As any major honors show nears, there’s always a demand to include additional classifications to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts with niche passions.
A fellow writer previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial and significant. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for most games within them.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition completely that year
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game got ignored in 2021
- Only a few brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games globally and have been for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, developing some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
