MyGamerCard.net is hosting a contest for Assault Heroes 2 which comes out this week.  So what is this contest all about?  It's simple.  Go to MGC, sign in or up for an account and then play Assault Heroes 2 when it's released.  You'll automatically be entered to win one of fifteen 4000 Microsoft Point Cards, or better yet, a grand prize of 20,000 MS points. 

If you haven't used MyGamerCard, it's a site dedicated to Xbox 360 game tracking and ranking with lists of leaderboards for specific games by gamerscore, overall leaderboards, and more.  Of course, the most important feature of the site is a customizable gamercard that you can place anywhere on the net.   I'd love to see a Co-Optimus themed one, how bout you?

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The first details and screenshots for Viva Piñata 2: Trouble in Paradise have been discovered by TeamXbox. The details on the game are very sparse, but what we know is that Viva Piñata 2 will have some form of online co-op, so that you and buddy can garden together in some manner. Other than that, there are no more details, though you hit the link you can see some screenshots. As a fan of the original Viva Piñata, I can say that online co-op does sound pretty nice. How about you?

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A preview for the upcoming zombie title, Left 4 Dead, is available at TVG.  The game may seem to be the typical survival horror type, but several details are coming out that should pique the interest of co-op fans like a plate of brains would for a zombie.  The "4" referred to in the game's title refers to the 4 player co-op campaign.  Co-op is no afterthought or half-baked effort in this title; the story and gameplay were all developed from the ground up with four players in mind.  There is no true single player mode; bots will fill in for human players if less than 4 are available.  Replay value looks to be high, as well: the game's AI allows for enemies to spawn from different locations, in different numbers, and with different tactics each time a map is loaded.  No zombie closets here, folks.  Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the game is 8 man multiplayer, which is a nice blend of co-op and awesome:

It's essentially the same set-up as the co-op campaign mode, but as well as having 4 players on the survivors' side, there are also 4 players on the side of the infected zombies. These four players can choose to be one of the boss infected characters (with the exception of the tank), and they are then placed ahead of the survivors and amongst the other AI zombies on the map. Here they have the opportunity to take up an ambush point and wait for the arrival of the survivors.

Left 4 Dead certainly seems to be a unique and interesting game.  The developers have taken steps to really immerse players in the "us against the world" mentality featured in many zombie films.  Nothing promotes co-op like being stuck in an old farmhouse when a massive legion of the undead start knocking at the door, after all.  Left 4 Dead will rise from the grave this fall for PC and Xbox 360.

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While there are no retail releases this week containing co-op, there are 2 downloadable games and add-ons available.

First up is Assault Heroes 2, the sequel to another Xbox Live Arcade title with a very similar name.   The game is a top down shooter similar to Smash TV, but with the ability to play on foot and in a vehicle.  The sequel promises enhanced co-op, with a new option for cooperative specific weapons that will "rain destruction down on enemies."  The game hits Xbox Live Arcade on Wednesday for 800 MS Points.

Next up is an add-on pack to another top down shooter, Rocketmen: Axis of Evil.  The add-on is called Rocketmen: It Came from You Uranus and will be available on the PSN and Xbox Live Arcade. 

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While this video of Gears of War 2 doesn't technically show off co-op, it should inspire you to realize just how awesome the cooperative play is going to be while rolling through the forest on the back of a giant mechanized vehicle ramming through huge Brumbacks and taking out swarms of Locusts.

Full video after the jump.

Read More...

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Well, it looks like the Pandemic is setting its eyes on another classic series. With their success with the massive battle-fest that was Star Wars Battlefront, they have decided to create a spiritual successor to the superb Battlefront series. That game is The Lord of the Rings: Conquest. IGN has kindly detailed the game, which will feature the epic battles depicted in the movies and will have players fighting Balorgs, Sauron, and the like. So what's the co-op appeal?

Up to 16 players will be able to clash online, with four players able to play cooperatively through the main campaign either online or via four-player split-screen.

Yup, you and three buddies can fight Middle Earth's most epic battles, including some "what if" scenarios, like if Sauron had regained the One Ring. Nice. The game will come out on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Suit up, folks, because Middle Earth is at war!

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Several reviews are popping up all over for the recent Wii title, Boom Blox.  While generally these reviews are favorable for the unique puzzler, it seems the multiplayer, and the co-op mode in particular, is somewhat lacking.  The game's controls are praised, and the single player Adventure mode is described as addicting.  But as deep and innovative as the title is in these areas, co-op is quite shallow in comparison.  This snippet comes from Kotaku's list of things they hated about Boom Blox:

Weak Co-Op Gaming: After playing through the addictive adventure mode, I was looking for a similar experience to share with my son. Unfortunately I didn't get one. The co-op levels felt more like something meant for training or to show off the tech than for fun.

For those of us who prefer to play with a friend, this is bad news.  It's particularly upsetting to those of us who game with our kids, as there are so few co-op titles that appeal to adult gamers and yet are appropriate for kids.  Boom Blox looked to buck this trend by having the depth and innovation that older gamers like, all wrapped up in a kid friendly package.  For a system that caters to families like the Wii, you'd think good co-op games would be the norm.  Unfortunately, that isn't the case.  We'll just go back to playing minigame collections with our kids for the umpteenth time now.

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Free Radical has been long known for their interesting first person shooter experiences as developers of the Time Splitters franchise.  Their latest game, a Playstation 3 exclusive titled Haze, is about to be released after months of delays. 

So with that comes word that sometime today we should be seeing a 4 Player Co-Op demo available on the Playstation Network.  For those readers in Europe, your demo is already available. 

The Haze demo is set in the sunny Salva region, described as "the only place on earth where you can blow a stranger's head off with a jolly smile".

Look for Haze to be released on the Playstation 3 on May 23rd.

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It's the most anticipate Wii game to come out to date, and possibly will be the most anticipated game during the system's life.

It's the culmination of just about every Nintendo franchise ever - as well as many classic characters from other games. And the best part? Super Smash Bros Brawl features cooperative play!  Sonic? Check.  Mario?  Check.  Solid Snake? Uh..check!

It's our first review of a Wii title, and it just may be hard to top it.  Read our full review to find out just how it stacks up.

 And don't forget to leave a comment and let us know who your favorite character is!

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In an effort to further the cause of co-op gaming, we have no launched our Official Facebook Page as well as a Facebook Group.   So if you are a member of Facebook, be sure to become of fan of the page or join our group to help spread the word! 

As a bonus I've uploaded some hi-res artwork and wallpaper to the Facebook Page to download.  Enjoy!

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