The Gamerscore Blog has some information about the upcoming release of Fable 2.  Three minigames will be available in the Pub: Keystone, Spinnerbox, and Fortune's Tower.  As you can tell from the screenshot above, these minigames are based on casino games.  These minigames will be released as DLC for 800 MS points ($10).  However, you can get the games for free by preordering Fable 2 from participating retailers.  It's unknown what co-op features will be available in these minigames, if any, but getting content for free is always newsworthy.  More in-game content and other goodies will be available in the collector's edition of the game, but the Pub games are available with even a regular edition preorder. 

All money earned in these games are then transfered to Fable 2 on release.  It's also assumed that the actual mini games will be in Fable 2, but this is sort of a wet your appetite kind of thing. 

Astute readers will notice that "This Week in Co-Op" is a day early. Well, I'm heading off for a short vacation, but I figured you'd appreciate an early column more than no column at all.

While I am running the risk of covering the territory normally covered by our other (excellent) column, "Co-Op Classics," I couldn't help but write about one of my favorite co-op games, ToeJam and Earl. However, ToeJam and Earl is more than a co-op classic, it is an example of how high-quality co-op is not a new feature. I remember playing the game with my father oh so long ago; it was one of our favorite games. For those who are unfamiliar of the game, you play as two aliens trying to rebuild their ship. Gameplay consists of a sort of open (and randomly generated) world where you collect power-ups on the way to discovering parts to your ship. So, in keeping with my "at least one co-op game a week" mantra, I booted up ToeJam and Earl (from Virtual Console on the Wii) and explored a game that I had loved so much. As it turns out, my love of ToeJam and Earl was not rose-tinted at all; it was as good as I remembered it.

Read More...

 N+ for the Xbox Live arcade is based off a popular internet flash game.  So then why should you spend your 800 MS points on the game?  Simple - online co-op.  Read on for our full review of the game, and stick around for one of our best video reviews ever.  

E3 is right around the corner, July 13th through 17th to be exact, and with that comes our first coverage of the biggest show in the games industry.  We'll be onsite to cover all the co-op games that are on hand, and hopefully bring you guys some great exclusive content like developer interviews and in game footage!

Today we bring to you a list of co-op games that we will have a chance to look at E3 next week while the rest of the crew hold down the fort here. All of these games we either have an appointment with or they will be shown off at a Press Conference we’ve been invited to. If any games have been missed, please let us know. Not all publishers are covered, only ones we have appointments with.

Read on for the full list of almost 20 co-op titles at E3 this year!

Read More...

When a game claims to be the "most co-op game ever" it has some big shoes to fill.  This week Schizoid can put its Microsoft Points where its mouth is when it comes out on the Xbox Live Arcade. 

The game has been in development for quite some time, touted as the first XBLA game created from the ground up with XNA.  The basic premise is each player is a certain color ship, and can only attack ships of the same color by ramming them.  The co-op aspect obviously has to do with working together to block the opposite color ships from taking down your partner. 

With over 120 levels and the promise of more via DLC Schizoid looks like a steal at 800 Microsoft Points.

Some videos of the game play are posted after the jump.

Read More...

So, we heard some rumors.  This comes straight from the source.  Well, really, it's from Kotaku, and it's more like the source's friend's ex-girlfriend's hairdresser's aunt, who knows this girl who worked at Chuck E. Cheese and found the list on a napkin, then shared it with her roommate's monkey's uncle.  In any event, our love for Rock Band is such that even rumors are worth reporting.  Two versions of a setlist, from different sources, have quite a bit of overlap, which might make them more believable, or might not.  The songs on these lists are fantastic, including some of my favorite bands and tunes ever.  Everlong!  Eye of the Tiger!  Freakin' Battery!  Man in a Box!  And even Dream Theater, a band that is a guilty pleasure of mine.  Take both lists with a whole shaker full of salt, and check them out after the break.

Read More...

