As any significant awards ceremony nears, there’s always a demand to include of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of fans with niche passions.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. So would board games, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, however the design of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games globally maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. It would be easy to populate a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these are games without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay decades.
