Each time a prominent awards ceremony nears, one notices an outcry to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and delight the hearts of followers with niche passions.
My colleague made the case for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would board games, which is someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing above others. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Only a few brain-teasers scraped into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games in the world and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier game development, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
