Each time a significant prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor to include fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and fill the spirits of followers with niche passions.
A fellow writer previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and inevitably generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why movie academies don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types successfully include a lot of ground, and you can find room for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Only a few logic titles scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most engaged experiences globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators function at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
