As any major awards ceremony nears, there’s always an outcry for the addition additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. So would board games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing above others. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types actually cover a lot of ground, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations that year
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Only a few brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience challenges well-known building titles for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge of video game design, producing among the purest expressions of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.