Microsoft may not have been the first kids on the block with unlockable in-game challenges, but they certainly showed the industry how successful they can be when done right. Other major players have taken notice and have launched their own Achievement-esque systems, most notably Sony with their rough launch of Trophies, but after several weeks of rumors, Blizzard has also made the move to extend the replay value of World of Warcraft.

Set to launch with the game’s next major expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, World of Warcraft’s new achievements will number around 500 at launch, and Blizzard promises more in the future. Organized in a number of categories, such as "Player-versus-Player," "Quests," and "World Exploration," challenges range from winning ten arena matches in a row, gathering a collection of pets, or simply getting a haircut; some require you to complete another set of achievements to unlock, while others might follow in an increasingly difficult chain.

Comparing World of Warcraft achievements with other players is as simple as right-clicking on their player model and selecting the proper option from the menu, though being in-game is unnecessary: achievement tracking is also available on the Armory. Players can receive more than just a larger e-peen by completing these achievements, as Blizzard has promised in-game rewards like titles, tabards, and pets for successful completions.

For the first time after quitting the game, I’m almost enticed to pick it up again (oh, wouldn’t my boss hate that!). These achievements combine some of the best qualities of similar systems found in games like Lord of the Rings Online with the powerful draw found with the Xbox 360’s Achievements and the PS3’s Trophies. I find it interesting how eerily similar some aspects of the system are to Xbox Achievements, and how easy it could be to, say, port such a thing over to the console, but the sheer number of achievements and some of their point values (getting to level 80, for example, gives you 120 points) are keeping that interest in check.