Whenever a major awards ceremony approaches, there’s always an outcry to include fresh award types to recognize unsung work and satisfy the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand stands as crucial and important of all. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. Yet it remains an essential concession within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything in 2014
- Another creative title was excluded during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment recently
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among the most-played games worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience challenges popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay decades.
