Whenever a significant prize-giving event nears, one notices a demand to include fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession for the industry of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- A beloved organization game got ignored recently
- Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Well-known matching games stand as the most-played games in the world maintaining this status for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
