Tetris Didn't Win at The Game Awards — An Additional Classification May Address This Issue
As any significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a demand for the addition additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and fill the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist for pushing forward just as with other single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Classifying creative works isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and inevitably generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, genre categories are essential.
Existing Game Classification System
Leading game ceremonies presently include classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these award types successfully include numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these outstanding current releases, all very different: structural challenges from a specific release, the pulse-pounding block-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go within current classifications? Nowhere, that’s where.
Recognition Challenges
Numerous examples exist of brilliant puzzle games released every year that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the extremely competitive small studio competitions.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of brain-teasers scraped into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, but the art of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles in the world and have been for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with popular creative games for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter that issue. It would be easy to populate multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
And to reiterate, these represent titles without proper classification in important events. Puzzle game makers function at the hard edge interactive creation, creating some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Just like movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting generations.