Each time a major prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor for introducing additional classifications to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued 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 for pushing forward because like all blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and it will always generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason cinema institutions avoid this approach. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another imaginative release missed out that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles scraped into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences globally and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. It would be easy to populate a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait generations.
