New Trophy System

[shogun00]

I think it's time for Zen to come up with a new trophy system for Zen Pinball, especially if Zen is planning to make a sequel.

After seeing the new Iron + Steal pack only having one trophy for each table. It's obvious to me that the current system is no longer feasible. It appears that Sony has a trophy cap just like Mircosoft does with their Achievement system.

My idea:

Instead of have add-on trophies, why not have all of the trophies tied to the base game and have a medal system to unlock them.

Each table will have five goals to achieve and each completed goal awards a medal. The trophies can be tied to the number of medals that you have unlocked.

For example, we could have 51 trophies on the base game, which contains several bronze, a few silver, a couple gold, and one platinum trophy. One bronze trophy could be awarded for unlocking one medal, another one after unlocking 5 medals, and so on and so forth. The platinum would require you to get 250 or so medals. The more tables that are released, the easier it will be to unlock all of the trophies.

However, we can also have a leaderboard devoted to the numbers of medal that you have and it would be ranked at how quickly you have unlocked them.

[skyway73]

I think it's time for Zen to come up with a new trophy system for Zen Pinball, especially if Zen is planning to make a sequel.

After seeing the new Iron + Steal pack only having one trophy for each table. It's obvious to me that the current system is no longer feasible. It appears that Sony has a trophy cap just like Mircosoft does with their Achievement system.

My idea:

Instead of have add-on trophies, why not have all of the trophies tied to the base game and have a medal system to unlock them.

Each table will have five goals to achieve and each completed goal awards a medal. The trophies can be tied to the number of medals that you have unlocked.

For example, we could have 51 trophies on the base game, which contains several bronze, a few silver, a couple gold, and one platinum trophy. One bronze trophy could be awarded for unlocking one medal, another one after unlocking 5 medals, and so on and so forth. The platinum would require you to get 250 or so medals. The more tables that are released, the easier it will be to unlock all of the trophies.

However, we can also have a leaderboard devoted to the numbers of medal that you have and it would be ranked at how quickly you have unlocked them.

I like it! Bit like The Pinball Arcade system but much more interesting. I would like to see some of the goals to be more inventive and force you to play the game differently. For example, Reach Wizard mode in less than 30 minutes, hit a certain combo, hit a certain ramp with a backhand flipper shot, etc. You could even encourage players to learn pinball techniques this way, perform 10 bounce passes in 1 game, perform 3 post passes in a row etc.

[DiscoKing]

I like it! Bit like The Pinball Arcade system but much more interesting. I would like to see some of the goals to be more inventive and force you to play the game differently. For example, Reach Wizard mode in less than 30 minutes, hit a certain combo, hit a certain ramp with a backhand flipper shot, etc. You could even encourage players to learn pinball techniques this way, perform 10 bounce passes in 1 game, perform 3 post passes in a row etc.

I like the idea shogun has but ummmm no way skyway on reach wizard mode in less than 30 min. That's just mean

Also of note for shogun00's idea there would have to be enough tables and medals available on day 1 of the release because there is a policy at Sony that the platinum must be able to be achieved without the purchase of dlc. Yes the dlc could make the platinum easier but it has to be able to be achieved without dlc first.

[shogun00]

Also of note for shogun00's idea there would have to be enough tables and medals available on day 1 of the release because there is a policy at Sony that the platinum must be able to be achieved without the purchase of dlc. Yes the dlc could make the platinum easier but it has to be able to be achieved without dlc first.

That is just a blanket policy that be can over ruled in a case by case basis. For example, Sony may allow it since ZP runs in a unique way (through DLC), but in exchange the Platinum trophy will be a hidden trophy.

As for the medals, I was thinking that they could be a mixture of easy to hard. The first two could be easy, the third one could be medium, and the last two hard. That way every one will be happy. The casual crowd still has an opportunity in acquiring the trophies by buying more and more tables, while the rest of us still have a challenge.

[DiscoKing]

I have never seen a game where you HAD to buy dlc for platinum. I think most people would be up in arms about that. I have seen games where the dlc makes it easier to achieve the platinum but not necessary

And I like some overall medals earned through all tables like the current team force or score 150,000,000 or others like that and such but I wouldnt want them all as such. I do enjoy trophies that are unique to the table. I enjoy the pictures of thanos, vader, and dead pool and other Star Wars & marvel characters on the trophy tiles. If we went all trophies to support a main game system we would lose some of those cool unique trophy pictures.

