Each time a significant prize-giving event nears, you'll find a demand for introducing of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague has already made for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial above others. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game got ignored that year
- Just some brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, while interacting with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge game development, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
