As any prominent awards ceremony nears, there’s always a clamor to include additional classifications to acknowledge unsung work and delight the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are board games, which is someone's personal cause. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an essential concession for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these award types effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked recently
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games count as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the challenging frontier game development, producing among the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