Petty I know but still my thoughts on it as I enjoy the trophies and look forward to see them.

And yes for zp3 I would love to see a platinum trophy!!

[MarkItZeroSmoky]

I'm not a big fan of tpa's goal oriented trophies. I prefer how Zen has unique trophies based on the table itself and it's specific modes. I think making each table have the same goal oriented style of trophies would take away from the individuality of the trophies as they are now.

The issue I see now is not the trophies themselves, but the point allocation management under Sony's silly point cap. I wont beat that dead horse too much, but there are a handful of games that have surpassed the alleged 2400 point ceiling. But if Zen has a limit, then they should make everything a bronze in the next game. That would give them room for 160 trophies.

Now I would really love to see a Platinum in Zp3. Keep in mind you would have to trade off a dozen bronze t's for a plat though, lol. But it'd be worth it. But I'm not sure how feasible that is. The only games I can think of that kinda had dlc pop a plat are the telltale episodes of Walking Dead & Wolf Among Us. But those dont have a long running dlc additions like Zen. I don't think we'll see a plat unless Zen releases a retail disc and/or a digital base game with a set amount of certain tables that could all be purchased in one shot.

I would like to see the style of trophies stay the same, with just better point allocation. Dependant on how many tables they plan on bringing with from Zp2 they could have the base set up as usual, (with 4 BRONZE ) leaving room for about 75 tables with 2 trophies. Or about 50 with 3 trophies if going with mostly new tables. But as for the trophies themselves, I prefer them as they are now, linked to an individual table and a specific mode within, along with the Wizard mode trophy itself. Just my 2 cents

[skyway73]

?..Just my 2 cents

And a very well put 2 cents, nice post. At the very least I think we all seem to agree Trophies are an integral part of Zen Pinball and hopefully Zen Studios will continue to support them in some way, both now and in the future.

[Eternal21]

I started playing Zen, mainly because it has some of the rarest (most difficult) trophies. I like a challenge, and I would like it to remain that way. But I also don't like the fact, that the current trophy selection doesn't force me to see everything the table has to offer.

For example, the trophies on the SouthPark table, can be obtained barely scratching the surface of available missions and modes. The latest two released tables (Wild West Rampage, and Castle Storm), are even worse in that respect. You can earn the trophies, and forget about the table in 10 minutes.

Like shogun said, What Zen needs to do is come up with their own challenge/medal/achievement system that will then translate to trophies. Give me 1 trophy per table, I'm fine with that. But to earn that trophy, use 'Zen Trophies', that will make me play the table until I earn them all. It should be similar to the Trophy Cabinet inside Superleague Football Table.

They should have 'Zen Trophies' for reaching the Wizard mode, and for beating the Wizard mode. But also for every other mode that's on the table. They could even add some other fun challenges, not tied to specific modes. And in order to earn a Playstation Trophy for the table, you will need to complete all 'Zen Trophies'.

If anyone's familiar with 'Trials Fusion', it's exactly how they implemented it. Instead of Tables they have tracks. But each track has 3 challenges associated with it, and to earn one trophy, you need to complete those 3 challenges on every track (129 challenges total). It supplied me 2 with months of gameplay, as opposed to a day or two, if I was only required to beat the track and move on.

[Rafie]

Very good, Shogun. I like that idea. However, I could do without the platinum. It doesn't mean that much to me in a game like this. I would be just happy going for the minor trophies and still be satisfied.

Btw, I'm not sure if MS has a cap on achievements anymore. Talking about the Xbox One of course. Sony obviously still does and it's sad.

[skyway73]

I could do without the platinum. It doesn't mean that much to me in a game like this. I would be just happy going for the minor trophies and still be satisfied.

+1

[BarbieBobomb]

Thanks for the suggestions and feedback everyone! Apologies for the late response - I was out of office the last week for GDC and PAX.

Keep the ideas coming!

[Mammouth]

I agree for this new trophy system, but please, don't make random steps like "make a pumpkin ball explose in the arm of octopus".