Hrm. It may just be that buying the version with achievements gives you more in-game things to aim for. I like statistics and doing challenges so I like Steam versions of things. Part of bring a completionist. Nothing to do with showing off though, couldn't care less if the display website died!

But I'd buy a steam version with achievements over a non-one, if the prices were comparable (say both were on sale but the non-Steam one was a bit cheaper but lacked achievements.)

Blizzard has had them since the days of Warcraft 3.

No. That's the point of achievements, to keep obsessive collectors busy. A global achievement service that would cover Xbox / PS3 / Steam / WoW / whatever achievements in one place, doesn't help the publisher to keep their customers "loyal" and therefor can't succeed.

On the other hand, I never understood why I should care about achievements or what they're supposed to do for me. When did you self brag about an achievement to your friends lately (or saw someone else doing it)? Does it help to impress a fellow? No?

Let's face it: the only person in the world that cares about personal achievments in games (regardless of the service), is the person getting them. Absolutely no one else.

Along with those who obsess about these things.

And yes, those kind of people do exist. Both City of Heroes and Champions Online have groups of people dedicated to getting achievements (called Badges/Perks in those games) and they will happily share and discuss these achievements.

In a way, working towards an achievement is no different from attempting to comple a game. In both instances you set a goal, work to achieve it, and in doing so spend a lot of time using your computer/console.

http://armorgames.com/play/2893/achievement-unlocked

For all you achievement whores... :P

I bought WC3 new and Frozen Throne too, I don't recall any such thing. I also played online. They may have added them, but the only thing I recall was a ladder ranking system. The first time I ever saw Blizzard do anything that looked like achievements it was in WOW right before Wrath launched and it looked an awful lot like the stuff Warhammer Online already had.

I wish Steam achievements were more like Live achievements. I like bringing my Gamerscore up a notch, but I always feel guilty because I will never reach the full 1000 or the additional benchmark new DLC sets. Just getting the clever name with a JPEG isn't fulfilling enough for me. I also like levelling myself up on Bejeweled 3 and Black Ops, though I know an increased level in both games means absolutely jack shit.

I guess I just have a thing for numbers. Let's hope it's not a fetish.

Its like badges on kongregate.