Whenever a prominent honors show draws close, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the passions of followers with niche passions.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier game development, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
