As any prominent awards ceremony approaches, there’s always an outcry for the addition fresh award types to honor unsung work and satisfy the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another creative title missed out in 2019
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers scraped into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge game development, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.
