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The Iconic Puzzle Game Couldn't Win at The Game Awards — Another Award Type May Address This Issue

As any prominent honors show approaches, one notices a clamor for the addition additional classifications to acknowledge overlooked contributions and fill the hearts of followers dedicated to specific genres.

My colleague has already made for a horror game category. It would be amazing. So would board games, this being someone's personal cause. But they will have to forgive me if I try to elbow in front since similar to blinkered fanatics, I have a cast-iron argument supporting my request is the most urgent and significant. This is the request: We need an award type for logic-based games.

Organizing Gaming Categories

Organizing artistic expressions is not a science; it’s very subjective, and it will always generate discussions concluding with vague boundaries. There’s a reason film award organizations steer clear of genre categories. But it is an unavoidable compromise within the realm of interactive entertainment, that demonstrate such variety they barely qualify a single creative category.

To recognize the complete range of achievement in video games to gain proper attention, and to ensure all game types to compete fairly, specific award classifications remain vital.

Existing Game Classification System

Prominent interactive entertainment events offer these classifications covering Action, Action/Adventure, RPG experiences, Combat games, Simulation and strategy titles, plus athletic and racing experiences. Together, these classifications actually cover numerous genres, making space possible accommodating various experiences.

Different situation exists for puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Consider three of this year’s best games, all very different: the architectural riddles of one title, the pulse-pounding block-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios from additional release. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Simply put, no category fits.

Acknowledgment Issues

Numerous examples exist outstanding logic titles published annually that have no home at major award shows, if they accidentally match award groups including Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, or the intensely contested independent game categories.

  • A renowned logic title wasn’t nominated in any category in 2014
  • A different innovative game missed out that year
  • A beloved organization game was overlooked recently
  • Just some brain-teasers scraped into small studio or handheld classifications

Significance of Puzzle Games

These are often compact experiences, however the design of the puzzle game carries substantial weight. Iconic mobile puzzle games stand as most popular titles in the world maintaining this status for many years.

The famous puzzle experience challenges popular creative games claiming status as most purchased experience; it’s also in the running for top gaming experience. Brain-teasers form essential building blocks within interactive entertainment, and engaging with almost every other genre.

Proposal and Rationale

Puzzle games wouldn’t have such difficulty. It would be easy to populate five nominees interesting, varied, worthy titles each ceremony simply — perhaps, with difficulty, given the need to exclude so many good games out.

And to reiterate, these are games lacking appropriate categories at major gaming awards. Logic title developers are working at the demanding boundary game development, producing among the purest expressions within interactive entertainment. Comparable to film action specialists, they deserve recognition. Don't make them wait generations.

About the author

Todd Cox

A seasoned casino strategist with over a decade of experience in gaming analysis and player psychology.

Crystal Gamble Zone

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