Whenever a major honors show nears, there’s always an outcry for the addition additional classifications to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the hearts of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize just as with other blinkered fanatics, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies don’t do it. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Prominent interactive entertainment events presently include genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Think about these outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles released every year without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked completely during that awards season
- Another imaginative release was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, yet the craft behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles worldwide and have been for many years.
The famous puzzle experience rivals well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers function at the demanding boundary interactive creation, creating some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.
