Each time a major prize-giving event nears, there’s always an outcry for the addition additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and fill the passions of followers who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer made the case supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. This is the request: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions don’t do it. However, it represents a necessary evil for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these six categories actually cover a lot of ground, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to accommodate them. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021
- Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're compact experiences, however the design behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification in important events. Logic title developers are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
