Whenever a significant awards ceremony nears, there’s always a demand for the addition of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the hearts of followers who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. So would tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these six categories actually cover many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser wasn’t nominated completely that year
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often compact experiences, yet the craft behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay decades.
