As any prominent prize-giving event approaches, one notices an outcry for the addition fresh award types to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator has already made for a horror game category. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications actually cover many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles released every year lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Just some brain-teasers scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
