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Sony to make trophies mandatory?

Trophies are the PS3's answer to the 360's achievements. Now the trophy system was only released for the PS3 a few weeks ago but a rumor is already suggesting that Sony is pushing for all games coming out in 2009 to contain trophies. This source is supposedly a unnamed developer and also claims that Sony is pressuring developers to make trophies unique to achievements.
While not every game may include Trophies for now, at least one major developer tells Joystiq that Sony's answer to Achievements will be "mandated" by Sony for every new PS3 release in 2009.

This isn't entirely unexpected given recently-revised comments by PSN director of operations, Eric Lampel. What's more interesting, however, is that the developer, which is currently working on an early 2009 release, is also hearing that Sony may be enforcing some measure of uniqueness between spoils earned on its console versus the Xbox 360
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  • 0 thumbs!
    tallteen86 | July 18, 2008
    Yeah, if they didn't push it, not so many games would make use of the feature, since it would be extra work for them, and they might not feel like bothering...

    Making it mandatory is a good way to avoid having the Trophy system ending up forgotten....
  • 0 thumbs!
    Marshal Loss | July 18, 2008
    Is that really a good thing? The Trophy system doesn't carry much weight anyway
    • 0 thumbs!
      Tenken | July 18, 2008
      If it isn't mandatory then it's a waste of time from Sony's standpoint anyway.
  • 0 thumbs!
    HisServant77 | July 18, 2008
    This was already known earlier this year by a dev when they received the new SDK kits that included things for Home & trophies. Both are supposed to be required for all future games...

    I honestly thought everyone knew this already... hmm... that explains some things.
  • -2 thumbs!
    SvR2008 | July 18, 2008
    I don't think they should make it compulsory because that might annoy some developers. But I think most games will have what ever Sony say.
    • -3 thumbs!
      Sort | July 18, 2008
      quote
      I don't think they should make it compulsory because that might annoy some developers.
      QQ
    • 0 thumbs!
      iLLmatic | July 18, 2008
      It might annoy developers had Sony said all existing games must have trophy support, but they have already addressed that. All future games should support them though, or else the whole idea is half assed. Achievements are mandatory too.
  • 0 thumbs!
    MusiKon | July 18, 2008
    Doesn't sound like a big issue. Aren't achievements for the 360 mandatory as well?
    • 3 thumbs!
      slumpy monkey | July 18, 2008
      Yes, That's what makes them good, Because there universal.
      Sony were hinting that they weren't mandatory, which would kind of make them a waste of time, and just sorta complicates things.
      • 1 thumbs!
        Shadow net583x s | July 18, 2008
        Developers wouldn't make much of an effort to put them in if they felt like they didn't need to. Sony pushing for them to be mandatory is a good move.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Mnmfan | July 18, 2008
    Adding Trophies would lead to more sales anyway so developers should be more then happy to add them.
    Sales for Stardust have gone through the roof thanks to Trophies. More people will buy a game if it has Trophies.
    • 0 thumbs!
      kik36 | July 18, 2008
      I completely agree and will be buying Stardust as soon as I get the chance.
  • -1 thumbs!
    Final Blade | July 19, 2008
    I support this even more if Sony say all games must have Retroactive trophies.
    • 0 thumbs!
      HisServant77 | July 19, 2008
      But I don't think that's possible except for online portions of the games, the way the trophies are made to work. Otherwise people would just cheat to get them, as sad as that is.

      I kinda like this way, because I'd hate to have them retroactive, but then somehow not give me credit for it in the case that I may copy one save file from one of my usernames, onto another one (on the same PS3, so I don't have to redo certain parts). Get what I mean?
      • -1 thumbs!
        Final Blade | July 20, 2008
        You don't get what retroactive trophies mean. It means that you don't HAVE to restart the game to get trophies, if you unlocked that trophy before the update it will unlock when you get it. The game should be saved on the PS ID. Its how Burnout Paradise is making it, and why that game will be the best one with trophies yet.
        • 0 thumbs!
          iLLmatic | July 20, 2008
          YOU don't understand what it means. There would have to be a way for the game to recognize what you've already done. Since most games don't attach your stats to a server, the only other way to do it would be to read your save file. Since save files are readily available on the net, they chose to focus on future games. Don't like it? Oh well, it's not changing. It's not like developers can push a button and insert trophies into old games.
        • 0 thumbs!
          HisServant77 | July 20, 2008
          FB I understand what it means, iLL explained it pretty well, as to why it can't happen. As much as it'd be nice to not have to redo the games, it's the best way to do it.
        • -1 thumbs!
          Final Blade | July 21, 2008
          iLL Thanks for stating the obvious. Also the point was originally that I would really support this idea if they had retroactive trophies, and I was talking to His Servant not you. Criterion is the only one so far actually knowing how to utilize the trophy system. HisServant Pm me next time So no unwanted people butt in.
  • 1 thumbs!
    iLLmatic | July 21, 2008
    HAHA I guess that was supposed to be a jab or some shit. Did you get your feelings hurt? Poor kid. You keep saying that Criterion are the only devs who know how to handle trophies, so I guess "stating the obvious" isn't very obvious for you. The reason trophies are automatically retroactive in Burnout is because your stats were tied to your PSN beforehand. It's the same reason that some Warhawk trophies are retroactive. Achievements on 360 were a part of the console's feature set before it even hit the shelves, so every game has it by default. Trophies, however, were not a part of the original plan (therefore devs had no prior notice of their future existence) and were implemented later. Yes, developers could give you trophies based on your save game, but SONY does not want it done this way because people would cheat. To say that Criterion are the only people who know how to do it right isn't a logical assessment. It's funny how much you complained about thumbs down, but whenever I correct you, you give me one. Nice.

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