Each time a prominent awards ceremony approaches, there’s always a clamor for introducing of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
My colleague made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason cinema institutions don’t do it. Yet it remains an essential concession in the world 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 receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories successfully include numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything that year
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles globally maintaining this status for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
