As any significant honors show nears, there’s always a clamor for introducing fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why movie academies don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they hardly constitute as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition completely in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded that year
- Popular arranging title was overlooked recently
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games globally continuing this trend for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier game development, producing among the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
