Eddie Inzauto, Jason Fanelli, Mike Murphy, and Dan Crabtree look at a few of the latest releases, then dive into a discussion about videogame achievements, trophies, and rewards in general.

00:00 - Welcome. Achievement unlocked! Introductions.

01:06 - What we've been playing. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and "the scene." Dragon Age: Origins.

07:50 - Natal launch detailed. Coming November 2010 for 80 dollars or less.

09:20 - Achievements and Rewards discussion.

09:33 - Are you an "achievement junkie"?

13:08 - Achievements and trophies as motivation to play.

16:55 - Achievements/trophies reiterating and reinforcing existing in-game goals.

20:02 - Player-created goals and their relationship to achievements/trophies. Developers preempting players.

22:54 - Can a game rely on achievements/trophies as its only rewards structure? Tying achievements/trophies to in-game rewards. Modern Warfare 2, Uncharted 2, Borderlands.

26:20 - Avatar awards. A middle ground.

27:49 - Importance of achievements/trophies to gamers. What was your first? Nostalgia vs. score padding. Jason's getting ready for Assassin's Creed II.

32:22 - Completion. In how many games have you earned 1000 gamerscore or a platinum trophy.

35:29 - Can a game's rewards structure make or break that game?

37:50 - Social validation: "Whose is bigger?"

39:22 - Scalable achievements and trophies.

40:46 - The most ridiculous achievements/trophies?

45:15 - Can a game exist with no rewards? Maybe Superman 64...

47:18 - Thanks, plugs, shoutouts, and outro. Gamers with hearts.

Intro, Microsoft Xbox 360 startup and achievement sounds. Outro, Sony PlayStation 3 startup and trophy sounds.

Links:

GamerNode - http://www.gamernode.com

GamerNode's Modern Warfare 2 review - http://www.gamernode.com/reviews/8480-/index.html

GamerNode's Uncharted 2 review - http://www.gamernode.com/reviews/8360-/index.html

GamerNode's Borderlands review - http://www.gamernode.com/reviews/8447-/index.html

GamerNode's Academy of Champions Soccer review - http://www.gamernode.com/reviews/8481-/index.html

Eddie's Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/EddieInzauto

Jason's Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/bigmanfanelli