Whenever a prominent prize-giving event nears, there’s always a clamor for the addition additional classifications to honor unsung work and delight the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. The same goes for strategy board titles, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, which are so diverse 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 compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories actually cover many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. What category would fit them among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category that year
- A different innovative game received no nominations that year
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games globally maintaining this status for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
