As any significant honors show draws close, one notices an outcry to include additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator has already made for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case for why my demand stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category that year
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Limited numbers of puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often modest productions, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles in the world and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait decades.
