Each time a prominent awards ceremony draws close, one notices a clamor to include additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. But it is an essential concession for the industry of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types actually cover many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely during that awards season
- Another imaginative release missed out that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles scraped into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among most popular titles globally maintaining this status for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, while interacting with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these include experiences without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
