Whenever a major prize-giving event draws close, you'll find a demand for introducing additional classifications to recognize unsung work and fill the passions of fans with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. Equally deserving are board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that movie academies don’t do it. But it is an essential concession for the industry of video games, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these award types actually cover numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, all very different: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
- Limited numbers of logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent compact experiences, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences globally maintaining this status for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience rivals popular creative games for the title of best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, developing some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay decades.
