As any significant prize-giving event nears, one notices an outcry for the addition of new categories to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. The same goes for board games, this being someone's personal cause. 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. This is the request: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment recently
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most popular titles globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. It would be easy to populate a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification in important events. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary game development, developing some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
