As any major honors show approaches, there’s always a demand for introducing of new categories to recognize unsung work and fill the passions of enthusiasts dedicated to specific genres.
A fellow writer has already made advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would strategy board titles, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist when I prioritize because like all single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case supporting my request remains most pressing and important of all. Here's the proposal: There should be a classification for brain-teasing titles.
Categorizing Game Types
Classifying creative works is not a science; opinions vary greatly, and it will always spark debates resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations avoid this approach. Yet it remains an unavoidable compromise for the industry of interactive entertainment, showing incredible range they hardly constitute as a single art form.
For the full spectrum of interactive entertainment excellence to be recognized, and to ensure all game types to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies offer these classifications covering Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Between them, these six categories actually cover numerous genres, allowing placement for most games within them.
Different situation exists for brain-teasing titles. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Consider three of recent excellent titles, each quite distinct: structural challenges in a particular game, intense tile-matching from another release, engaging interpersonal challenges from additional release. What category would fit them among existing types? Unfortunately, nowhere.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers released every year without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging small studio competitions.
- One classic puzzle game wasn’t nominated for anything during that awards season
- Another creative title was excluded during that ceremony
- Popular arranging title received no acknowledgment that year
- Limited numbers of puzzle games scraped into niche award types
Value of Brain-Teasers
These are often compact experiences, yet the craft behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among most engaged experiences in the world maintaining this status for an extended period.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks to the art of video games, while interacting across multiple categories.
Proposal and Rationale
Brain-teasers wouldn't encounter this problem. It would be easy to populate a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, because you’d have to leave so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences without proper classification in important events. Brain-teaser creators operate at the demanding boundary of video game design, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Similar to cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.
