Whenever a major prize-giving event nears, there’s always a clamor to include additional classifications to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent above others. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title got ignored that year
- Just some logic titles scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
