Slashdot Launches User Achievements 1582
In a concerted effort to compete with more popular MMOs like World of Warcraft, we've decided to add an Achievement system to Slashdot. We've retroactively granted around 900,000 achievements to our logged in users. You can view them from your user page, or you can see my list if you're curious what a REAL achiever looks like. Many achievements have been sprinkled throughout the system and are awaiting discovery by dedicated Slashdot users, but a starter list of achievements is in the FAQ. I'll toss you one freebie: you can register your wow main for points if you're that kind of person.
Now go forth and achieve!
Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Interesting)
Also, how are you computing the total number of Achievements? If you add up my achievements (and if I add the powers of two I get closer) but it doesn't come out to be the number you posted.
Also, if I have CmdrTaco's attention, why not leave this up? You've written the code for it and although it will certainly tax your database (default awards were handed out on different days) to update these values for everyone, why not leave it in place? Are you afraid this would increase karma whoring (it's in powers of 2 anyways) or produce negative effects?
For those of you without Warcraft characters, you add it to your user page and then it appears on the right of your user page as a hyper link to the armory (check out my user page). Then you get a +1 achievement with Level 80 (or I guess whatever level your main is) on your Achievements page.
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Funny)
I thought we were capped at Level 50.
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Funny)
There's going to be an expansion out soon, upping that to level 60.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I thought it was going to be over 9000 :( [youtube.com].
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I thought it was going to be over 9000 :( [youtube.com].
Or 8000 in the original Japanese...
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
And with each expansion they will exponentially decrease the difficulty to achieve things until a 2-year-old facerolling the keyboard could... oh. We weren't serious?
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Funny)
Bah, everyone knows the real achievement is getting a frist post!
Except CmdrTaco. The one thing I'm actually proud of here and he leaves it out..
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
They should definitely have both first post and frist post achievements.
And one called Redundancy Lord (for 10+ redundant comments within a month)
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Insightful)
I believe it's referred to as karma whoring here.
Slashdot achievements (Score:5, Funny)
Get a first post
Link to goatse and get moderated +5
Get +5 troll
Get fired from a job for reading slashdot instead of working.
Start a new meme.
Be SO funny that someone spits coffee onto their monitor.
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Slashdot achievements (Score:5, Informative)
Obviously!
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Slashdot achievements (Score:5, Funny)
So much for karma whoring... Now we'll have "achievement whoring". I want Pink Slashdot [goat.se] back! Whateva.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Pink slashdot hurt my brain. No, really.
So, is this place a MMOBBS now?
If you want a hideous layout... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:If you want a hideous layout... (Score:4, Funny)
It's in my scroll bar?
-
Re:Slashdot achievements (Score:5, Funny)
- Make a "In Soviet Russia..." reference
- "Hot grits"
- Call someone a Nazi
- Use a car metaphor
- Actually read the article referenced
- Use "RTFA" in a reply
- Point out that the article is a dupe
- Get a dupe posted
- Mention that you are not a lawyer
- Point out a grammar or spelling error
- Flame a Windows/Linux fan boy
- Start a discussion that goes off topic for at least 5 generations deep
- Post a reply over 100 words long without using any punctuation and paragraphs.
- Reply to your own comment using a second account
Are there going to be Slashdot dailies also? "Get 100 karma points for reading 1 article from each of 10 different topics today."
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
WoW currently has a meta-achievement for clearing basically all of the achievements associated with current raid content, some of which require you to do fights in very odd ways, others of which are just plain hard. This is currently seen as "the big one" of achievements, not least because it rewards you with a very fast dragon to ride.
I think the slashdot equivalent would have to be as follows:
"Reach all of the achievements listed below:
- Make a +5 moderated post explaining why Windows does something bette
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Funny)
My guess is its the Giant Sandworm from Arrakis "Shai Halud"
BTW I don't play WoW you insensitive clod!
Since its the first day of the fourth month please think of the poor children in Fargo who are unable to celebrate this 'holiday' with their teachers. (schools are closed due to the flood)
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, think of the poor children in Fargo who... ...live in Fargo.
Get out now, little ones! There's another world outside! And it doesn't shut down after 8pm!
Remember Gmail? (Score:5, Informative)
Also, if I have CmdrTaco's attention, why not leave this up?
From the FAQ [slashdot.org]:
The achievements system was launched on April fools day of 2009 in order to allow for certain joke achievements, but the system itself is a real one. This allows Slashdot users to track accomplishments and milestones (and stroke the epeen, which is what it's all about anyway) as they use the site.
