1 & 2 (I didn’t) gets to play against noobs when they first start out in lone wolves, while I, having bought Halo 3 shortly after getting my 360, and having very little experience with FPS games, was a noob when I started lone wolves, and thus could not pull off a 10 kill streak, because I had a K/D ratio of about 0.8. I’d be surprised if there were a single person in the world who managed to get 1000 points in Halo 3 without trading, boosting or cheating for *at least* 1 or 2 of them. So I can tell you right now, I’ve done it all legitimately so far, but if the opportunity to trade ever presents itself (I doubt it ever will, unless I let myself lose enough to drop my ranking down below 10, which would totally destroy all stats I’ve built up), I won’t hesitate to take it, because I’m never going to get those 3 achievements just through normal gameplay, and 5 points for each is not worth destroying my stats to try. Put them in team or social games and maybe I’ll care. I’ve gotten two killing frenzies, but they were both in team games.
Posted by TankTheTurtle on April 2, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I agree that in some respects, that achievement trading can be “wrong” and ruin the game for some people, but damn bungie, some of those things are hard! Up until now, i have done every achievement legit, I am currently at 990 points, and missing overkill and steppin’ razor. After trying for a solid week, I came close once or twice, with a skill of less than 15, but from all those games i won, my rank is now 27, and its getting more and more impossible for me to do this. I do not like the way the system screws you this way, and so, I plan to keep trying legitimately for these achievements – for now – but pretty soon i will resort to trading.
Posted by Cody on April 22, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I would love for someone to help me out with the remaining few achievements I need. I think they are Trip Kill, Over Kill, Steppin Razor, Two for One, and Killing Frenzy. So five of em is all. If your willing to help, I am too, so whatever achievements you may need I am here to help.
GT: Hardway87
See you out there.
Posted by Luke on May 4, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Hardway87 ill help i need achievements too i need…well…alot so my gamertag is Caboose 81095 if you need help. I do.
Posted by Luke on May 4, 2008 at 6:08 pm
btw its Caboose81095 with no space
Posted by ryan on May 9, 2008 at 8:53 am
I Earned mine legit with videos and images you can download from bungie.net to prove it. There is a reason it is called an achievement. You achieve something. Trading is annoying and it proves that you can’t achieve anything on your own. Quit Sucking and earn them yourself.
Posted by ryan on May 9, 2008 at 8:54 am
gamertag is CannibaI (last l is a capitol i)
Posted by I've been seen on July 6, 2008 at 12:46 pm
With almost my first time playing lone wolves, I was able to get the 2 for 1, stepping razor, maybe next time buddy, mongoose mowdown, killing frenzy, lee r wilson memorial, and we’re in for some chop. All of these I got the legit way, except the stepping razor, I admit 3 people were attemping the 2 for 1 achievement while I killed all 3 with my sword.. hehe :)
Posted by Raven619 on July 31, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Come on guys, since when is it cheating to boost??? all they want is the nice shiny armour, throw em a bone its their choice anyway.
Posted by eaglepr1me on August 21, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I think its not even that hatd to get most of the achievements.
i mean the campaign ones are really easy and then the ones in lone wolves…
well yeh some of them are hard but steppin razor for example: if i get swords in Lone Wolves(and this happens quite a lot) you just melee from the beginning, not lunging and its so easy to get it. In every sword game i play i score a triple kill. you can get the overkill there too.
I mean the mongoose splatter one, its not too hard. Just take the mongoose n drive around a bit n splatter someone. Its easier on Isolation, coz there are heaps of good weapons on high ground who would destroy the Mongoose anyways.
Then the killing frenzy one is one thing. If you suck and dont get it through skill just camp somewhere with a shotgun and kill them. But someday youll get anyways, just dont be hasty.
the only hard one is the laser DK one.
Its the only one im missing.
I mean i always try to get people to do it with me, coz i want security+katana really bad, but if they say yes, they dont do it. And you cant tell the other players, how to do it where to it etc. and you cant even speak during the game so its almost impossible to get the achievements with other people.
They say yes and want it too but it wont work.
Just try to do it. Camp somewhere with the laser, or shoot a ghost, which is getting borded by someone else( though i shot a ghost with two people on it once and they didnt die they just got hurt). It is hard I admit, and I think Ill take a while gettin it.
The shit thing is i want to lvl up too. Im a brigadier with 45 skill and i want to be general. I think i first try to lvl up, and then do the achievements coz my highest skill cant get lost anyways.
I still try to ask some people to do it with me, i just do it dunno why.
Yeh boys this is what i think
greetz
if someone wants do trade it with the language thing ill do it though.
My gamertag is: eaglepr1me
Posted by eaglepr1me on August 22, 2008 at 12:57 pm
if legendary brawl will come out again, Ill get the achievements there guys.
its easy.
there are 12 players, and you can do them wis them
Posted by iduncurr on December 2, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Personally, achievement trading doesn’t bother me. While I understand that the player wouldn’t get it legit, it’s still an achievement nonetheless. Whether you are for it or against it is your view. I wouldn’t ask to trade achievements but if someone came and asked me, I’d help him/her out.
Posted by sh0tgun mesiah on March 25, 2009 at 7:04 am
Hey iduncurr….I will help you get what you need if you help me get the 2 for 1 achievement…
Posted by freaksh0t101 on December 29, 2008 at 7:07 pm
i dont mide tradeing achievements i just what the “two for one achievement” that one is a real pain….. been trying it for at least one week and nothing lamo
Posted by DaRK Define on January 4, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I believe achievements aren’t there so that you can use loop holes to get them, the point of the achievement process is to demonstrate how good you are at the game, if you are helping each other to make it easy to get it then you are just lying to yourself.
Posted by Anonomis on January 24, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I for one have never cheated for getting achievements (unless you consider looking up where the skulls are) i just play to play and if i happen to get an achievement whoopdedoo. If i don’t whatever …… So far i have gotten the triple kill and steppin razor just by playing swords and completely owning ppl with my B-B kills. What i do is stay in a corner wait for ppl and unleash my fury! My oppinion on ppl boosting is that ppl care too much about fricken armour… ITS NOT REAL FFS! ALL YOU ARE GETTING ARE A FEW EXTRA PIXELS….. so ya those r my thoughts..
Posted by sh0tgun mesiah on March 25, 2009 at 7:02 am
I would love to get the 2 for 1. It’s the only one I dont got and I would help someone out if they helped me..
Posted by mastersync23 on April 13, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I have gotten about 90% of my LW achievements legit, but I only needed help with the “Overkill” one. That one really gave me the shits.