The Community Spotlight features some of the best unedited articles that didn't quite make the front page. This week, we examine games that use (or abuse) gravity, find literary comparisons in Dragon Age 2, inspect video-game art direction, and stand in the shadows of colossi. (Horse and magic sword not included.)

The use of gravity in video games
By Michael LaPointe

"Gravity is a constant weight on our everyday lives, embedding itself in our psyches," Michael writes, "and it's one of the first gameplay mechanics inserted into video games." Follow along as he covers the use of this fundamental force in games like Donkey Kong, Bionic Commando, and Portal.

A literary deconstruction of Dragon Age 2
By Sam Brougher

What do Game of Thrones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the history of Asia Minor have in common? According to Sam, they're all influences in Dragon Age 2's story and setting. Read on to find out how.

In the shadow of giants, part 2
By Jackson W. Ryan

Jackson's back with the second part of his narrative description of Shadow of the Colossus, and it's a must-read. Keep this up and I'll be forced to replay the game, dude. (Which I would love to do anyway.)

Saving an empty galaxy: Why a Mass Effect 4 is impossible
By Steven Sukkau

No matter how much sense it makes to end a successful series' story, you can bet publishers will be tempted to milk more games out of it. Steven explains why that can't happen after Mass Effect 3. (Never say never, man.)

The soul of video games: Art direction
By Jackson W. Ryan

Jackson's second contribution to this week's Spotlight takes a look at improving video-game graphics...and how much better we want them to get. He argues that true-to-life graphics "constrain us to act within the realm of our reality. Video games are often about smashing that reality, and art goes a long way in achieving that."