As any prominent honors show approaches, you'll find an outcry for the addition of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and satisfy the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types successfully include many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another creative title missed out in 2019
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait decades.
