Whenever a major honors show approaches, one notices a clamor for introducing fresh award types to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories successfully include a lot of ground, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- A different innovative game missed out that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience challenges popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. You could fill five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge game development, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
