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    Microsoft introduces Xbox-like achievements for developers

    Microsoft introduces Xbox-like achievements for developers

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    Microsoft announces a beta plug-in to enable Xbox-live achievement and badges in Visual Studio.

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    Visual Studio achievements
    Visual Studio achievements

    Microsoft introduced a beta plug-in for the company's Visual Studio development environment today. Visual Studio Achievements is a free plug-in that allows developers to unlock achievements and badges, in the same way that Xbox gamers pick up achievements. Developers can even compete with each other on a virtual leader board for coding bragging rights. Microsoft says the plug-in is designed to be "playful and pragmatic," built to help developers discover new features of the Visual Studio application.

    Developers will be greeted with the classic "achievement unlocked" toast on their desktop after particular events are triggered inside Visual Studio. There are 32 achievements across six categories, and badges can be shared on Twitter, Facebook and blogs thanks to a javascript widget. With achievements like "Lonely" and "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)," it's probably a good idea not to share every badge on your social network though. You can grab the free plug-in at the source link below.