Whenever a major awards ceremony draws close, one notices a clamor for introducing fresh award types to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the spirits of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial and significant. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- Popular arranging title got ignored recently
- Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it also contends for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge game development, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
