Badges
From Badges Wiki
There are 4 kinds of badges that can be won.
Contents |
Mastery Badges
Mastery Badges are given for reaching a high score. The "value" of a Mastery Badge ranges from 1 to 10 where 10 is given for the highest score. Mastery Badge level 10, also known as ML10, is considered the ultimate goal for a game. Since the last ML adjustments Microsoft made ML10 has been proven possible for all games. Only the highest ML badge you've earned in each game will show in your badge album. However, since each game only has one ML badge animation to show in the "Trophy Case", this isn't much of a loss.
Lifetime Total Points Badges
Next to the Mastery Badges there are Lifetime Total Points (LTP) Badges. Their value also ranges from 1 to 10, but their assignment is based on the lifetime total of points scored in a particular game. This is generally all the points you've earned in the game while signed in. However, if you go a certain amount of time without playing a game (it's at least 100 days), you Lifetime Total Points tally for that game will get zeroed (although you keep all of your earned badges). Of course, points earned before the badge system was initiated are also excluded.
The points required to earn LTP badges are based on a clearly defined formula. The lifetime points requirement to earn LTP 1 is equal to the single-game points requirement to earn the ML 5 badge in the same game. The requirements for each additional LTP badge are based on a multiple of the requirement for the LTP 1 badge, as follows:
| Badge | Points Required as multiple of ML 5 | Points Required as multiple of previous LTP badge |
|---|---|---|
| LTP 1 | x1 | N/A |
| LTP 2 | x10 | x10 |
| LTP 3 | x20 | x2 |
| LTP 4 | x50 | x2.5 |
| LTP 5 | x100 | x2 |
| LTP 6 | x200 | x2 |
| LTP 7 | x400 | x2 |
| LTP 8 | x800 | x2 |
| LTP 9 | x1600 | x2 |
| LTP 10 | x3200 | x2 |
Although most games follow this calculation, a few (36 as of writing) are a bit off due to rounding errors/typos. The largest error in favor of the gamer is found in Panda Craze's LTP9 (-2.78%) and the worst is Betrapped!'s LTP4 (+4.35%). The Analyzer has an up to date list of LTP Deviations
In your badge album page for each game, it shows every LTP badge you've earned, with a question mark or other placeholder for LTP badges you haven't earned yet. All LTP badges have a generic look.
Veteran Badges
These badges are awarded for playing a game for a certain amount of times. As the other badges, the value ranges from 1 to 10. Unlike the Mastery and Life Time Total badges, the targets are the same for all games. The following score system is currently used for assigning Veteran Badges
| value | amount of games |
|---|---|
| 1 | "10 Games Played!", |
| 2 | "25 Games Played!", |
| 3 | "50 Games Played!", |
| 4 | "100 Games Played!", |
| 5 | "250 Games Played!", |
| 6 | "500 Games Played!", |
| 7 | "750 Games Played!", |
| 8 | "1000 Games Played!", |
| 9 | "2500 Games Played!", |
| 10 | "5000 Games Played!", |
Only the highest Vet badge you've earned in each game will show in your badge album. However, since each game only has one Vet badge animation to show in the "Trophy Case", this isn't much of a loss.
Special Badges
These are badges that are awarded when one of the running challenges is completed. Their value is always 1. Each special badge has a unique name and appearance, and set of requirements. In each case, the requirements must be completed while the challenge is running -- points earned prior to or after the end of the challenge period are not credited. The challenge period is most often a week, especially from one Tuesday to the next, but is sometimes a longer period, such as a month. The requirement is most often earning a certain number of total points during the challenge period. Special badges for new or seasonally-themed games often require simply playing a certain number of games during the challenge period. In the past, the requirement has been earning a certain high score during the challenge period, but this format has not been used recently.
The calendar of upcoming events lists which games will have new special badges available.
Best of Badges
Through the Best of Badges program, MSN Games occasionally presents a short list of past special badges, and allows users to vote on which badge to bring back. The selected badge then gets a new challenge period, during which players who haven't already won the badge get a second chance to win it.
