Whenever a significant awards ceremony draws close, you'll find a clamor for introducing additional classifications to honor unsung work and fill the spirits of fans with niche passions.
A fellow writer previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist when I prioritize just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories actually cover numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games count as most popular titles globally continuing this trend for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games for the title of best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
