Third Note To Self ...

... stop gushing.

I can't help gushing. The Sims really does give me some sense of hope. But, here are the downsides. The interface for The Sims, the interface for almost all games, is becoming barely manageable by the experts. Game pundits can write a million columns about good interface design, but they fail to see the obvious, the effect of computer literacy on game play. My theory? The biggest stumbling block for The Sims in gaining a mass market audience for itself isn't the fact that it is a computer game, but that it works best for people who have embraced the language of the PC interface.

It was noticeable at E3 that even console games are becoming tortuous to control. As more and more features are piled on top of games, the need to control those features is taxing game controllers. Not enough buttons. So, if there is one significant barrier facing game development it is the input device. Of course, many of you will shun this notion purely on the basis of your own comfort with keyboard and mouse, or console control pad. Good for you. The Sims promises to open the door of gaming to the possibilities of narrative, drama, and comedy, things that the game phobic can relate to. However, the game phobic are also unlikely to want to assume the skills of keyboard jockeys in order to get their whack at The Sims, no matter how good it is.

Once The Sims progresses to the level of being something that can be played on a set-top box, using a remote control, and from the comfort of your living room couch then, it will truly place interactive entertainment on a par with traditional film, television, and audio entertainment. I hope Electronic Arts puts the kind of marketing muscle behind The Sims that is required to get it into the minds of the game phobic. It could be the company's main thrust into the heart of digital television. It won't happen this year, and it may not happen for another three years, but as it stands, The Sims could set a standard for interactive entertainment that few will be able to match. If you thought Sim City was a great franchise, imagine how far The Sims could go.

I must stop gushing.