Tetris Wouldn't Win at This Gaming Ceremony — A New Category May Address This Issue
As any major prize-giving event draws close, one notices an outcry for introducing of new categories to honor unsung work and fill the spirits of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward just as with other blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. Here's the proposal: There should be an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they barely qualify a single creative category.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications successfully include a lot of ground, allowing placement for numerous titles.
Not so for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, intense tile-matching from another release, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition completely that year
- Another imaginative release received no nominations in 2019
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Only a few puzzle games managed to sneak into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're modest productions, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games count as most popular titles globally continuing this trend for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it also contends for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, while interacting across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier of video game design, producing among most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait 35 years.