Whenever a significant honors show nears, you'll find a clamor to include fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of fans with niche passions.
My colleague made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. So would tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil in the world of video games, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications successfully include many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated completely during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles globally and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home in important events. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
