Each time a major awards ceremony nears, there’s always a clamor for introducing additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and fill the hearts of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague has already made for a horror game category. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are board games, which is someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games count as most popular titles in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
