I am not going to hide the fact that I am an achievements whore. I make sure that I can acquire as many points as I am able, whether that means finding 500 green orbs in Crackdown or being part of the Mile High club in Modern Warfare.  While the concept of achievements has allowed me to get more value out of my 360 games, I have come to realize that my infatuation for these meaningless points has made it difficult to play anything else.

For example, eat-sleep-game.com (Rebel FM) has a Game Club in which they pick a game that some might have overlooked and spend a month or so playing through it and discussing it.  Out of the 5 games they have been playing so far, 3 have been 360 games, and 2 have been regular xbox games that are backwards compatible for the 360.  I own all 5 of these games, yet I have realized that two of them I still to this day have not placed once into my console. Even during the months they have been playing them on Game Club I have talked myself out of playing them, as I figure it is precious time I could be spending unlocking achievements.

The more I thought about this, the more the issue has become apparent.  I own a PS3 and yet have 3 games for it (2 of which still are without trophy support).  I have about 20 PS2 titles, yet have only played maybe 8 of them.  And the most recent game they have started playing on Game Club?  Star Wars: Republic Commando.  I may be the biggest Star Wars fan I know, with over 150 novels and 300 action figures.  I played every Star Wars game growing up, even trash like Super Bombad Racing and Battle for Naboo.  Yet since the 360 has come out, I have purchased Battlefronts 1 & 2, Republic Commando, and both KOTORs, and they have still not left my shelf.  This is where I know something is wrong.  Why can't I enjoy other titles?  Who CARES about achievements?!  It is a sickness that I have realized is ruining gaming for me.

So what can one do?  I am sure this is not the first case, nor will it be the last.  I know I have an issue, one that needs to be altered so that I can sufficiently enjoy my favorite hobby again.  And as a start, I am going to follow along this month with Game Club and play Republic Commando.  I need to remind myself that I had fun with video-games a decade before achievements arrived on the scene, and it should never change.  Having fun is the reason I got into this hobby, and having fun is the reason I will stay with this hobby for the rest of my life.