I only make such a point of it because if achievements aren't challenging, then then they lose their value. Your 'gamerscore' on Xbox Live, for example, is nothing more than a definitive list of the games you have played, and how far you progressed through each. I have no problem with that, but I do take issue with calling them 'achievements'. They are nothing of the sort.

And too, allowing a person to feel as though they have achieved something is nothing like offering them the chance to actually do so. Though, I will agree that the large majority of people would take your side on that. People love to feel like they have achieved something, and so, those in power offer them the chance to do so almost daily. But you see, once again, this depreciates the value of the achievement. Completing a task a monkey with a typewriter could achieve if given a long enough period of time isn't worthy of even a mention, let alone a gold star – yet today's society feels that it is. How long before we no longer care about achievement? How long before the bar falls so low, that merely turning on your games console awards you the 'Began Playing' award? Not long, I imagine. Not long at all.

I agree with your point "Make them challenging" this list is by no means comprehensive. I feel like this is related to point 4, "Allow them to feel as if they're accomplished something." You don't feel as if you've accomplished something if it wasn't a bit challenging.

As far as really hard "old school" achievements, I think it would be okay to maybe have one (maximum) in a game. In this way, most players can achieve nearly all the achievements in a game, and only the select few have bragging rights to that one. More than this, though, and you're alienating too many people. After all, the point of the article is that achievements should make a game more enjoyable, and not feel like a chore.

Where's the "Make them challenging: although most kids these days wouldn't know a challenge if it crept up and decapitated them, there are older gamers out that that appreciate it when they earn an achievement they really feel they had to work for" section?

I think Trophies are stupid, when I played Assassins Creed 2, I laughed from almost every Trophie I got, because I didn't do anyhing special, I killed some guy that I was forced to kill (assassinate). I escaped from a place, and I got a Trophie, and I killed the final boss, and I got a Trophie.

Sure, I can show them that I have actually completed the game, and wohoo for that. But if my friends don't belive/trust me, well why should I care?

Trophies is a way to get people to think a game is longer then it actually is, they make small extra levels or details, things that don't really take long to make, but gets the players to play the game way more. But doing the same over and over again. Where is the fun?