Whenever a major prize-giving event draws close, one notices an outcry for introducing of new categories to honor overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent above others. This is the request: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. 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, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
- Only a few logic titles scraped into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers operate at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
