"For hardcore gamers, controlling a video-game character is second nature. You use one joystick to run, use another stick to look around, press the right trigger to shoot and use various buttons to open doors, take cover or talk to other characters.
It all seems so obvious that I'm surprised when someone else of my generation doesn't get it. My brother-in-law, for example, is an experienced hunter and golfer -- but he has trouble firing a gun or swinging a club in virtual reality. Perhaps game controls have just gotten too complicated.
A game like "Grand Theft Auto IV" is designed for die-hards who can drive, shoot and talk on a cell phone (virtually, that is) simultaneously. After a few hours, though, you long for something simpler, where you're only doing one thing at a time. Such simple pleasures should be part of any gamer's diet, especially if you want to play with friends who aren't as hardcore.
_"Boom Blox" (Electronic Arts, for the Wii, $39.99): This is the first fruit of a much ballyhooed collaboration between EA and Steven Spielberg, but if you're expecting an Indiana Jones-style spectacle, you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're seeking a fun-for-the-whole-family experience, "Boom Blox" delivers."
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