A games approach to system interface design

Computer adventure games and operating systems have something in common: each presents to its players or users alien worlds that they can explore. The major difference between games and operating systems is in the way they communicate with people; operating systems tend to communicate poorly, while adventure games communicate so well that players need minimal introductory or reference documentation. What is it about adventure games that fosters ease of use? How might we apply those techniques to the design of operating system interfaces? This article attempts to answer both questions.