Whenever a prominent prize-giving event nears, you'll find an outcry to include of new categories to recognize unsung work and satisfy the hearts of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal stands as crucial and significant. This is the request: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications successfully include many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Think about these this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition completely during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked recently
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent modest productions, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become best-selling game of all time; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Logic title developers operate at the hard edge of video game design, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
