Electronic Arts has recently reorganized its top-ranking officials and made some key changes to its administrative roster. The maneuver was welcomed by a lot of observers, but one analyst made an interesting observation.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter says that the reorganization was a good move and a necessary one for the publisher, but someone seems to be missing in the equation: R&D  head Paul Lee. "In our view, the most important item in the press release is the omission of any mention about Paul Lee, the current head of R&D. It appears to us that Mr. Lee may have been reorganized out of a job," he says. Pachter continues:

He has been in his position for about a year, following the departure of Don Mattrick last year, and in that brief period, we believe that EA game quality has improved. However, we think that Mr. Riccitiello is laser focused on cost control, given that the R&D budget has doubled during his three-year hiatus from EA, while revenues have grown by only around 5%.

According to the analyst, one reason why EA is reorganizing may be because the administration has decided not to go all-out on research and development. He says he expects EA to begin talking more about its plans and policies soon.

For one, Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets agrees with Pachter on the necessity of restructuring. "We believe the restructuring was a necessary byproduct of EA's rapid growth over the last video game cycle compounded by operational challenges evident during the recent console transition period," he says.

No official word from EA has been released regarding Lee's status and what the new policy on research and development is. A statement is expected by many to come out any time soon. We'll keep you posted for more.

In an official press release, game publishing giant Electronic Arts has announced that it will be granting US$ 1 million to the Masters of Digital Media program in the Great Northern Way Campus in Canada. Following a recourse of actions to further the games industry and market in the region, EA will also be focusing on bringing in the next generation of game and interactive media developers.

The grant will serve as funds to improve the program and adapting it to the trends of the industry.

Graduates of the program normally receive a seal approved by four of the region's most major institutions: University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia Institute of Technology and the Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. But now it seems they are more likely to receive more than just that.

"Our goal is to help create an innovative educational environment that will lure talented people from around the world to the Great Northern Way Campus," said Paul Lee, President of EA Worldwide Studios. Electronic Arts hopes to invest in the future of the industry by providing the means for students to develop the skills and knowledge for future game design.

In addition to being an endowment, the grant will also serve as a means for providing scholarships to the visionary thinkers deserving of the chance. EA will also be providing paid internships at an - as yet - unidentified development studio within the multi-studio company, offer students mentoring programs and even staff the lecturers and teachers from the company's executives.

So what are EA's plans for the Wii? Well, GamesIndustry reports that they have recently acquired Headgate Studios, the guys they partnered with for the Tiger Woods and Madden franchises. The company is set to be re-branded as EA Salt Lake, and will be tasked to focus exclusively on titles for Nintendo's Wii console.

Vance Cook, founder of Headgate, and now executive producer of EA Salt Lake, had this to say: "Having worked with EA for the past six years, we know their teams share work ethic, passion for creative excellence and commitment to quality. By joining EA, we are making official what we all already feel – that we are part of the EA family"

Paul Lee, president of EA studios comments: "Salt Lake City is a terrific place to make games – it's a dynamic city with a vibrant creative community and a great quality of life. We are thrilled to have them join EA."

I wonder what it will take for EA to buy up a company and have it make content exclusively for the PSP. Oh, I forgot, that's not their strategy.

The ABC Family is busy promoting their new series, Kyle XY. Recently, ABC inked a deal with iTunes Music Store wherein starting June 20, six days before the show makes its linear network debut on ABC Family at 8 p.m., users will be able to download the pilot to their video iPods via the iTunes Music Store.

Kyle XY follows the story of a family who takes in a formerly institutionalized teen savant (Kyle) who is missing standard human behaviors such as anger, joy and love. After June 27, installments of Kyle XY will be available for purchase at $1.99 per episodes, according to officials at both ABC Family and iTunes.

To support the free sneak preview on iTunes, ABC Family has secured a multimedia schedule, including on-air promos, a flash ad on its own Web site, radio spots, banners of aol.com and msn.com, and a print ad in Rolling Stone magazine. Paul Lee, ABC Family President said that "a free preview on iTunes is a fantastic way to build buzz and increase awareness of 'Kyle XY...It gives our aggressive tease and reveal marketing campaign a major broadband element, that will help drive viewers to the premiere on the 26th."