As any major prize-giving event approaches, one notices a demand to include additional classifications to recognize unsung work and fill the passions of followers with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason movie academies avoid this approach. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise in the world of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for 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, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, while interacting with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these are games without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
