Each time a significant honors show nears, one notices an outcry to include fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of followers who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request is the most urgent above others. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge game development, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.
