Points>Life: Collect-a-thon!

by Xav de Matos { Jun 17th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Each week, X3F tips gamers to the tricks of the trade of Achievement hording in Points>Life. Every week a new achievement is unlocked to help you continue your unhealthy obsession with the Xbox 360 meta-game.

Throughout the ages in the world of game design, the idea of collecting random items was developed to artificially extend the life of a game. Why only include a five-hour campaign when you can stuff that length with two hours worth of collecting junk, right? Until the advent of the Xbox 360 such collect-a-thons had no business in our games, but for those of us addicted to Achievement Points it has become a necessary evil in our war to 1000 points.

This week in Points>Life we're taking a look at some recent offenders on the Xbox 360 and attempt to show you where all those knickknacks, trinkets and gems are hidden. Sit back, it's going to be a bumpy and boring ride to Collect-a-Thon city!

Condemned 2: Bloodshot
Released: March 11/08

Lost Items: Antennas, Emitters & Forensics
Achievement Reward: 50GS

Item and Response Guide | Forensics Guide
Video Walkthroughs

Assassin's Creed
Release: November 17/07

Lost Items: Flags & High Points
Achievement Reward: 130GS

Complete Guide with Location Maps

Grand Theft Auto IV
Release: April 29/08

Lost Items: Pigeons
Achievement Reward: 50GS

Complete Pigeons Location Guide/Video

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Release: November 06/07

Lost Items: Intel
Achievement Reward: 40GS

Intel Location Guide/Video

Army of Two
Released: March 06/08

Lost Items: 14 Briefcases
Achievement Reward: 40GS

Briefcase Location Guide
Video Walkthrough

Tags: army-of-two, assassins-creed, condemned-2, condemned-2-bloodshot, grand-theft-auto-iv, gtaiv, points-greater-than-life, points-life

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Outinthedark @ Jun 17th 2008 4:09PM

blah...sorry Xav but this is lame...would rather see a video description...

GameFAQ's has been around forever and I'm sure most people at least know of it...

Outinthedark @ Jun 17th 2008 4:10PM

Btw did something come up that you couldn't make a new vid?

[Seems like this was a backup for a "just in case" moment]

Xav de Matos @ Jun 17th 2008 4:24PM

This post was a reply to a request in the comments of GTAIV. While I'm sure hardcore users are aware of other places to get this info, this specific feature is geared toward people who may not be aware of other avenues of information.

Also, I am insanely sick so today was a good day to do this!

We'll return with a regular P>L video next week!

Outinthedark @ Jun 17th 2008 4:26PM

Well get better then!

And I hope the person who made the request view the post and the ridiculously useful pigeon guide!

Do you have an active list of requests?

schwal @ Jun 17th 2008 4:15PM

How did you miss Crackdown? that basically was a collect-a-thon!

Xav de Matos @ Jun 17th 2008 4:27PM

I tried to focus on more recent titles, but you're right. There are a ton of things to collect in Crackdown.

ZEBRA NINER @ Jun 17th 2008 4:30PM

Yes, tracking down all those agility orbs was horrible. I HAD to do it though!

The intel is COD isn't that bad, and the briefcases aren't too hard to find in AO2.

I'll have to bookmark this for the Condemned walkthrough, I need to get those sweet ch33v0z!

Flakundenga @ Jun 17th 2008 4:21PM

i hate these types of chievements, but out of the whole list i think AC is the worst cuz they have over 100 things to collect >:(

dylan @ Jun 17th 2008 4:24PM

Try Crackdown, over 850 orbs to collect, many cleverly hidden...

DjDATZ @ Jun 17th 2008 4:32PM

Crackdown is much worse. Luckily this guide helps...A LOT: http://picasaweb.google.com/frodekn/HiddenOrbs

CyberKnight @ Jun 17th 2008 5:09PM

@DjDATZ:

Agreed, that site is HUGE for the hidden orbs.

I wish there were a similar one for the agility orbs. It'd be more insane, considering there are 500 of them, but I have less than 5 left and I have NO idea where they are. X(

DjDATZ @ Jun 18th 2008 12:02AM

@cyberknight if i still owned crackdown AND you could see other's orbs, i'd surely help you find them...unfortunately...i can't see the ones you're missing.

SytheMaster @ Jun 18th 2008 4:59AM

Assassin's Creed actually has 420 flags and 40 templars to find.

Kev (gamertag: ksiddique) @ Jun 17th 2008 4:28PM

I'm currently getting all the flags/templars in Assassin's Creed and I'm finding this site extremely helpful:

http://assassinscreed-maps.com/

DjDATZ @ Jun 17th 2008 4:33PM

I used that for my AC run through.

DjDATZ @ Jun 17th 2008 4:31PM

Honestly, I'm a sucker for these ones. :(

I've gotten the achievements in question in 4 out of the 5 games listed. lol Then again, I always use a guide for these, and I try my best not to collect them when i know of them.

Have all the flags, templars and high points in AC. (Btw, the high points weren't that much of a bitch to get cuz they were always marked off on your map...I think you wanted to mention the Templars...)

I have all the pigeons in GTA IV, those were a bitch to get, cuz after just about each one, you had to run away from the cops. GRRR.

I have all the intel in COD4 and I have all the briefcases in Army of Two (what a dreadful game that was...).

You did miss 3 big ones that instantly come to mind... Burnout Paradise (Billboards, Jumps and Smashes), Crackdown (Hidden Orbs, Agility Orbs and the Cars) and Superman Returns (Kittens).

Of course, finding the guides makes these achievements INSANELY easier to get.

Enjoy!

Oh, and yes, I LOVE my sandbox games. It's my second favorite genre, racing being my first.

Andrew @ Jun 17th 2008 4:49PM

I got screwed by COD because I messed around with one of the cheats WITHOUT saving. I guess the first time you enable a cheat it shuts down the whole achievements system...

All I had left in that game was the intel and the Mile High Club achievements...