Each time a prominent awards ceremony approaches, one notices a demand for the addition fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the passions of enthusiasts with niche passions.
Another commentator previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize because like all blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification supporting my request is the most urgent and important of all. This is the request: It's essential to create an award type for logic-based games.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; it remains highly personal, and typically generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that cinema institutions avoid this approach. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.
For the full spectrum of gaming accomplishments to be recognized, and for games of all stripes to receive proper recognition, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards presently include classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these award types actually cover numerous genres, and you can find room accommodating various experiences.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Think about these recent excellent titles, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. What category would fit them within current classifications? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers published annually lacking appropriate categories in entertainment awards, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition in any category in 2014
- Another creative title missed out during that ceremony
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment in 2021
- Only a few logic titles managed to sneak into niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent compact experiences, yet the craft in brain-teasers is of massive significance. Well-known matching games rank among the most-played games globally continuing this trend for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges well-known building titles competing to become best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting with diverse game types.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select multiple candidates engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators operate at the hard edge game development, developing some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
