Each time a significant awards ceremony nears, you'll find a demand for the addition of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent above others. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these six categories successfully include a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything that year
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for many years.
The famous puzzle experience competes with well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the hard edge interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
