As any prominent awards ceremony nears, you'll find a demand for introducing of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. Here's the proposal: We need a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of video games, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories successfully include many game types, making space possible for numerous titles.
Not so for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Think about these recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. 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 during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, while interacting with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, developing some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
