Whenever a prominent awards ceremony nears, you'll find a demand for introducing of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and delight the hearts of enthusiasts with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason movie academies don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types successfully include numerous genres, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few brain-teasers scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games in the world and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges well-known building titles claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
