Whenever a prominent honors show nears, one notices a demand to include fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often compact experiences, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. You could fill multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these represent titles without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary game development, producing among most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
