The Iconic Puzzle Game Didn't Triumph at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification Might Solve This
As any prominent prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor for introducing fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and delight the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.
My colleague has already made for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse 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 presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types effectively encompass a lot of ground, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles released every year that have no home during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely that year
- Another creative title missed out in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences claiming status as most purchased experience; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge game development, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.