Tetris Didn't Win at This Gaming Ceremony — A New Category Might Solve This
As any significant prize-giving event draws close, there’s always a clamor to include fresh award types to honor underappreciated efforts and fill the hearts of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer previously argued for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are board games, which is someone's personal cause. However, I must insist when I prioritize since similar to blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents an unavoidable compromise for the industry of gaming, which are so diverse they hardly constitute as a single art form.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories effectively encompass numerous genres, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Think about these recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: structural challenges of one title, intense tile-matching of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios in another game. Which classification works between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly without proper recognition at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category during that awards season
- Another imaginative release received no nominations that year
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some puzzle games managed to sneak into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're compact experiences, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles worldwide continuing this trend for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and engaging across multiple categories.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. You could fill five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Puzzle game makers function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait 35 years.