This, and I think Nintendo does that kind of thing in many games, it's just not so on display, but think of DKC or even NSMBWii with the coins and toads, etc.

Yeah, I lmao'd so much when I got this because I took a huge time since I didn't take the time to look the controls up first, it felt incredibly stupid, kind of like when people praise a child's nonsensical drawing.

Another lame excuse from Nintendo...

I could be wrong but I suspect that achievements are highly appealing to a small portion of the (already small) vocal minority that call themselves "hard-core gamers" ...

When I was a teenager there was a handful of games I devoted significant effort towards completing all of the objectives and getting all of the unlockables; but this was a rarity that was (typically) reserved for the best games that had particularly meaningful unlockables. At the time it was common to read reviews about games that included comments like "There is lots of replay value; if you complete the game with only a pocket knife you will get the beret for your character to wear on the next play through"; and I see achievements as being less meaningful than a superficial styling change to a character.

Now, I'm not saying that achievements are a bad thing (I don't have a problem with them being included in a game or a system) but I suspect that Nintendo's reluctance to create a system like this is that there is a significant cost and they don't believe that there is a significant benefit.

It could have both you know.

It disrupts the game experience and becomes more of an application. Nintendo is an entertainment company, not a tech company.

How does it become an application? You are still playing the game for entertainment. Nothing changes that.

3DS doom confirmed?

Well then You can always Add the option to turn them on and off..

To bad, hope PSP2 has them.

You're turning them into an extension of the system UI, for all games. I think the games that can have achievements can do it regardless of whether or not the system is supporting it, otherwise you're forcing something that otherwise wouldn't be there.

Achievements could be goofy and encourage screwing around. What about an FPS where instead of only you getting an achievement for a certain kind of kill, your victim also gets an achievement? That would mean stuff like everyone deliberately clustering together in a multiplayer match just to all get the "8 hit by grenade" achievement.