Tetris Wouldn't Triumph at The Game Awards — Another Award Type Could Fix That
Whenever a significant prize-giving event nears, there’s always an outcry for the addition of new categories to recognize underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of enthusiasts who have specialized interests.
A fellow writer has already made for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. The same goes for tabletop games, representing a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance for pushing forward since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument backing this proposal remains most pressing and significant. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.
Organizing Gaming Categories
Classifying creative works defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always generate discussions resulting in unclear classifications. There’s a reason movie academies avoid this approach. Yet it remains a necessary evil within the realm of video games, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them a single creative category.
To recognize the complete range of gaming accomplishments to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, specific award classifications remain vital.
Existing Game Classification System
The major gaming awards currently feature classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Simulation and strategy titles, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these award types effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement accommodating various experiences.
This doesn't apply to brain-teasing titles. No appropriate category exists to put them. Consider three of outstanding current releases, showing diverse approaches: structural challenges from a specific release, fast-paced pattern recognition in a different title, engaging interpersonal challenges of a third title. What category would fit them within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.
Acknowledgment Issues
Many instances occur excellent brain-teasers launched regularly that have no home during gaming ceremonies, unless they happen to qualify classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested small studio competitions.
- An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
- A different innovative game was excluded in 2019
- Popular arranging title got ignored that year
- Just some brain-teasers managed to sneak into niche award types
Significance of Puzzle Games
These are often modest productions, but the art behind logic titles holds tremendous importance. Iconic mobile puzzle games rank among the most-played games in the world maintaining this status for over a decade.
The iconic tile-matching title rivals well-known building titles claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running as greatest title ever. Logic titles represent cornerstones for gaming as medium, and they are in conversation with almost every other genre.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face this problem. One could readily select a field of five interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — actually, with challenge, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these include experiences lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Logic title developers are working at the hard edge of video game design, creating some of essential manifestations of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they warrant appreciation. We shouldn't delay 35 years.