As any major prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a clamor for introducing of new categories to acknowledge unsung work and satisfy the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for board games, which is someone's personal cause. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories successfully include many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly without proper recognition in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored recently
- Only a few logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games count as most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators are working at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of the purest expressions of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay decades.
