Console Interfaces: It’s Simplicity, Stupid!

By George Walker | July 10, 2006

With videos of the PS3 user interface starting to percolate through the internet, we now have a better idea just how the PS3 is going to look and feel on the screen, and I think it’s a perfect time to evaluate the PS3 and look at what goes into a good interface.

As far as I’m concerned, I only need an interface to be Functional, Intuitive, and above all, Simple.

First, before I discuss the PS3 interface in depth, I’d like to explain what I mean when using these terms. Functional means it needs to actually control all of the useful things that the user expects it to control. What good is an interface if it doesn’t actually control what I need it to control?

And those controls need to be arranged in a way that makes sense. It needs to be Intuitive. With a well designed interface, a specific feature should appear exactly where the user expects it to appear. Music should appear under the Media category along with Videos. Demos should appear under the games category. If the user has to constantly hunt and peck through the interface to find a desired feature, it’s possible the interface is poorly designed. (That, or the user is stupid. For this discussion, let’s assume users of moderate intelligence.)

The hardest value to quanitfy is Simplicity. This is more of a subjective judgment. Does the interface look clean and is it generally pleasing to the eyes? Or, on the other hand, does it look and feel more like a cereal box?

If you haven’t watched the PS3 interface video, please do so now. I won’t go anywhere while you watch:

Okay, the first thing any astute video gamer will notice is that this all looks familiar. Yeah, it’s pretty much the PSP interface. So? The PSP interface is pretty good, all things considered, and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

From the video, the interface appears to be functional. I see settings, various media menus, and it all seems to flow rather nicely. It’s obvious what pushing right on the controls will do. (Sounds like a simple thing, but the Xbox 360 interface sends you flying through various “blades” when all you wanted to do was select the little highlightable window on the right side of the screen.) I’m not sure you could get more intuitive than the PS3 interface, either. Oh look, ALL of the settings are under the Settings option, how novel.

The best thing about this interface is that it’s SIMPLE. Not a lot of distracting ads, colors, or banners. Just the controls you need, where you need them. Very much like an iPod interface. Why do some consoles feel the need to overthink the interface? Why add a bunch of “pages” or “blades” when a simple horizontal menu will achieve the same results, but in a more predictable manner?

Don’t even get me started on how horrible the 360 interface has been. It sure looks bright, but it was a crap shoot on whether the option you were looking for was in the Settings blade, or buried somewhere in the “Xbox Guide”. The latest dashboard has improved the organization of the 360 interface greatly, but has done little to make it simpler and more streamlined. Microsoft has a lot of work to do, there.

It looks like someone over at Sony has a clue about how interfaces should work. (Has Microsoft ever had a clue? Microsoft Bob, anyone?) And I don’t think it’s necessarily a matter of Japanese culture vs. American culture.

Look at Apple. Go to Apple’s website and try to find quicktime movie trailers. That was pretty easy, wasn’t it? Click Quicktime. Click trailers. Done.

Now, try to find WMV movie trailers from Microsoft’s website. Yes, I assure you Microsoft does provide a website where WMV movie clips are available. Let’s see if we can find it. Hmm, nothing relating directly to WMV on the main website, here. Let’s try clicking on Windows. Well, now there’s a headlined link to Media Player 11 Beta, but that’s not really what we want, either. I’ll click Windows Media Player on the left sidebar. Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. It says Windows Media up at the top, so we must be getting close, now.

At this point, I have two choices. I can try the link for “Music & Video” or the link for “Downloads”. Either one could conceivably have downloadable or playable video links. Since the word Video is in the link, I’ll try Music & Video. Now, at this stage, many of you are going to make the same mistake that I did. You’re going to want to click Watch Video Clips in HD. Unfortunately, that’s going to lead you down a dark path of sorrow as you find nothing but boring Windows Media Player commercials and instructional videos. Bleh. No, no, you wanted to click the link in the left sidebar for WindowsMedia.com. Why would you think to do that? Well, you wouldn’t necessarily, unless you knew ahead of time (like I do, now) that this is the site Microsoft uses to show WMV clips for various movies, etc.

What a pain. And this kind of interface experience is pretty much what you can expect from Microsoft. Install Windows Media Player 10, and then try to find the “File” menu on the default skin. Yeah, I’m gonna go watch a movie. Let me know when you find that menu in the next day or so. This is just so typical of Microsoft, unfortunately. The Xbox 360 is a great console. Made so by its games and features. Unfortunately, I feel like I’m getting tortured by the Spanish Inquisition, because every time I find where a feature was located, no one expects it to be there.

This is what makes the PS3 interface so great. Simple. Straightforward. Features appear where you expect them. Spanish-Inquisition-proof.

Microsoft, you have much to learn. You are still not a black belt.