Each time a major awards ceremony approaches, there’s always a clamor to include fresh award types to acknowledge underappreciated efforts and fill the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.
Another commentator previously argued advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, this being a passionate advocate's mission. Yet I need to apologize in advance when I prioritize since similar to dedicated enthusiasts, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent and important of all. Here's the proposal: We need an award type for logic-based games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Categorizing art by genre defies precise measurement; opinions vary greatly, and it will always start arguments resulting in unclear classifications. It's understandable that film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains a necessary evil for the industry of video games, showing incredible range it's challenging to consider them one unified medium.
To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, while allowing diverse titles to have a chance for representation, genre categories are essential.
Present Award Structure
Leading game ceremonies presently include award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Adventure-action titles, RPG experiences, Combat games, Sim/Strategy, and Sports/Racing games. Together, these six categories effectively encompass many game types, allowing placement for most games within them.
Not so for logic-based experiences. No suitable classification appears for their placement. Think about these this year’s best games, all very different: building puzzles of one title, fast-paced pattern recognition of another game, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. What category would fit them between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.
Recognition Challenges
There are dozens excellent brain-teasers launched regularly lacking appropriate categories at major award shows, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested Indie races.
- A renowned logic title got overlooked in any category in 2014
- A different innovative game missed out in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
- Limited numbers of logic titles barely qualified for niche award types
Importance of Logic Titles
Commonly they're small games, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Well-known matching games stand as most popular titles worldwide continuing this trend for many years.
The legendary block-stacking game rivals well-known building titles competing to become highest-selling title ever; it’s also in the running for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones within interactive entertainment, and engaging across multiple categories.
The Solution and Justification
Logic titles wouldn't face such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees engaging, different, qualified experiences annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, since numerous excellent so many good games out.
And to reiterate, these represent titles that otherwise have no home at major gaming awards. Brain-teaser creators are working at the hard edge game development, developing some of the purest expressions of the video game form. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait decades.
