Whenever a significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always an outcry for the addition of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial and significant. The demand is this: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among most engaged experiences globally and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges popular creative games competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. You could fill multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the hard edge interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
