i agree achievments have changed gaming and not completely for the better but i think if theyre done right they can add alot to a game.
I think the best achievments in a game so far are borderlands, which gives you them for doing simple things that take a while so you never feel its too hard to get them but when you do u get a great feeling of accomplishment
End of 2012 prediction:
xbox 360 : 73-75 million playstation 3 : 72-74 million wii : 104-105 million
Most hyped for :
Bioshock: infinte, The Last Of Us, Alan Wake's American Nightmare and Agent