Chris Hecker's 2010 Game Developers Conference lecture "Achievements Considered Harmful?" questioned the impact of rewards like points, medals, and titles on player motivation in video gaming. This contentious topic stirred debate in psychology arenas, but Hecker focused on two broadly agreed outcomes: tangible, expected rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation, while unexpected, informational feedback can increase it. Hecker posits that widespread use of achievements could undermine intrinsic motivation to play, calling for research into this potential consequence.
Achievements Considered Harmful? - Chris Hecker’s Website