Whenever a prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices an outcry for introducing additional classifications to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. So would tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward because like all blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing above others. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, making space possible for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. What category would fit them between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
- Another imaginative release was excluded that year
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
