Each time a major prize-giving event draws close, one notices an outcry to include additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist when I prioritize just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
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 award types successfully include many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
