Whenever a prominent prize-giving event nears, one notices an outcry for the addition fresh award types to acknowledge unsung work and fill the spirits of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are board games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize because like all blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and inevitably spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications successfully include many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles worldwide and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge game development, producing among most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
