As any prominent prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a demand for introducing fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and delight the passions of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator has already made supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for board games, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification for why my demand stands as crucial above others. The demand is this: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Categorizing art by genre isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains an essential concession for the industry of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature genre categories for Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to accommodate them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: structural challenges of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated in any category that year
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Frequently they represent small games, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for an extended period.
The famous puzzle experience rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational to the art of video games, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
Restating the point, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among most fundamental forms of the video game form. Just like film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.
