Each time a prominent honors show draws close, one notices an outcry for introducing fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the hearts of followers who have specialized interests.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me when I prioritize since similar to blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial and significant. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works isn't exact; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions and end in fuzzy definitions. There’s a reason movie academies don’t do it. Yet it remains a necessary evil in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these award types actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. Which classification works within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked for anything that year
- A different innovative game missed out that year
- Well-received sorting experience was overlooked that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles count as most popular titles globally maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game challenges well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it also contends as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.
Restating the point, these represent titles without proper classification during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay decades.
