As any prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices an outcry to include of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of followers with niche passions.
My colleague has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand stands as crucial above others. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles worldwide and have been for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge game development, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
