Once upon a time, when 3D-rendered graphics in entertainment were limited to about thirty second of Tron footage, the only TV shows to be made into video games were cartoons, kid's shows, and the odd action spectacular. The circle of licensed games has widened considerably since then, and apparently the licensing event horizon just hit Desperate Housewives.

This adaption of the dirt-dishing drama puts you in the stylish shoes of a newcomer to the block, with an appearance and a home of your own design. Once you're settled in you're free to start snooping, nosing around, making catty small talk, and otherwise uncovering the dirty secrets of your extremely, extremely desperate neighbors. While the story takes place seperately from the events of the television show, some of the show's writers were brought in to help with the plot.

The demo I saw was still in preliminary form, but the gameplay will apparently be a cross between the Sims and an exploration-adventure game. You chat with your neighbors and, as in the Sims, your relationships can go from friendly to frigid, sometimes in the same conversation. In addition, you can get "missions," helpful nudges in the direction of your neighbors' closets and the skeletons therein. I was shown a mission that required sneaking into a neighbor's house and trying not to make too much noise, much like any number of action stealth games. Rounding out the play are mini-games including cooking, gardening, and playing poker with your fellow hausfraus.

The game is bucking for an M rating, and one example of this was the scene of the main character seducing a fellow who had stopped by. A little underwear-clad kissing and the scene was over.

A little interior design, some stealth action, a bit of relationship building, and then some poker. A mishmash of game styles or a pretty good weekend? You'll find out later this year.

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