As any major awards ceremony draws close, there’s always a clamor for the addition of new categories to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the spirits of followers with niche passions.
My colleague has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request is the most urgent above others. The demand is this: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything that year
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
