Each time a significant prize-giving event nears, one notices a demand to include fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, representing someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies avoid this approach. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, but the art of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles claiming status as most purchased experience; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these represent titles without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary game development, developing some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.
