Whenever a prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices an outcry to include additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of fans with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications actually cover a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
Different situation exists for logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game got ignored recently
- Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these include experiences without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary game development, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait 35 years.
