Each time a significant honors show approaches, you'll find an outcry for the addition additional classifications to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another creative title was excluded that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals popular creative games for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers operate at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
