Tetris Wouldn't Succeed at The Game Awards — Another Award Type May Address This Issue
As any significant prize-giving event approaches, there’s always a demand to include of new categories to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. Equally deserving are board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I have a cast-iron argument for why my demand remains most pressing above others. This is the request: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. But it is a necessary evil in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, making space possible for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser got overlooked completely in 2014
- Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
These are often small games, however the design behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most engaged experiences worldwide and have been for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select five nominees with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers operate at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.