The Escapist: Now With Badges!

We like to think that visiting The Escapist is its own reward, but to sweeten the deal, we're throwing in a bit of loot: badges.

Take a peek in the forums and you may see that a few badges have already popped up here and there. The four badges you've earned most recently will display beneath your avatar on forum posts; to see all of the badges you've earned, just check out your profile.

There are many ways to earn badges, like posting in the forums, participating in events, making friends, and contributing articles. We're not going to tell you how to earn all badges, though, that's for you to discover. (Here's a tip: mousing over a badge reveals not just the badge name, but also how to earn it ... in most cases.)

Badges will also play a big part in the GamerLympics, which kick off tomorrow. The gold, silver, and bronze medals you'll be earning will show up as event-specific badges, letting the entire community know of your digital athletic prowess.

Badges aren't just terribly stylish, however, they also earn you points. We're not telling you what those points are good for just yet, but we're pretty sure you'll like it. Look for more information on that in the weeks to come.

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for badges you'd like to see, let us know!