Each time a major prize-giving event nears, one notices a clamor for the addition of new categories to recognize overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. The same goes for strategy board titles, representing someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize just as with other single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal stands as crucial above others. This is the request: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and it will always start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an essential concession within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass a lot of ground, and you can find room for most games within them.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely that year
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Just some puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary of video game design, developing some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
