Whenever a prominent prize-giving event approaches, you'll find a clamor to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and fill the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories actually cover many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category that year
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title got ignored in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game 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 to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. It would be easy to populate a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Comparable to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
