Each time a major awards ceremony nears, there’s always an outcry to include of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing above others. This is the request: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications successfully include many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among the most-played games globally maintaining this status for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these represent titles without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Just like film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
