Whenever a major awards ceremony draws close, you'll find an outcry for the addition of new categories to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent above others. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Well-known matching games count as most engaged experiences globally and have been for many years.
The famous puzzle experience rivals well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these represent titles without proper classification at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay decades.
