Tetris Didn't Triumph at This Gaming Ceremony — Another Award Type Could Fix That
Each time a significant awards ceremony nears, you'll find a demand for the addition fresh award types to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the hearts of fans dedicated to specific genres.
Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. It would be amazing. The same goes for board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request stands as crucial above others. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. However, it represents a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for numerous titles.
This doesn't apply to logic-based experiences. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, all very different: building puzzles from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games published annually that have no home during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition in any category during that awards season
- A different innovative game missed out during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Just some brain-teasers scraped into independent or mobile categories
Significance of Puzzle Games
Commonly they're compact experiences, yet the craft of the puzzle game is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles globally maintaining this status for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals famous sandbox experiences for the title of best-selling game of all time; it additionally competes for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, and engaging across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave numerous deserving experiences.
Restating the point, these are games that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators function at the challenging frontier interactive creation, creating some of most fundamental forms within interactive entertainment. Just like film action specialists, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.