As any prominent honors show nears, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the hearts of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator has already made for a horror game category. That would rule. The same goes for tabletop games, this being a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize just as with other dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing above others. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and it will always start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass a lot of ground, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. What category would fit them between these six categories? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Many instances occur of brilliant puzzle games published annually lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, if they accidentally match classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some logic titles managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're modest productions, but the art of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games in the world and have been for many years.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Logic title developers function at the hard edge game development, creating some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Don't make them wait decades.
