Whenever a prominent prize-giving event draws close, there’s always an outcry for introducing additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the spirits of followers with niche passions.
My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. So would board games, representing someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types successfully include many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these are games lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
