PS4 Trophies, What Are They Good For?

It has recently come to my attention that not everyone understands PlayStation trophies. I wish I could say that I’m surprised, but there are those out there that simply hate fun and that’s all there is to it. All kidding aside, this is a legitimate question that I quite often get when people find out that I am a trophy hunter. Why do we do it? In other words: trophies, what are they good for? Absolutely…something.

Trophies serve some very particular roles for developers and gamers alike, but it is first important to understand some of the reasons that people may look at you when you tell them how many trophies you have, and ask that looming question “What are they good for?”

Absolutely Nothing

Who can say why they don’t like trophies better than those that don’t like them? These are some actual comments received since I started the Trophy Theory column a month ago.

“I don’t like trophy hunting its pointless you get nothing for it”

“Trophies…SUCK.”

“All trophies are pointless online or offline. Just a marketing tool to make you think a game is better value than it is. If you like a game play it for the enjoyment not to hunt down some elusive or easy trophy.”

“I don’t see the point in [trophies]”

Many people find trophies to be an immaterial victory, an extraneous reward that adds literally nothing to the game and instead has such a psychological effect on gamers as to eliminate the fun factor and create a compulsive need to earn trophies instead. Where is this disdain coming from? Are trophies just an added layer that can be easily ignored, or do they fundamentally change games at their very core? Are they really just a psychological marketing tool? While some of the dissenters may be on to something with their views, I don’t think they’re seeing the whole picture.

For the Love of the Game

I’ve made the argument before that the trophy mentality has been around for a long time, since the first time we put our initials on a leaderboard in a game. Trophies are a resume of our accomplishments in games, highlighting not only the feats we’ve accomplished, but also showcasing defeats and things we have yet to complete. If I really love a game, I want to show my support for every little bit of it and earn the Platinum trophy. I am driven to get good enough at parts of the game that require skill and to see all that it has to offer, attempting to play it in ways that I may never have done otherwise.

In fact, that’s what a lot of developers use trophies for too. Studios spend years on a game, only to see some players pick it up briefly and never explore it further. Even those that complete the game aren’t necessarily stopping to smell the roses, as can be evidenced by the trophy percentages that expose the shockingly small number of people that actually do much of anything in games. I’m always amazed when I see a trophy that’s mere minutes into a game have a less than 90% earn rate, and you’ll often see games’ completion trophies sitting at less than 50%. Trophies give that little extra kick to see a game through to its credits and beyond.

In a game like Diablo III, I don’t know that I would normally play as each of the different classes without the trophies to drive me. I’m normally the sword bearing knight type character, and in many games, trophies have been just the push I need to play outside of my comfort zone. Sure, some of you may be able to do that of your own volition. Congratulations on your mountains of self-will. For the rest of us, trophies will have to do the trick.

Get More From Your Game

Time and money are commodities, and there are literally millions of things in the world that are fighting for yours. Gaming isn’t particularly cheap, so we often try to find ways to maximize the value we get. Trophies allow us to take what could have been an eight hour experience and expand it to double or triple that as we replay, perform certain feats, and explore the game to its fullest. It’s much the same reason that home releases of movies get loaded up with bonus features, expanding the value that we get from the purchase.

By now some of you are asking, “What about good old fashioned fun Chandler?” to which I reply “Trophies are fun, dammit!” and though they sometimes prove to be frustrating, most often they provide a road map to what fun can be had from a game. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. Trophies plot a course for how to spend your time with a game, whether it’s deciding which difficulty level to play at, or selecting a particular play style, like the oft imitated challenge of doing all stealth in missions.

Challenge and Competition

Of course, for many trophies are a challenge and an end goal, with competitiveness compelling us onward to achieve tasks that have been completed by few before. The more rare and elusive the Platinum trophy, the more trophy hunters desire it for their collection. Even the sheer numbers of trophies can offer some level of pride for a trophy hunter, allowing them to show off their gaming prowess. I know that my trophy collection is a point of pride for myself, and completion of trophy lists tends to be a challenge that I place on myself to get the most from my gaming experiences.

The value placed on trophies is attributed to the primal nature of the human mind, the same way some may place value in rooting for a sports team, or enjoy things that others don’t. As immaterial as some may claim trophies are, there’s a clear release of dopamine and endorphins involved in the earning of these digital tick marks.

What it really comes down to is psychology, for both those that love to collect every trophy on the list, and the people that find nothing but problems with the trifling trinkets. Sure, they may not be for you, but for those that love to collect them, they are that gold star of recognition, a task list, a set of challenges, and a competition all rolled into one. They drive and validate our love of video games, creating a sort of history book of the accomplishments along the way.

So, trophies, what are they good for? Good god y’all! I’ll sing it again! Or not. Karaoke night isn’t until next week.

We’re still accepting submissions for a future Trophy Theory the will be talking about the crazy things people have done for trophies. I’ve got a few stories to share, but I’d love to share some of yours too! Reach out in the comments or at the contact info below and you may see your crazy trophy story on the site in a few weeks!

I want Trophy Theory to be a conversation. This shouldn’t be me talking at you. It should be a discussion about trophies and everything that comes with it. I want your suggestions for what you want to talk about or see on Trophy Theory. Have a question for the Trophy community that you want to discuss? Throw your ideas into the comments below, email me, or tweet me. You may see your suggestion tailored into a future Trophy Theory.

