As any prominent honors show nears, you'll find a clamor to include additional classifications to honor underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for board games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal stands as crucial and important of all. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked recently
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
