As any significant prize-giving event nears, one notices a clamor for the addition of new categories to honor overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing above others. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers released every year without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition completely that year
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- Popular arranging title got ignored recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're small games, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles for the title of best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these are games lacking appropriate categories in important events. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary game development, producing among essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait generations.