As any significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a clamor for introducing of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games released every year that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title was overlooked in 2021
- Only a few logic titles managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
