As any significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always an outcry for introducing additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and satisfy the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand stands as crucial and significant. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Just some puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games rank among most popular titles globally and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers are working at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
