Each time a significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always an outcry for introducing fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.
My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why movie academies don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Think about these recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.