Each time a major awards ceremony nears, one notices a clamor for the addition of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer has already made for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would strategy board titles, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist when I prioritize since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. Here's the proposal: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason film award organizations avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise in the world of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Think about these this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles in a particular game, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition completely during that awards season
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Just some puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles globally maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among the purest expressions of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait decades.
