Each time a prominent prize-giving event draws close, one notices a clamor for introducing of new categories to recognize overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of followers with niche passions.
Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are board games, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial and significant. Here's the proposal: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and inevitably spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely that year
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked that year
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often modest productions, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges popular creative games for the title of highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. It would be easy to populate five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge game development, developing some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
