As any prominent prize-giving event nears, there’s always a demand for the addition of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and fill the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague has already made for a horror game category. That would rule. So would tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature award types recognizing Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types actually cover many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles published annually without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another creative title missed out that year
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Only a few puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most engaged experiences worldwide maintaining this status for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges popular creative games claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Brain-teaser creators function at the challenging frontier of video game design, developing some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
