Each time a prominent honors show approaches, there’s always an outcry for the addition additional classifications to acknowledge unsung work and fill the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies offer these genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for most games within them.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Well-known matching games count as the most-played games worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience challenges well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the challenging frontier game development, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Similar to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
