EA took a risk making Dead Space 3 a co-op affair - and for all intents and purposes - we found it a resounding success of how you make a co-op game without sacrificing the single player experience. But the game ends with a few questions left hanging, so it was inevitable that some DLC would be arriving. Andrew and I have played through the content , called Dead Space 3: Awakened, and feel the need to weigh in. Fair warning - there's going to be some minor spoilers here from Dead Space 3's main campaign. If you haven't finished it you may not want to proceed.

Dead Space 3 was a solid co-op experience, though it may not have been the frightening one that many had hoped it could be.  We had known well before launch that a new add-on campaign was in the works for the game, but today we have all the gory details of it.  It's called Dead Space 3: Awakened and it's a $9.99 piece of premium DLC that takes place after the events of the game.  We recently went hands on with the DLC and came back with some impressions of the much creepier and darker content you'll find.  There may be some minor spoilers ahead.

Amazon is running an all videogame Gold Box event today.  The centerpiece item is EA's Dead Space 3 for only $39.99 on your platform of choice - Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PC.  It's a game we quite enjoyed for both single player and its two player online co-op.  Despite it being a little action heavy, we feel it fits the series quite well.  You can always check out our Dead Space 3 Co-Op FAQ if you have any questions about it.

Valentine's Day is a time for love, passion, and dismembering necropmorphs.  No really, you should fire up some Dead Space 3 and play co-op with someone you care about.  That's the true meaning of this Hallmark holiday.  EA has given us some some goodies to giveaway to Dead Space 3 fans on every platform.  We are offering packs that contain every piece of downloadable content available on each respective platform - 360, PS3, and PC.  Better yet?  The packs contain two of everything so you can give them to a loved one for Valentine's Day!

Cooperative play has come to the Dead Space franchise. Issac Clarke returns to battle the Necromorph scourge in Dead Space 3, and this time he has brought a friend along for the wild ride. How does the new buddy system impact one of the most beloved survival horror franchises of this console generation? Find out it our Co-Op Review.

Like it or not, Dead Space 3 has optional co-op play.  While the gameplay addition may be controversial for purists of the series, it was a welcomed addition to the game here on Co-Optimus.  We've gone to Tau Volantis and back again to bring you the most detailed information about Dead Space 3's co-op mode in FAQ style..  It's easy to see that Visceral have crafted a a unique experience paying attention to both single player and co-op and making sure it's as seamless as possible.

Last week there was a bit of a hullabaloo concerning microtransactions in Dead Space 3. Players can now spend real life money on in-game digital resources. It was as if EA had never charged players for better items in a Dead Space game before (they have). Not only has EA charged consumers for advanced weaponry and skins, people seem to love it. Most Marketplace items have at least a four star rating --and we all know the Xbox Live Marketplace star ratings are infallible. Or not. The point is, people have been paying for Dead Space extras for years.

In case you haven't heard, Dead Space 3 launched on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC today. You know what that means? Obligatory launch day DLC announcements! Isaac Clarke is using the buddy system in his latest foray into survival horror, bringing a hardened soldier, John Carver, along for the ride. The frozen planet of Tau Volantis may hold secrets of the Necromorph menace and a host of other dangers, but the story doesn't end there. 

We had heard rumors, but E3 2012 confirmed to us that Dead Space 3 would feature co-op play.  Fans of the series balked.  Co-Op fans cheered.  Could both of these groups be satiated with the game that Visceral has developed? 

The Dead Space 3 launch date is slowly creeping toward us. EA is throwing their marketing weight around with a launch trailer that has appeared during almost every single commercial break I've seen since posting it three days ago. It was cool on Monday, but Isaac's "angry face" is starting to get to me.

We've got a plethora of Dead Space 3 news for you today, some downright cool and some downright controversial.  While the previous Dead Space games were known for their ability to isolate you, making you feel lonely and helpless, the new game is allowing you to bring a buddy along for the ride in its two player online co-op mode.  But that's not the only way you can get help - an extensive list of resources can be purchased via micro-transactions.

The Dead Space 3 launch trailer is here, and boy, is it pretty. In case you've been ignoring all Dead Space-related news since last summer's E3, you should know that this is the first time the sci-fi survival horror title will support cooperative play. Nick and I recently played through the now public cooperative demo, and we both were impressed by the game.

Amazon has a few special's going on for some of this year's biggest co-op releases, which just all so happen to be coming from Electronic Arts and also happen to fall within the next two months.  All of the games include a $20 credit on your next Amazon purchase (after the game ships) - and SimCity includes access to this weekend's beta.  Just follow the below links and pre-order away!

The Dead Space 3 public demo is available now on the Xbox 360. It will be available later today when the PlayStation Network receives its regular update. Nick and I played through the demo cooperatively last week and offered our impressions here. You can co-op the demo yourself with on online partner. I don't mean to tell you your business, but you should probably check it out. It was good enough to inspire me to start playing the original Dead Space again. 

Having finally finished Dead Space 2 this weekend and wrapped up the Dead Space 3 demo, I'm fully in anti-necromorph mode.  I was looking at a turkey on the dinner table last night and imagined myself using a plasma cutter to dismember...I mean...carve it.  With Dead Space 3 only a few weeks away it won't be long till I get my fix and dinner will once again be safe.