Each time a significant awards ceremony nears, one notices a clamor for introducing fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of followers with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward because like all blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent and significant. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories effectively encompass a lot of ground, making space possible for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles in a particular game, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games released every year lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers scraped into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often small games, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles globally maintaining this status for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences competing to become most purchased experience; it also contends for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the challenging frontier game development, creating some of the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Similar to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
