As any significant prize-giving event draws close, one notices a demand to include fresh award types to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of enthusiasts with niche passions.
My colleague made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for board games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial above others. This is the request: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications successfully include many game types, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out that year
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, while interacting across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Comparable to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
