Every week we do a quick wrap-up of some news items that may have slipped through the cracks. The wrap-ups will be shorter versions of our articles, lumped together to give you an idea of things you may have missed.

Be Civil, Or Be Banned

One of the most prominent theories about behaviour on the internet may be missing a critical piece. Anonymity may still protect you from the ire of your fellow forum-dwellers on EA’s website, but now your EA login ID will be tied to the same ID you use to sign into your EA games. Your serial key, the product that you bought, is now attached to what you say on their official website, so behave of be-heaved out.

It’s a tricky issue knowing that something you say on a forum could render your bought and paid for game completely useless and certainly puts a lot of power to the company in charge. Traditionally, EA’s forums have been a haven for complaints about their products. It tends to become a bit of a madhouse, especially when staff steps in to attempt to douse water on the grease-fire that it internet rage. While I don’t anticipate this would be used to ban people for legitimate complaints, it is still a level of responsibility ripe for abuse, especially considering the complete lack of what may be considered “ban worthy” on the forum. It’s a sad precedent, and considering the improvements that EA has made in the last year in response to criticism, it may just drive away people if they are too afraid to speak their mind.

Rumours of E3′s Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

With just about every publication that I get my eyes on declaring E3 to be dead every single year since its major changes took place, it keeps on coming back. E3 2009 has been announced, and though the rumours of the public being invited back may have been completely false, there will be a significant increase in the media that is invited to next year’s big trade event. Maybe there will even be a UGTV presence, which might mean it is the best E3 ever. Unfortunately, booth babes will not be making their triumphant return.

E3′s purpose is continually argued as the years go on. Whether or not it needs to return to the over-the-top public spectacle it was in years previous, or simply move the location from the empty LA Convention Centre that it continues to try and occupy without the appropriate number of people to fill it. The industry has changed in that most major announcement already come out through leaks or private events, something we’ve discussed previously. It does have its purpose, though, being one of the few events that brings the three major console manufacturers to their own keynotes in direct competition for your attention. It usually leads to some very surprising announcements, and a lot of coverage for all the games coming up in the fall. As long as they continue to streamline it and focus what they are showing and to whom, E3 isn’t going anywhere.

Dream-Build-Play 2008 Gets Winners – And Everyone Wins New Games!

Of course, when I say everyone, I mean anyone who owns an Xbox 360. Microsoft’s Dream-Build-Play game creation competition that was meant to focus attention on the XNA Creator’s Club, an indie development group using the XNA tools to create software for LIVE Arcade. The winners for the contest were announced this week, which means that we’re likely to see some new, fun indie games appearing on Xbox LIVE in the near future. The grand prize went to CarneyVale: Showtime where you enact circus stunts through a 2D platforming style. The full list of winners is listed on the Dream-Build-Play website and showcases only a small bit of what’s available.

The XNA is still a great idea that should create an interesting rift in the Xbox LIVE system. XNA is more focused on small developers, utilize Microsoft’s .NET framework and having smaller licensing fees that make beginning in the field a bit more enticing. The Game Studio they provide is actually very useful, and it’s another way for people to get more games at a lower price point. The issue becomes when major studios start to encroach on the XNA, perhaps focusing smaller IPs and titles into the marketplace. Depending on how Microsoft will handle the whole rift it may cause, it’s going to be a big win for gamers, and Team Gambit who made CarneyVale who will be bringing home $40,000 dollars for their trouble.