As any major prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a demand to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are board games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, 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.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why movie academies avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition completely during that awards season
- Another imaginative release missed out in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay generations.
