Each time a major honors show approaches, one notices a clamor to include of new categories to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand stands as crucial above others. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents an essential concession in the world of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications actually cover many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Well-known matching games count as most popular titles in the world and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge game development, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Just like cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait decades.
