Whenever a major prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a demand for introducing fresh award types to honor unsung work and fill the hearts of fans dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise in the world of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent small games, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
