Whenever a major prize-giving event approaches, you'll find an outcry for introducing fresh award types to honor overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains an essential concession for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked recently
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles for the title of best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge game development, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
