Whenever a prominent awards ceremony draws close, there’s always an outcry for the addition of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and satisfy the spirits of fans dedicated to specific genres.
My colleague previously argued for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would board games, representing someone's personal cause. However, I must insist for pushing forward because like all dedicated enthusiasts, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Categorizing art by genre is not a science; it’s very subjective, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. This explains why film award organizations don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of gaming, which are so diverse it's challenging to consider them as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of interactive entertainment excellence to receive acknowledgment, and to ensure all game types to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Present Award Structure
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature genre categories for Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Collectively, these six categories actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Examine these examples from outstanding current releases, each quite distinct: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. Which classification works between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens outstanding logic titles launched regularly that have no home at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Mobile Game, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive independent game categories.
- A renowned logic title received no recognition in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
- Popular arranging title was overlooked that year
- Only a few brain-teasers managed to sneak into independent or mobile categories
Value of Brain-Teasers
Commonly they're compact experiences, but the art in brain-teasers carries substantial weight. Famous handheld logic titles stand as the most-played games in the world continuing this trend for over a decade.
The legendary block-stacking game competes with well-known building titles competing to become most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.
Proposal and Rationale
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. You could fill multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, because you’d have to leave many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers operate at the demanding boundary interactive creation, producing among essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they merit acknowledgment. Let’s not keep them waiting decades.
