As any major awards ceremony approaches, one notices a demand for the addition of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the passions of followers who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, this being someone's personal cause. However, I must insist when I prioritize just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing above others. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among the most-played games in the world and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
