Each time a major prize-giving event draws close, you'll find an outcry for the addition of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the passions of followers dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. So would board games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it remains highly personal, and it will always spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil for the industry of video games, showing incredible range they barely qualify as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition completely in 2014
- Another imaginative release was excluded that year
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, however the design behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most popular titles in the world maintaining this status for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience challenges well-known building titles for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter such difficulty. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these represent titles without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary game development, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
