Whenever a significant awards ceremony approaches, you'll find an outcry to include of new categories to acknowledge overlooked contributions and delight the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued supporting a scary games classification. That would rule. The same goes for strategy board titles, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to single-minded supporters, 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.
Categorizing Game Types
Organizing artistic expressions isn't exact; it remains highly personal, and inevitably spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil in the world of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these classifications effectively encompass a lot of ground, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles of a third title. Where could they possibly go among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
Many instances occur outstanding logic titles launched regularly 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 Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition completely that year
- A different innovative game was excluded during that ceremony
- A beloved organization game was overlooked in 2021
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent compact experiences, however the design in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most engaged experiences in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals well-known building titles for the title of most purchased experience; it also contends for top gaming experience. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. You could fill a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles without proper classification at major gaming awards. Logic title developers operate at the hard edge interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait generations.