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Tetris Didn't Succeed at The Game Awards — A New Category Might Solve This

As any significant prize-giving event approaches, you'll find an outcry to include additional classifications to honor unsung work and fill the spirits of fans who have specialized interests.

Another commentator made the case for a horror game category. That would be fantastic. The same goes for board games, which is a passionate advocate's mission. However, I must insist if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, I possess a compelling case backing this proposal is the most urgent and significant. The demand is this: We need an award type for logic-based games.

The Genre Classification Challenge

Classifying creative works isn't exact; opinions vary greatly, and typically generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why movie academies don’t do it. But it is a necessary evil within the realm of video games, that demonstrate such variety they hardly constitute one unified medium.

For the full spectrum of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and for games of all stripes to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.

Present Award Structure

Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these award types recognizing Action-oriented games, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Between them, these classifications effectively encompass many game types, and you can find room for numerous titles.

Different situation exists for puzzle games. There’s simply nowhere to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, each quite distinct: structural challenges in a particular game, the pulse-pounding block-matching from another release, and the sweetly sociological logic puzzles in another game. Which classification works within current classifications? Unfortunately, nowhere.

Recognition Challenges

Numerous examples exist excellent brain-teasers published annually without proper recognition in entertainment awards, unless they happen to qualify for categories like Mobile Game, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.

  • An iconic brain-teaser received no recognition for anything in 2014
  • Another imaginative release received no nominations during that ceremony
  • Well-received sorting experience got ignored that year
  • Just some logic titles barely qualified for independent or mobile categories

Significance of Puzzle Games

These are often small games, but the art behind logic titles carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most engaged experiences in the world and have been for many years.

The legendary block-stacking game competes with famous sandbox experiences for the title of highest-selling title ever; it additionally competes as greatest title ever. Puzzle games are foundational for gaming as medium, while interacting with almost every other genre.

Recommendation and Reasoning

Logic titles wouldn't face that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, since numerous excellent many worthy titles.

Restating the point, these are games lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers are working at the challenging frontier game development, creating some of essential manifestations within interactive entertainment. Comparable to movie stunt professionals, they deserve recognition. Let’s not keep them waiting 35 years.

By

Susan Palmer

A passionate designer and craft enthusiast with over a decade of experience in creating innovative card designs and sharing creative techniques.

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