What a shame that Mr. Davis doesn't have the slightest clue what he is dealing with. I'll be willing to bet that he's never actually sat down and played the game...and if he *has* taken a glance at it, it's the wrong game. It's the Sims 2 now, Mr. Davis. Nobody plays The Sims anymore.

As an avid Simmer, I think it's a shame that both EA and John Davis are missing a great opportunity to make a really great animated classic. There's enough material within the game itself that there's no need for a lame plotline. Let's face it, most Sims fans would love to see the mystery of Bella Goth's disapperance solved. It's an obssession with some. And with six neighborhoods currently in the game, each with its own storyline and pre-made characters, there is any number of possible plotlines. Or better yet, stick with the three original neighborhoods (or just Pleasantview and Strangetown), hatch up a superb animated movie based upon the original characters, and you've got yourself a hit. As it is, this is one movie I'm not going to waste my money on. I'm terribly disappointed with this.

I dont think its particularly bad that they have a young male adolescent story involving The Sims.. Afterall, there are tons of straight and gay males who play the game.  Although there are more women and girls playing Sims.. there's definately something to say about the straight male's experience playing a game that's market is predominantly female (Sims Online) since that rarely happens.  It would be a neat to show both perspectives.. not just one gender as the protagonist.  Knowing hollywood though, they'll dumb it down and it'll just devolve into something safe and rehashed for the masses.  

Not only is it to the benefit of the public eye to make more of this opportunity, but it would also be welcome to many of us male gamers out there for the females to see the imagination and wonderment that we ourselves see in games. This might then see more girl gamers pick up the pad/mouse/keyboard, which ultimately sells our hobby to more people.

Stick to action-flick-for-adolescent-boys, and you're pandering to the lowest common denominator yet again.

I think your take on this is spot on. Why do we need another male-oriented teenage adventure film? Women and girl gamers are an ignored market, not only in videogames, but in other entertainment industries. The fact that The Sims has such broad appeal and it has managed to attract many non-gaming women and girls is a huge achievement. For the movie makers to completely ignore this and create a film targeted to young males is stupid. We need more media that shows everyone -- women, girls, men, and boys -- that videogames are not only for boys and men. The Sims movie is an opportunity to influence the public's perception of videogames and gamers. Until there's wider, mainstream acceptance of videogames as a past time for everyone, gamers will forever be stereotyped as stupid, immature, straight, white men.