No, we didn't get to play Too Human with Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack.  Sure we've covered this game inside, outside, upside and leftside - but this week's 1UP show has a more personal look at the game as the crew from 1UP sit around an Xbox 360 with Dyack and plays some of his game. 

Dyack (as any developer should) shows off some of those, "I bet you didn't know this," type features and moments in the game while the crew drills him with questions.  Most of the questions have to do with the accessibility of the game, and Denis is quick to respond.  There's a good amount of gameplay footage and despite some of the recent negative previews, I'm thinking this game is looking better and better.

Hit the "read more" link to view the full 10 minute episode.

Read More...

With July well underway and a co-op night already under our belt you may have thought you missed out on our Official Xbox Live Co-Op Night for this month.  Well THINK AGAIN!   The official Xbox Live Co-Op night for this month is actually a little later this month due to our E3 coverage starting in a little more than a week. 

So this month's game is Marvel Ultimate Alliance which features 4 player co-op.  We'll be playing this family friendly game on July 24th on Xbox Live.  Wanna know how to join up?  Then read on!

Another day, and another Diablo III story, or in this case, two stories, one pretty absurd and the other sure to be popular here at Co-Optimus.

First off is an article at MTV's multiplayer blog.  Apparently, about 14,000 Diablo fans are upset about the art direction of the upcoming sequel.  So great is their despair, they started an online petition (which is practically a guarantee to get something done).  Their impression of the recently released gameplay trailer was that it was more akin to the Care Bears than Diablo.  Cartoonish characters and "vivid colors, beautiful forests with colorful vegetation, shiny and beautiful waterfalls where even rainbows take place" are more like World of Warcraft than Diablo, in these fans' opinion.  Obviously, the art style is changed somewhat, but I was so busy watching a wall of zombies and exploding angels that I guess I missed the rainbows.  In any event, it just goes to show you that you can't please them all, even if you are the game company with the best track record, ever.

Of more importance to Co-Optimus readers is a recent post on the WoW forums by a Blizzard rep, Bashiok.  Joystiq reports that the focus of multiplayer in Diablo III will be on co-op, not on PvP. 

We have a large focus on cooperative play for Diablo III, and the mechanics and design decisions related to multiplayer are likely going to be based on supporting and encouraging it as much as possible, and not breaking it down.

You can almost hear the wail of thousands of griefers across the world, can't you?  Rainbows were bad enough, but now we all have to work together for a common goal?  Hmm.  Maybe this is Care Bears, after all.  (Possible Barbarian skill: Care Bear Stare?)  All kidding aside, we really think Diablo III is shaping up nicely, and that makes the wait until we can get our hands on it even worse.

Super Stardust HD is one of the premiere titles available on the Playstation Network.  Take the classic Asteroids gameplay from days of yore, add in genre staples like power ups and different weapons, and throw it all in a gorgeous high definition package, and you have SSHD in a nutshell.  However, for fans of co-op, there has been a nagging problem about the game: both players had to remain on the same screen, thus limiting their effectiveness.  The most recent content for the game, aptly titled the Team Expansion, addresses this problem.  Split-screen co-op is now supported.  From IGN's review:

Having split-screen co-op is really nice. Although I do enjoy the challenge of sharing a screen with someone during classic cooperative play, being able to boost away from them and split up is very handy. Otherwise, this is the exact same cooperative game Stardust players may have seen before, but now you're not restricted to flying close to your partner. The downside of split-screen co-op comes from the noticeable slowdown, made even more apparent during cluttered Phases. I wouldn't say the game slows to a "crawl," but the change is palpable and will be an annoyance to some. Also, having the screen split up does make it much harder to see your little ship and smaller (yet still entirely lethal) asteroid fragments.

Other features of the expansion include several competitive vs. modes, if you're into that sort of thing.  Additional soundtrack options and a ship editor round out the release.  The Super Stardust HD Team Expansion is available now for the low, low price of $5.  If you pick up the expansion, let us know what you think!