The Iconic Puzzle Game Didn't Triumph at The Game Awards — A New Category Could Fix That
Whenever a major prize-giving event approaches, one notices a clamor for introducing additional classifications to recognize unsung work and satisfy the hearts of followers who have specialized interests.
My colleague has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist when I prioritize because like all blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. The demand is this: There should be a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically spark debates and end in fuzzy definitions. This explains why cinema institutions avoid this approach. But it is an unavoidable compromise in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Consider three of outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works among existing types? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens 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, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- Another imaginative release was excluded that year
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment recently
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, however the design of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games worldwide maintaining this status for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers are working at the demanding boundary game development, producing among the purest expressions of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.