As any major prize-giving event nears, one notices a clamor for introducing additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and fill the passions of fans with niche passions.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles 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 intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title got ignored that year
- Only a few puzzle games scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're small games, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games rank among most popular titles in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience rivals famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
