As any prominent prize-giving event approaches, one notices a demand for the addition fresh award types to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly that have no home in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles rank among the most-played games worldwide maintaining this status for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these are games lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
