As any prominent awards ceremony approaches, there’s always a clamor to include of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. The same goes for tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories successfully include many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category during that awards season
- Another imaginative release was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences worldwide maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among the purest expressions of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.
