Each time a major prize-giving event nears, one notices a clamor for introducing of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications successfully include many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some brain-teasers scraped into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games globally continuing this trend for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers are working at the hard edge game development, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
