Friday, August 15, 2008

A Kongregation of Flashy Statistics

Gasp, it's Friday, and I haven't made my post on Table Salt Games yet! Let's take a look at Richard's last post. He played the flash version of Portal on Newgrounds? Allow me to explain why this is both foolish, and a great idea, but first, some background.



Kongregate is a site containing oodles and oodles of flash games. There are tons of sites like that, what makes this one special is that you can register for it. That is more of a drawback than a plus, until you realize that once you register, you can earn badges by completing certain tasks. For example, in Portal: The Flash Version, you can earn the "Cakewalk" badge by completing level 5, and the "Deceptive Dessert" badge by completing level 40. (Both of which I have done.)

What do these badges do? They give you points, which become associated with your profile. And these points, surely they must do something, right? Of course not. If this sounds eerily familiar, then you are aware of the Xbox 360's achievement system. Instead of badges, you get achievements, and instead a higher point total, you get a higher gamerscore, which is also useless. Since these points don't do anything, most people wouldn't register for Kongregate, or bother playing easy games on Xbox to get a higher gamerscore, right?



If you thought that, you would be dead wrong. Even though these scores are nothing more than a worthless 'e-penis' people go bananas for them. This is beginning to encroach on an idea I have for a Will and Beyond post, but numbers really motivate people. So why is Richard playing this game on Newgrounds versus Kongregate foolish? He's not earning precious points! On the other hand, why is it a great idea? Once you start collecting points, you don't want to stop, and there goes your time.

My labmate and I are in competition for points, and it can hurt your productivity if you're not careful. Speaking of points, you also get points for referring people, so if this post has made you want to sign up, and you haven't yet developed a disdain for me, use this referral link when you sign up.

There is a countless number of great games over at Kongregate, but to avoid ruining Richard's new Flash Friday column by giving you a huge list of them, I'll just give you two good ones, Shift and Desktop Tower Defense. The former is Portal-esque, and the latter is a huuuuge time drain, but a fun time drain.

Photo: Flickr

Godspeed.

8 comments:

Richard R. said...

Wow, I may go to that site now and start Portal from the beginning. I need to get the e-penis!

And damn you for talking about Shift. I was going to talk about that one eventually. The Desktop Tower Defense looks cool though. I'll give it a whirl.

Anonymous said...

I figured I can't have a post about a flash site and not at least feature a couple of its games. 1 of 2 isn't bad; I had a fear that I might have wiped two games off your list. Even though I talked about Shift I'm sure there are things after Shift you could talk about...

Anyhow, at one flash game a week, you'll still have enough games to post about for the next 30 years or so.

Lemme know if you sign up; my username there is randomguy132.

Anonymous said...

Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no data backup.
Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?

My web site; youtube hits

oakleyses said...

burberry outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, michael kors outlet, kate spade handbags, coach purses, louis vuitton, louboutin outlet, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton outlet, michael kors outlet, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, michael kors outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, air max, tory burch outlet, christian louboutin shoes, tiffany and co, coach outlet store online, longchamp handbags, coach factory outlet, louboutin, coach outlet, longchamp handbags, nike shoes, prada handbags, oakley sunglasses, oakley sunglasses cheap, louboutin shoes, kate spade outlet, michael kors outlet, prada outlet, ray ban sunglasses, tiffany and co, air max, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, chanel handbags, jordan shoes, gucci outlet, burberry outlet, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton handbags, louis vuitton outlet stores, longchamp outlet

oakleyses said...

wedding dresses, moncler, juicy couture outlet, toms shoes, oakley, canada goose jackets, canada goose uk, converse shoes, moncler outlet, ugg, lancel, air max, converse, moncler, hollister, timberland boots, ugg boots, montre homme, gucci, juicy couture outlet, moncler, air max, baseball bats, louboutin, coach outlet store online, parajumpers, canada goose, ralph lauren, vans, canada goose, canada goose outlet, louis vuitton, canada goose, hollister, moncler, karen millen, canada goose, iphone 6 cases, supra shoes, moncler, ray ban, hollister clothing store, rolex watches, moncler, ugg, canada goose

Anonymous said...

ninest123 16.03
tiffany jewelry, louis vuitton, ugg boots, ugg boots, chanel handbags, louis vuitton, michael kors, longchamp, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, uggs on sale, replica watches, michael kors outlet, prada outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, michael kors outlet, nike free, replica watches, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin outlet, louis vuitton outlet, tory burch outlet, burberry outlet online, nike air max, louboutin shoes, prada handbags, burberry, oakley sunglasses, ugg boots, michael kors outlet, michael kors outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, nike air max, gucci outlet, longchamp outlet, ugg boots, louis vuitton outlet, tiffany and co, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors outlet, nike outlet, oakley sunglasses, jordan shoes, christian louboutin outlet, louboutin, oakley sunglasses, longchamp outlet, oakley sunglasses

Anonymous said...

nike air max, hollister, nike trainers, ralph lauren, abercrombie and fitch, ferragamo shoes, nfl jerseys, p90x workout, iphone cases, herve leger, soccer jerseys, soccer shoes, nike roshe, instyler, s5 cases, ghd, mac cosmetics, baseball bats, north face outlet, beats by dre, mcm handbags, iphone 6 plus cases, louboutin, insanity workout, iphone 6s cases, iphone 5s cases, babyliss, wedding dresses, oakley, mont blanc, hollister, birkin bag, reebok shoes, nike air max, valentino shoes, bottega veneta, lululemon, north face outlet, iphone 6s plus cases, celine handbags, new balance, vans shoes, chi flat iron, asics running shoes, giuseppe zanotti, hollister, longchamp, ipad cases, nike huarache, jimmy choo shoes, timberland boots, iphone 6 cases

Anonymous said...

converse outlet, coach outlet, hollister, swarovski, converse, louis vuitton, moncler, ugg boots uk, canada goose, montre pas cher, wedding dresses, gucci, juicy couture outlet, supra shoes, doudoune canada goose, ugg pas cher, moncler, canada goose, canada goose, swarovski crystal, louis vuitton, canada goose outlet, pandora charms, barbour, links of london, barbour jackets, canada goose uk, moncler, moncler outlet, karen millen, sac louis vuitton pas cher, ray ban, louis vuitton, bottes ugg, marc jacobs, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, juicy couture outlet, replica watches, pandora jewelry, pandora charms, lancel, toms shoes, thomas sabo, moncler, pandora jewelry, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, moncler, louis vuitton, vans, moncler, canada goose outlet, canada goose, moncler
ninest123 16.03