Each time a prominent prize-giving event approaches, you'll find a clamor for the addition fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of fans with niche passions.
My colleague made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it remains highly personal, and inevitably spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles from a specific release, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated completely in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title got ignored recently
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience competes with well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.
