Each time a prominent prize-giving event draws close, one notices an outcry for the addition fresh award types to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the hearts of enthusiasts with niche passions.
My colleague previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. Equally deserving are tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all blinkered fanatics, there's a strong justification supporting my request is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that movie academies don’t do it. But it is an unavoidable compromise for the industry of video games, showing incredible range they hardly constitute one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, while allowing diverse titles to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.
Current Gaming Award Categories
The major gaming awards offer these classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories effectively encompass a lot of ground, and you can find room for numerous titles.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists for their placement. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles in a particular game, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges in another game. Which classification works among existing types? Simply put, no category fits.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year that have no home at major award shows, if they accidentally match for categories like Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the extremely competitive Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category during that awards season
- A different innovative game was excluded that year
- Popular arranging title got ignored that year
- Only a few puzzle games barely qualified for niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often small games, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for many years.
The famous puzzle experience challenges famous sandbox experiences for the title of best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Puzzle games wouldn’t have this problem. One could readily select five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles annually without trouble — actually, with challenge, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
Restating the point, these represent titles that otherwise have no home during prominent ceremonies. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary game development, creating some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
