As any major prize-giving event approaches, there’s always an outcry to include fresh award types to recognize unsung work and fill the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. The same goes for tabletop games, representing 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 is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. But it is an essential concession for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these classifications successfully include many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles of one title, 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.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated completely in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most engaged experiences globally and have been for many years.
The famous puzzle experience rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games lacking appropriate categories in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
