As any significant awards ceremony approaches, one notices an outcry to include of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification backing this proposal is the most urgent above others. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Only a few puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, however the design in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among the most-played games globally maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
