This Wednesday has been incredibly hectic for me. Prep work for my E3 trip officially began on Monday, and I'm struggling to keep up. At least you can take a breath and spend some time reading today's Community Spotlight.

The Used Game Debate: Online? I'll Pass, Thanks
By Chris Charlton
I work in a used game store. This means that my paycheck is fueled by people buying and selling product to our store. We don't sell new releases, and we have "better" prices than many of our competitors. So I'm personally outraged at the latest salvo by EA and Ubisoft in the used game debate: charging for online access in secondhand games. Chris is slightly less irate than me and explains why this trend could ultimately hurt companies wanting to capitalize on used games.

When Games Go Multiplatform
By Tim Jang
I've never quite understood the fierce anger many Sony fanboys feel over Square Enix's decision to make Final Fantasy 13 multiplatform. Tim explains it with a look back at the last 10 years of Square's releases and seemingly Sony-centric practices.

Five Years of Video Games on YouTube
By Daryl Bunao
YouTube is now the number-one source of video game footage. I use it in every Retro Ads post I do, and many gamers flock to the abundant walkthroughs, reviews, and discussions available on the site. Daryl looks back on the contributions YouTube has made in game history during its scant five-year existence.

Growing Up with Halo
By Rakim Reid
Halo played a key role in Rakim's teenage years. Although he never owned any of the games himself, the social aspect of Halo multiplayer had him opening up and embracing a new form of communication. Side note: I'm glad I'm not the only person who wasn't wowed by the first game.

Guitarists Shouldn't Hate Guitar Hero
By Nick Nordstorm
A lot of my favorite musicians will never be in Guitar Hero or Rock Band. While some will go the Morrissey route and simply be as disagreeable as possible about appearing in a game, others fear that rhythm games are bad for the industry. Nick dispels this myth and shows how rhythm games can not only expose people to new music, but can facilitate a deeper interest in performing.