Whenever a prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices an outcry for the addition additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and engaging with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories in important events. Logic title developers function at the hard edge game development, producing among essential manifestations of gaming itself. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.
