As any prominent awards ceremony draws close, you'll find a clamor to include of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the spirits of fans dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil in the world of gaming, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
