Another classic video game console celebrates a milestone this week.  Sega's Dreamcast was released in North America ten years ago this past week, on 9/9/99.  Though the console was short lived, it has developed quite a following, even a decade later.  Many features of the Dreamcast were ahead of its time, most notably a standard modem and internet support allowing online co-op for the first time on a home console.  To celebrate the 10th birthday of Sega's final console, we'll take a look at some of the best co-op games the system had to offer, as submitted by staff and readers.

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We've just posted our review of Ikaruga for Xbox Live Arcade. This is a deep SHMUP that enforces co-op play to maximize score and stay alive. It's classic title that was difficult to find on both the Dreamcast and Gamecube, and now it's available for a $10 download on XBLA.

Yes, Ikaruga, a game considered by many to be one of the harder vertical shooters of all time, is coming to Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday. Major Nelson has confirmed that the game will drop this Wednesday for 800 MS Points ($10 in real-world cash).

For non-Ikaruga fans, the game's core concept is that the color of your ship determines who can damage you. If your enemy is the same color as you, your enemy's attacks won't damage you (in fact you can absorb their attacks). And inversely, if you and your enemy are different colors, their attacks will damage you.This is where the color-changing aspect comes into play.

This is simple in concept, but as Ikaruga fans will tell you, it's harder than it looks. Fortunately, you will be able to bring a friends with you, as this version of Ikaruga will feature online and offline co-op. So, get ready to have some color-changing fun when the game hits, and please, don't throw your controllers. They're not exactly cheap.

XBLAH reports that the Japanese Xbox.com page for Ikaruga was unveiled early, and the date for the game's release is April 9.  The US release date is unknown yet, but hopefully will be the same, so we don't have to wait any longer.  Grab a friend, clear your calendar, and get ready for some good ol' shoot-em-up action.

The UK edition of OXM has a juicy tidbit or two regarding the release of legendary shooter Ikaruga on Xbox Live Arcade.  The game was announced long ago, but details regarding release have been unclear.  However, in the magazine, Ikaruga for XBLA is reviewed, earning 9 out of 10.  The release date is listed as "Available now".  If indeed this information is true, co-op fans should rejoice, as the game will support online co-op.  In addition to the standard leaderboards, players will be able to share game replay videos over Live.  Given the game's almost mythical difficulty level, sharing videos with your friends might just earn you some major "shmup cred".  As of press time, it is unknown if the game will support the Xbox Camera.  That would certainly be useful if you wanted to prove you could play co-op by yourself using 2 controllers at the same time.  Before you get too giddy, though, you might want to consider the magazines April cover date and take it all with a grain of salt.  If indeed the rumor is true, though, shooter fans everywhere will rejoice, as they team up to weave a glorious tapestry of destruction in their wake.