Each time a major awards ceremony approaches, you'll find an outcry for introducing additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types successfully include many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: 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 between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title got ignored that year
- Only a few puzzle games scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent small games, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games globally and have been for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
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, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
