Whenever a prominent honors show approaches, you'll find a demand for introducing fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of followers who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories successfully include numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything that year
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
