As any prominent awards ceremony nears, there’s always a demand to include additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of fans with niche passions.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request stands as crucial above others. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home at major award shows, if they accidentally match for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games count as the most-played games in the world continuing this trend for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles claiming status as most purchased experience; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers operate at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait generations.
