As any prominent prize-giving event draws close, one notices an outcry to include fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would board games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards offer these genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types actually cover many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment recently
- Only a few logic titles managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're small games, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences globally and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it also contends for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. You could fill five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these are games without proper classification at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
