As any major awards ceremony approaches, there’s always an outcry for introducing of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards 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 successfully include a lot of ground, and you can find room for most games within them.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Well-known matching games count as most popular titles globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it also contends for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among the purest expressions of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
