Each time a significant prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a clamor for introducing of new categories to recognize overlooked contributions and delight the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, representing a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. Here's the proposal: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated for anything during that awards season
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Well-known matching games rank among most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
