Each time a significant prize-giving event approaches, there’s always an outcry for introducing fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist for pushing forward because like all blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal stands as crucial and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category during that awards season
- Another imaginative release missed out that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
