Each time a prominent prize-giving event nears, one notices a clamor for the addition of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would board games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and significant. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil in the world of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute a single creative category.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories actually cover many game types, making space possible for most games within them.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Acknowledgment Issues
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked in any category during that awards season
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game got ignored that year
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, but the art in brain-teasers holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as the most-played games worldwide continuing this trend for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals popular creative games competing to become most purchased experience; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the challenging frontier of video game design, creating some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.
