A new batch of games has been given "Platinum Hits" status from Microsoft.  "Platinum Hits" are value priced editions of well reviewed, high selling titles.  Out of the five titles selected, three of them feature co-op: Grand Theft Auto IV, Left 4 Dead, and Saint's Row 2!  If you haven't picked up a copy of one of these yet, perhaps now is the time.

Grand Theft Auto IV - Co-Op Score 3.5

Left 4 Dead - Co-Op Score 5

Saint's Row 2 - Co-Op Score 4.5

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Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the best games to come out this generation so far.  It's open world nature, tight story, and great characterization combined with tried and true game play make it a favorite of mature gamers.  If the sales numbers of the recent downloadable episode, The Lost and the Damned,  are any indication - no matter what format you put this game on people will eat it up.

One problem though with the game is it's lack of a true co-op mode, instead GTA came with three simple co-op missions with limited replay-ability.  The Lost and the Damned didn't add any new co-op content, which was very disappointing.  With one more exclusive episode on the way to the Xbox 360, IGN (and Us) hope to see some true co-op finally.  

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This just in, from the "Why Didn't We Think of This First?" department.  Following up on a few previous news stories here, we bring you GamesRadar's list of the Top 7 Games that Should've Had Co-Op.  I must say, the list is a good one, though there are a few that should be there that aren't.

7. Jericho                                     6. Killzone  2 (shoulda been higher)

5. GTA IV (head scratcher)           4. Rise of the Kasai

3. Call of Duty 4 (hope for 6?)      2.  Golden Axe Beast Rider (we think so!)

The number one game that should've had co-op?  Grab a pizza and check it out.

What game comes to mind as a title you wish had co-op?  My first thought was God of War.  Slinging those chains around, the blood, the carnage, the fun puzzle elements... all of it would have been so much more fun with a friend.  (Who would be cool enough to partner up with Kratos, though? Hmm.)  What say you, dear readers?

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If you're looking to get Lost and Damned in the new Xbox 360 exclusive GTA IV DLC from Rockstar, you have another bonus coming your way.  From February 17th to February 22nd all Xbox Live members will be able to play GTA IV and Lost and the Damn free on Xbox Live.  

While the new DLC doesn't have a co-op mode per say, this does allow you to hit up GTA IV's cooperative missions if you are a silver member.  
 

To help gamers get the most from their multiplayer access, Rockstar Games and Xbox LIVE are putting on a week of special events with the chance to take on Hip Hop DJ and producer, Statik Selektah in a special ‘Game with Fame’ event and even take on the people behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise in a ‘Game with Rockstar’ multiplayer event. Sweepstake promotions and an ‘Xbox All Nighter’ will also be part of the week of activities, full details and eligibility can be found at www.xbox.com/lostanddamnedliveweek.

Personally something like this just seems a bit superficial.  The contests and everything are nice, but getting free multiplayer access for a couple days isn't really getting anything.  Lost and the Damned hits the Xbox Live Marketplace exclusively on February 17th for 1600 MS Points.

If you still haven't picked up the GTA IV for the PC, now might be a good time to do so.  Especially since the latest patch was just released making the game slightly more playable.  As you can see above Steam sale puts it at a wallet friendly $34.99.  A great deal for a game with some fun, albeit short, four player co-op missions.

If GTA IV doesn't tickle your uzi, then perhaps one of the other games in Rockstar's catalogue will.  The entire thing is 30% off which includes games like Bully, Max Payne (for $6.99!) and Wild Metal.

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Poor framerate got you down in GTA IV on the PC?  Perhaps the latest patch for the game can alleviate your troubles.   Among numerous performance improvements across the board, there's now some additional graphical sliders in the options menu to get your Niko running as smooth as butter.  Now you can't blame your computer's performance lag when you crash the helicopter into Kenny during the Hangman's Noose co-op mode.  

You can download the patch from Rockstar's Official Website.   

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If you participated in our latest Games for Windows Co-Op Night, you would have know you had a chance to win some great GTA IV swag.  Rockstar Games has graciouslly sent over the prizes and boy are they awesome!

Three winners will get:

• 1 Custom GTA IV Pool Cue and Case
• 1 Statue of Happiness (Desktop Edition)
• 1 GTA IV Police Department T-Shirt (Size XL)
• 1 Pack of GTA IV Stickers

Once I get confirmation back from the winners we can announce them.  But the only way to win was to play some GTA IV co-op during our event...and well...lets just say your chances of winning are very good.

Special Thanks again to Rockstar for providing such awesome swag!

Our second Games for Windows Co-Op Night is rapidly approaching. For January we'll be heading into Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV on the PC. Be sure to join us on January 13th for GFW Co-Op Night!

So far, we haven't seen any prominent complaints in our forums about the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV, released December 2nd. Arguably, most of our users are console gamers; so this isn't much of a surprise, considering that the console versions have been on the market for months already.

However, Giant Bomb is reporting that the recent release is seeing a ton of bugs, some even rendering the game unplayable.

Jeff Gerstmann says:
 

I'm in the frame rate boat, as the game seems to run OK after I downloaded it off of Steam last week. I mean, the menu displays, I can launch the game, and sort of play it. But the minute I get into a car, the frame rate goes all poopy.

Click "Read More " below to see what some users are doing about it.

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USA Today has reveled the long awaited details on the exclusive Xbox 360 DLC that's coming to Grand Theft Auto IV.  Launching in February 2009, the pack is called "The Lost and the Damned" and features a character named Johnny Klebitz, a member of Liberty City biker gang The Lost.  That's right, no Niko Bellic here, though Rockstar's Dan Houser assured us we haven't seen the last of him.

Unfortunately there's no word on additional co-op modes, if any.  For shame, I had high hopes we might see a co-op only DLC.   That's not to say the potential isn't there.  

"We feel like we've only scratched the surface in terms of the depth and detail in" GTA IV's mythical Liberty City, says Houser.

Update: We've added 4 screens after the jump.

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