Each time a major honors show approaches, one notices a demand for introducing of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial and important of all. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title got ignored recently
- Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience challenges popular creative games for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay decades.
