Whenever a major prize-giving event nears, you'll find an outcry for the addition of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of followers who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil for the industry 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 receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications successfully include numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated for anything during that awards season
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games count as the most-played games worldwide and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting across multiple categories.
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 — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
