Is this a great untapped market or am I in the minority on this one? Sadly, the fate of one of the very few adult-themed games, released this week seven years ago (bet you were wondering when I was going to get to the point), would suggest the latter. Shadow President was an American political simulation brought to these shores by Empire Software (now, predictably, known as Empire Interactive). It wasn't much to look at, graphically, but the gameplay was at least as intense and challenging as guiding Stockport County to the Premier League. The player had to balance the American economy, decide foreign policy, deploy resources which included the CIA and generally be a big cheese, although I don't recall any tempting interns...

There was a team of advisors to assist the player, but the big decisions were yours and the buck stopped at your desk. The game was engrossing and educational, but despite Empire pushing it to the suits via publications such as The Times and The Economist, it wasn't a great success. I was a retailer at that time and our single copy sat forlornly on the shelves until I took pity on it and bought it myself. Perhaps it was the American nature of the simulation that proved a handicap to sales, or maybe the gamers of 1993 weren't ready for the concept, but at the time I thought a UK-based version would have been a joyous gaming experience - I still do - and I'm sure someday someone will release such a game. The whole family could gather around the computer and argue over how the country should be run: "You're not spending all that money on defence," says Mum, "I want that for the NHS and rejuvenating the inner cities..."