As any prominent honors show draws close, there’s always a clamor for introducing of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and fill the spirits of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator has already made for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case for why my demand is the most urgent above others. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that movie academies avoid this approach. Yet it remains an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games released every year that have no home during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another imaginative release was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're compact experiences, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games globally and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge game development, developing some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