Re:Remember Gmail? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Remember Gmail? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:4, Interesting)
I (and many many others) have an achievement [slashdot.org] called "The Maker" ... what does that mean? It's not listed in the FAQ.
I don't have that, so it's something you did that I didn't. Does that help?
You also got "The Contradictor". Any idea how you got that? And any idea how I got "The Tagger", considering I don't even know how to tag an article (I think you have to be a paid subscriber or something, which I'm not).
I'm beating you on the number of consecutive days of Slashdot reading. Wait, should I be proud of that?
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Also, how are you computing the total number of Achievements? If you add up my achievements (and if I add the powers of two I get closer) but it doesn't come out to be the number you posted.
Rounding errors, gets them every time...
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
I have "The Tagger", even though I have never tagged a story. It's just a really bad joke.
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:4, Insightful)
If there is, it would be impossible to get it :(
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Unexplained Achievement "The Maker"? (Score:5, Informative)
But then you'd never get it because the achievement for getting all the achievements is part of the requirement for getting the achievement!
*head explodes*
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
blank achievements count as 1; integer score achievements count at face value; exponential score achievements count as the exponent+1, because those begin at 2^0.
As you surmised, C.Taco pads his out by stuffing as many points as needed in "the cheater." He'd still be 38 to your 25 (and my 13) without cheating.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm going to guess whatever script he ran to scrub the database for achievements had some errors, and is improperly awarding them.
Which also means some people are missing achievements they should have.
Which says to me the whole thing is a big joke and will be gone tomorrow.
[2. Trade] (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Very funny... (Score:3, Insightful)
Since slashdot is about 14 hours late with the april fools, will we expect this for another 24 hours, well into April 2nd?
Re:Very funny... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Very funny... (Score:5, Insightful)
Except, they didn't just throw a static "haha, gotcha" page up... Slashdot really has implemented this system.
They might not leave it up after today, but I don't know if you can call an actual, working system of award-tallying a proper "April Fools" hoax...
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Of course you can! It's just an involved April Fool's hoax - after all, if they didn't implement *something* it wouldn't be very convincing at all, would it? As it is, is anyone here *not* wondering if maybe, just maybe, it's not a hoax after all?
Re:Very funny... (Score:4, Funny)
No, it doesn't depend on where you are, at the moment of writing it's 14:51 UTC. Everywhere.
Does this mean we've stopped doing the sack races? (Score:5, Funny)
This is a violation of my privacy. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This is a violation of my privacy. (Score:5, Insightful)
So just do like everyone else, and don't log in unless you want to post. Then it won't know when "you" have visited unless you actually write something.
And if you do write something (not as AC), you've violated your own privacy, no not much right to whine there.
bugged (Score:3, Interesting)
The obviously should have tried this on the public test realm [slashdot.org]. Hope you like all the qqing about impossible to achieve achievements. Nubs. 5 digit uid indeed.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
What are you talking about? 5 digit UID was easy.
Oh wait...
Re:bugged (Score:5, Interesting)
For a number of years I've wanted a slashdot greasemonkey extension called something like "slashback" which would restrict all comments to people with UID lower than your own, thus returning slashdot to the same user community that got you to sign up in the first place.
I tear up a little just thinking about it, of course not enough to actually write such a thing.
Maybe next year, Taco? And, please keep the achievements, I love them! I'll come back tomorrow and be logged in, I promise!
Re:bugged (Score:5, Funny)
For a number of years I've wanted a slashdot greasemonkey extension called something like "slashback" which would restrict all comments to people with UID lower than your own, thus returning slashdot to the same user community that got you to sign up in the first place.
I'd respond to this, but unfortunately I can't see your post.
Re:bugged (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I like this idea, sadly I would have never found it from a plebeian like yourself.
Re:bugged (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3)
Missing Achievements (Score:5, Funny)
* UID is a prime number. (no wouldn't get it myself, i'm a couple of digits off)
* Has been moderated (-1 troll) more than 5 times
* " " Flamebait " " etc
Any others?
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I can't believe that they left out "UID as a prime".
I would have had it.
*sigh*
Not the worst idea ever (Score:5, Insightful)
This isn't the worst idea I've ever come across but I can't help feeling it's walking down the idle route. I like achievements in games I'm not really sure they fit into a news discussion site. Still there's a good chance they won't be around tomorrow anyway.
how about respect to the elders? (Score:3, Interesting)
as a vertern who only checks every now and then compared to every second 5+ years ago - what about us veterns? should there be a 5, 10+ year member status? :) still, fun stuff, gives boasting points :P
Whatcouldpossiblygowrong (Score:5, Funny)
PWNIES (Score:4, Funny)
I've been a member for what...4 years now (Score:5, Funny)
No category for self discipline (Score:5, Funny)
april fools! (Score:4, Funny)
I'm guessing posting here will get me the April Fools achievement!
best. achievement. ever (Score:3, Funny)
Let's face it, this is the best thing to be on slashdot since OMGPONIES!
