Each time a major awards ceremony draws close, there’s always a clamor for introducing additional classifications to recognize unsung work and delight the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case supporting a scary games classification. It would be amazing. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. The demand is this: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and typically start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Examine these examples from recent excellent titles, all very different: structural challenges of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another creative title received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're compact experiences, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences globally and have been for over a decade.
The famous puzzle experience competes with popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary interactive creation, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay generations.
