Each time a major prize-giving event draws close, one notices a demand to include of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case for why my demand is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession for the industry of gaming, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles 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? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as the most-played games in the world and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
