As any significant awards ceremony draws close, you'll find an outcry for introducing of new categories to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and fill the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case supporting my request stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of video games, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types actually cover many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category that year
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment recently
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often small games, but the art of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games in the world and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
