Each time a major prize-giving event nears, one notices an outcry to include fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the spirits of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is an essential concession within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies presently include classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition completely during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded that year
- Popular arranging title was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles globally and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
