Whenever a major awards ceremony nears, one notices a demand to include additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of video games, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Only a few logic titles scraped into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles in the world and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
