Whenever a prominent awards ceremony nears, one notices a demand for introducing additional classifications to honor overlooked contributions and satisfy the passions of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would be fantastic. Equally deserving are strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front because like all single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification backing this proposal is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need a classification for brain-teasing titles.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; it’s very subjective, and it will always spark debates concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions avoid this approach. But it is an essential concession in the world of gaming, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these six categories actually cover many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, except when they manage to fit award groups including Handheld titles, Virtual reality experiences, or the intensely contested independent game categories.
- One classic puzzle game got overlooked for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- A beloved organization game got ignored recently
- Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into small studio or handheld classifications
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, however the design of the puzzle game holds tremendous importance. Famous handheld logic titles rank among most popular titles worldwide maintaining this status for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title competes with popular creative games competing to become best-selling game of all time; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks for gaming as medium, while interacting with almost every other genre.
Recommendation and Reasoning
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. One could readily select a field of five with fascinating, diverse, deserving games every year with ease — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude many worthy titles.
To emphasize again, these represent titles that otherwise have no home in important events. Puzzle game makers operate at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to cinema stunt performers, they deserve recognition. We shouldn't delay 35 years.
