As any prominent prize-giving event nears, you'll find a clamor for introducing additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent above others. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Just some puzzle games scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games globally and have been for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles for the title of highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — 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 in important events. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary game development, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait generations.
