Each time a major awards ceremony approaches, there’s always a clamor to include additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of followers who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. So would board games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case for why my demand is the most urgent and significant. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles released every year lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often compact experiences, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles in the world and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences claiming status as most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Brain-teaser creators are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
