Achievements in ScummVM (non-official) - Proff of concept

[SteveNix]

I have uploaded a small video of a "proff of concept", I did during the weekend: (Edit: Search for ScummVM+achievements on YouTube) - not allowed to post external links here - yet.

Just wanted to share, since it might not only be me that would like to see this happen in some way - not only as an Aprils Fools post

I can't see that there should be any legal issues, since no engine or game assets are modified in any way, but it adds to the gaming experience.

Please comment - it will help me decide the focus of the accompanying blog post - I am doing later this week. And if it is something that others would enjoy, that I should spend more energy on

UPDATE: There is a discussion going on over at the gog.com forum - which goes into a bit more detail on my thoughts (and others )

[criezy]

Here is the link: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZGDRNyC4eqM

[SteveNix]

Thanks for putting the link in

Even when I wanted this "feature" many years ago, I just at that time ended with contributing a translation for ScummVM.

Since my C language writing skills are very rusty, I made this "quick" fix, which if there is sufficient interest could generate "data" enough, that could be used within ScummVM itself - which could then work on all platforms - my hack is Windows only (I might be able to do OSX and Linux as well - but would then rather dig into the ScummVM code).

[clone2727]

Just wanted to share, since it might not only be me that would like to see this happen in some way - not only as an Aprils Fools post

You seem to be missing the point of the joke. We were making fun of achievements, not saying "this might be a good idea".

[SteveNix]

Just wanted to share, since it might not only be me that would like to see this happen in some way - not only as an Aprils Fools post

You seem to be missing the point of the joke. We were making fun of achievements, not saying "this might be a good idea".

I didn't miss the point of the joke If the team had figured it would have been a good idea, you would probably already had done it.

But I didn't want to do the "conceptual" fix, and then not notify anyone here.

The team did change course in regards to Steam app support recently. But I do respect what the team decides to focus on.

The idea, as also some people at the gog.com forum mentions, is that it might give some extra "life" to the older games. The team seems focused on adding new engines/platforms, not that much on adding value to the older ones - as an option.

But if you like you can follow the posts on gog.com, and see more in detail what my intention was.

Thanks for the reply

[clone2727]

But I didn't want to do the "conceptual" fix, and then not notify anyone here.

I fail to see anything being fixed.

The team did change course in regards to Steam app support recently. But I do respect what the team decides to focus on.

That has zero bearing on this.

The idea, as also some people at the gog.com forum mentions, is that it might give some extra "life" to the older games. The team seems focused on adding new engines/platforms, not that much on adding value to the older ones - as an option.

I'm not sure you understand what we do here then. We're not here to change the games, we reimplement them as best as possible. That is the extra life here.

I don't find adding achievements adds any value whatsoever. I take the opposite opinion that it degrades games by artificially extending them.

You are of course free to do what you want. However, this is far outside the scope of ScummVM.

[SteveNix]

But I didn't want to do the "conceptual" fix, and then not notify anyone here.

I fail to see anything being fixed.

The team did change course in regards to Steam app support recently. But I do respect what the team decides to focus on.

That has zero bearing on this.

The idea, as also some people at the gog.com forum mentions, is that it might give some extra "life" to the older games. The team seems focused on adding new engines/platforms, not that much on adding value to the older ones - as an option.

I'm not sure you understand what we do here then. We're not here to change the games, we reimplement them as best as possible. That is the extra life here.

I don't find adding achievements adds any value whatsoever. I take the opposite opinion that it degrades games by artificially extending them.

You are of course free to do what you want. However, this is far outside the scope of ScummVM.

You are right - what needs to be fixed is my use of words and typos

I agre the Team should keep focus on reimplementing games - to help them stay alive - and I am thankful you do.

I guess achievements are not the problem themselves, but how they are designed - my 2 PoC's should never be allowed in a game. And another bad example, are some of the once in Monkey Island SE - like the "cannonball" or the "finished part x" ones - I really dislike the "do in x hours" - doesn't make sense in an "adventure". The "10 minutes" under water was ok - more like an easter egg, that I missed back i the "old" days. And some of the old games have easter-eggs and funny side stories - that could be "rewarded" score 159 of 158 in KQ1AGI could one - just getting "scores" in Sierras games were an "early" form of achievements - I think

This started of as a blog post, about redirecting and capturing output from process under Windows - I just used scummvm.exe as the example. Maybe I should just finish that blog post

Thanks for your comments - I do not think we disagree in the big picture, and keep up the great work - much appreciated.