Each time a significant prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor for the addition of new categories to honor overlooked contributions and delight the passions of followers with niche passions.
A fellow writer made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. The demand is this: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it remains highly personal, and inevitably spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession for the industry of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards currently feature award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another creative title missed out that year
- Popular arranging title was overlooked in 2021
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Well-known matching games rank among most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.
The famous puzzle experience competes with famous sandbox experiences claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay generations.
