Whenever a major awards ceremony draws close, you'll find a demand for the addition of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types successfully include numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games globally and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. You could fill five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these represent titles without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
