Whenever a major prize-giving event draws close, one notices an outcry for the addition fresh award types to honor overlooked contributions and delight the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are board games, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why movie academies don’t do it. But it is an essential concession in the world of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these award types actually cover many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these are games lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers operate at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
