As any major prize-giving event nears, one notices a clamor to include fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why movie academies avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these classifications successfully include numerous genres, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Just some puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences worldwide continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience competes with popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select a field of five engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