Essential Reading:

Trophy Hunters

Types of PlayStation Trophy Hunters
The Pokemon Trainer

Yes, this Trophy Hunter has to collect them all, dammit. They will work tirelessly to get that Platinum in every game they came across. Their friends wonder how they have time to eat or sleep. They claim that sleeping and eating are for the weak. They laugh at those who shy away from challenges, especially when it comes to playing harder difficulties. We have one on staff. His name is Chandler Wood.
Super Cereal Hunter

Like Al Gore with Manbearpig, Trophy hunting is serious biznez. These hunters will only purchase games where they can obtain a Platinum Trophy. They want the Trophy lists ahead of time so they can plan and budget accordingly. If there's even a chance they won't get that Platinum, the game will not show up in their library unless they have a secret account where they hide their shameful, less than 100% completed games.
The Strategist

The Strategist is not as hardcore as the Super Cereal Hunter, but they share a bit of common ground. This hunter will also over-analyze the Trophy List when it releases, but they do so in order to plan the most efficient method to obtaining each Trophy. If they can't get a Platinum Trophy, that's okay, they will still buy the game and play it with their main PSN account. But they have a plan in place, one they will not deviate from. Battle maps have been drawn. To-do lists have been made. Do not mess with the handmade strategies.
The Connoisseur

The Connoisseur knows that they're an expert in certain series of games. They can get a Platinum Trophy somewhat easily in these franchises, and they will purchase every installment in that series to do so. It matters not if they like a particular game in the series; it's all about the Platinums, baby.
The Accidental Trophy Hunter

Many Trophy Hunters start out as accidental hunters. They like getting Trophies, and they will go out of their way to get some Trophies. However, they're fairly certain that that Platinum Trophy is impossible to obtain, so they're not going to bother, much like the Realist. That said, as soon as they obtain those Trophies they swore were out of reach, it is game on and they will stop at nothing to grab that Platinum.
The Closet Trophy Hunter

This PlayStation gamer likes to loudly proclaim that they don't care about Trophies. These are virtual goodies that don't matter in the real world, and they're ridiculous to hunt. But behind closed doors, they're secretly as obsessed as the rest of the hunters. Often the loud outbursts over-compensate for their small Trophy count.
The Defeatist

This gamer just knows in their heart of hearts that a Platinum Trophy isn't possible, and it never will be. As such, why bother actively seeking out the other Trophies? If Trophies happen, they happen. Hooray for small, effortless victories.
The Realist

Sometimes that Platinum Trophy just isn't possible, whether it's because of time, desire, or skill level. The Realist knows this, acknowledges it, and accepts it when it happens. However, this knowledge does not prevent them from getting every other Trophy. Just because that Platinum isn't obtainable doesn't mean the other, more obtainable Trophies should be shirked.
The Big Easy

The hunter living in The Big Easy only has one question to ask about nabbing these Trophies: how much effort will it take? If it's too much trouble, they can't be bothered. If they have a Platinum Trophy, chances are great it's their own penicillin—discovered by accident. You'll never see a Trophy in their collection that requires completing a game on the hardest difficulty.
The Kiddie Gamer

These hunters really want dem Platinum Trophies, but like those living in The Big Easy, they don't want to work too hard for them. Instead, they spend their hard-earned cash on kids games and work a bit for those easy Platinums. Pixar titles. Dreamworks. Hannah Montana. Nothing is beneath these players
The Mobile Peasant

This poor schmuck doesn't have time for console gaming anymore, whether it's because of a job or kids. Occasionally, albeit very rare, this gamer chooses to be all handheld all the time. Regardless, the only Trophies the Mobile Peasant owns are all from the Vita. Yes, they even have the Platinum Trophy from Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified. Perhaps Resistance: Burning Skies as well.
The Retiree

The Retiree was the Pokemon Trainer of the PlayStation 3 era. If there was a Platinum Trophy, they did their damnedest to get it. They still buy every PS3 copy of games when they release on the older platforms, but they won't upgrade to a PS4. Old games may be old, but they like them that way.
The Single-Player 4 Lyfer

Many hunters fall in this category (including me!). They love getting Trophies and hate playing multiplayer games. Discovering that the only way to get a Platinum Trophy includes nabbing multiplayer Trophies is a kick in the gut. It doesn't stop them from playing the game, though, or getting as many Trophies as they can. They have a bit of the Realist in them, but they differ in that they absolutely shun the multiplayer elements at all costs.
The Dudebro

We all know a Dudebro or two. You definitely knew them in college. The Dudebro plays a lot of Call of Duty and buys every version that drops. They also have every single Trophy for each Call of Duty, but for the multiplayer only. They have no idea why the single-player portion exists. The Dudebro comes in all shapes and sizes and genders.
The Jock

As it sounds, the Jock's library is fully stocked with sports games, and they have a Platinum Trophy in nearly every one, if not all of them. These are the some people who buy every iteration of Madden NFL and/or FIFA every year without fail, and they still work to get that Platinum each and every time.
The Hipster

Trophies? Who cares about Trophies?