Tetris Didn't Win at This Gaming Ceremony — A New Category Could Fix That
Each time a significant prize-giving event nears, you'll find a demand for the addition of new categories to honor unsung work and fill the passions of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. It would be amazing. So would strategy board titles, which is someone's personal cause. However, I must insist when I prioritize because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: It's essential to create a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies avoid this approach. However, it represents an essential concession for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
Leading game ceremonies offer these genre categories for Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications successfully include numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: structural challenges from a specific release, intense tile-matching of another game, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly lacking appropriate categories during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment recently
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers barely qualified for independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Frequently they represent compact experiences, yet the craft in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games globally and have been for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences claiming status as highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Puzzle games are foundational within interactive entertainment, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have 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 so many good games out.
To emphasize again, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait generations.