Each time a major honors show approaches, there’s always a clamor for introducing additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist for pushing forward because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an essential concession for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these recent excellent titles, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated completely in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Only a few logic titles scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, yet the craft behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers operate at the challenging frontier game development, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
