If you're in the U.S., you're probably making those final preparations for the noisiest night of the year: the 4th of July. Even if you aren't making last-minute runs to the fireworks stand or hunting for that perfect watermelon, you can take a break from these hazy summer days with this edition of the Community Spotlight.

Xbox Live Summer of Arcade Line-Up
By James Thornhill
This year's Summer of Arcade features an eccentric mix of Metroidvania, platforming, and class-based shooter action. While I found Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light virtually unplayable from the demo at E3, I hold out hope for the rest of the games -- especially Castlevania: Harmony of Despair.

The State of Storytelling and Uncharted 2
By Ryan Finley
Turning a game into an interactive story is not an easy task. While many agree that Heavy Rain is the closest approximation of such a project, Ryan begs to differ. The structure of a game is more important than the player's ability to manipulate events.

Crackdown 2 and Just Cause 2: The New Trends In Demos
By Chase Koeneke
The Crackdown 2 and Just Cause 2 demos share a new and exciting trend: demo achievements. While you have to put in a retail copy of the game to properly unlock the points earned in the trial, the idea that you can earn them at all is enough to tease many gamers obsessed with their Gamerscore.

Are Gamers Responsible For the Lack of Innovation?
By Corey Williams
Corey thinks that gamers are responsible for the slew of uninspired games coming out recently. If we settle for sequels and carbon-copy experiences then we are sending the message that's all publishers have to focus on to make a profitable title. I don't agree with this entirely, but Corey makes a good point.

Xbox 360 Indie Game Satirizes BP Oil Spill and Media Coverage
By Chase Guidry
In response to the staggeringly terrible efforts to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, indie developer Super Boise made a tower defense game criticizing the entire incident. While clearly an amateur project, it bridges the gap between games and satire without being distasteful.