Whenever a major awards ceremony draws close, there’s always an outcry to include additional classifications to honor unsung work and delight the spirits of followers who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. So would board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize because like all blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most popular titles globally and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge game development, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait generations.
