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Now here's one we haven't seen before - a game based on completing crazy circus stunts. Apparently Microsoft was equally bemused and impressed, because they named it the winner of their Dream-Build-Play 2008 game development contest.

Over at the Gamerscore Blog, Microsoft announced that CarnyVale: Showtime was the big winner of the competition's second year, which asks hobbyist and independent developers to create innovative games using Microsoft's XNA Game Studio. The kicker? It even included a built-in circus map editor so players could create their own obstacles. Developer Team Gambit of Singapore earned $40,000 for taking home the grand prize.

Other prize winners included second-place Battle Tennis by Jose Alberto Gomex of Venezuela, and the side-scrolling Weapon of Choice by Nathan Fouts. Last year's winner David Flook also earned an honorable mention for his game Blow.

?We?ve been absolutely blown away by the quality of games we received through Dream-Build-Play this year,? XNA General Manager Boyd Multerer said. ?What is really exciting isn?t that we?ve unearthed all of this truly remarkable talent, but that many of these aspiring developers will have an opportunity to share their creations with millions when Xbox LIVE Community Games launches next month.?

Yes, you too may soon be able to take part in the Xbox 360's flying trapeze act. And if you're into that sort of thing, the next iteration of Microsoft's XNA game development tools should be arrived October 30. Can you do better a game starring an acrobatic puppet?

Image courtesy of MTV Multiplayer Blog