*sighs* I kinda LIKED that theme too... ah well, such is life
Or was this the april fool joke? (Score:3, Informative)
Trying to get the "April Fool" acheivement.
sigh (Score:3, Interesting)
Only 2 points for my ID, i'm so sad. Why no achievement for meta-moderating 5 days in a row?
Ding (Score:5, Interesting)
Don't mind me... on my way to achievement whoring.
Re:Come on (Score:5, Funny)
Not necessarily... Don't you remember OMGPONIES!
Re:Come on (Score:4, Funny)
I don't think OMGPONIES was around for his UID ;)
Re:Come on (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
They've certainly gone to a respectable amount of effort with this one. I was expecting Taco's achievements page to be static HTML, but it seems we all get them.
I was surprised by that, too. I'm trying to decide how far back they went in the database to come up with the numbers.
Re:Come on (Score:4, Interesting)
Not far enough IMHO. For some of them, it appears they went with the most recent that would get the achievement. However, I'd really like it to go back and find the OLDEST.
Then again, they may not have relevant data from the early years.
Re:Come on (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:3)
Re:The real question here is... (Score:5, Insightful)
Comedians are Funny. Be funny, and you can be a comedian.
To be or not to be... (Score:5, Informative)
P.S. - Mods, this one is informative or you'll break the chain.
Re:I'm....stumped... (Score:4, Funny)
Then how come I've gotten about 10 "page load error" messages this morning?
I figure the server was Slashdotted.
Re:I'm....stumped... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'm....stumped... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I WANT TO BE 1337! DID I GET THE "ALL CAPS ACHIEVEMENT!1!"?
No. Your last line wasn't all caps. Better luck next time!
Re:ME ME ME! (Score:5, Funny)
ME TOO!
Oh, and in case anyone needs help getting the "Spend all my modpoints" achievement, I'd be happy to accept Funny mods. Here, I'll even tell a penguin joke.
I can has funny? :D
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I WANT A PONY TOO!
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
ME TOO!
</AOL>
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Hehe, got around the lameness filter with HTML escape sequences! (Maybe the lameness filter needs some improvement?)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
I LIKE BIG CAPS AND I CANNOT LIE.
YOU SLASHDOT BROTHERS TESTIFY
WHEN A COMMENT COMES IN
WITH A CHUNKY TYPEFACE
AND THOSE CAPS ALL IN YOUR FACE
YOU GET SPRUNG[1] AND YOU
WANNA TROLL REAL TOUGH
BUT THAT GNAA BUTT GOT STUFFED
THOSE CAPS CAN BE QUITE WEARING
BUT I'M HOOKED AND I CAN'T STOP STARING
OH CAPS LOCK, I WANNA GO HOLLA
YOU'RE SO COOL LIKE A POPPED COLLA
THOSE MODS THEY TRIED TO WARN ME
BUT SHOUTING IN CAPS JUST MAKES ME HORNY
I'M TIRED OF STYLE GUIDES
TELLING ME TO WRITE SMALL SIZE
TAKE THE AVERAGE CRAZY AND TELL HIM
Re:Oh good god... (Score:5, Funny)
Exactly. For example, those less-than-six digiters now get in achievements to rub it in even more, as if the number accompanying their every post wasn't enough. :(
One day, I'll have a one-digit user ID. You all just wait.
Re:The April Fool (Score:4, Interesting)
Now we just need little icons representing each of our achievements next to our names.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm trying to figure out if pairing achievements with webforums is genius or the beginning of the end of a useful internet. Maybe the end of the era of work productivity, at least.
Re:The April Fool (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
All we need is an AJAX box that blips and says "Achievement Unlocked - 5G The Comedian"
A new Firefox extension appears!
Re:So ... (Score:5, Funny)
A new Firefox extension appears!
> Fight Spell
Item Run
Command?
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
No Such Luck, Sorry (Score:5, Informative)
Re:When did this happen? (Score:4, Insightful)
No no, you have it backward...
People melt down websites mentioned on the FP of Slashdot.
WoW melts down the people sadly addicted to it.
Slashdot just wants to combine the best of both worlds.
Re:Dear slashdot (Score:5, Insightful)
Oh, come on... This is the least obnoxious Slashdot April Fool's so far. Do you want them to go back to the entire day being fake stories? Or OMGPonies!!!?
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
You must be new here.