As any prominent honors show approaches, there’s always a clamor for introducing of new categories to honor unsung work and delight the passions of followers who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. That would rule. So would board games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these award types actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.
Not so for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles from a specific release, intense tile-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category that year
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Just some logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, yet the craft of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles globally and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the demanding boundary of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay decades.
