Each time a major awards ceremony draws close, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents a necessary evil in the world of video games, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category during that awards season
- Another imaginative release was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Only a few logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers are working at the hard edge of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
