Who knew that Microsoft's implementation of the Gamerscore system—for the two of you who don't know, that's the accrual of "achievement points" by accomplishing certain goals in Xbox 360 games—would be so... huge? The Microsoft marketing team, of course.

The "look at the size of my e-dick" system is going over so well with the hardcore, some folks are playing less-than-stellar games on purpose, just to one-up their Xbox Live peers. Even Cliffy B is impressed:

It's nerd cred, man! It's so clever. I mean, it's just a score. You may say it can't be used for anything, but gamers use them for pride. They're pride points! You can compare it to the feeling you get when you pull up to a restaurant in a Lamborghini. People go, 'Oooo, he must be somebody.' In the virtual world of gaming, points create that same sense of rank and envy, and that's why gamers have latched onto them. I read that people are picking up the Burger King Xbox games just so they can score additional points. If that doesn't prove how well this program is working, nothing does.

Good thing I'm above all that petty competition. GameDaily has the dirt on why achievement points are just so hot right now. Michael McWhertor

Microsoft's Achievement Points Yield 'Nerd Cred' [GameDaily]