As any major prize-giving event approaches, one notices an outcry to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles published annually without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out that year
- A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games count as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for many years.
The famous puzzle experience competes with popular creative games claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers operate at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
