Fable II was one of those games that I anticipated for its co-op and was severely let down...so I determined that I would wait for a good deal and buy it for its single-player gameplay.

Not only has that time come, it has come in the form of five easily digestible episodes, and the first episode is available...for freeeee! Xbox Live members can get their hands on this ~1.8 GB download right now. As in, this second. I wouldn't blame you one bit if you queued it up from work. I did.

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Microsoft launched their latest social media player yesterday with the ZuneHD.  In 16GB and 32GB varieties, the system packs an OLED multi-touch screen, accelerometer, HD Radio as well as sleek design.  Soon the system will be sync'd up to your Xbox 360 for a host of other features.  

Right now the ZuneHD store is offering custom versions of the player engraved with some great co-op game graphics like Halo 3: ODST, Fable II, Crackdown 2, Gears of War 2, Lips and Halo Wars.  The engraving is free, and it'll come with a unique wallpaper for the device as well.  

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While we at Co-Optimus do not generally condone the act of competitive gaming, which, by definition allows you to dominate another player; there is a kind of co-op that does include domination, one we would like to paste a label on. This type of co-op can, if used correctly, be used against that game-hog sibling, spouse or significant other. Co-optimus would like to proudly introduce: B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bitch) co-op gaming. We've looked at a few examples of games that created the B.Y.O.B. co-op genre, all the way back to the days of the Sega Genesis, and culminate the list with recent entries on systems like the Xbox 360 and Wii.

This is the official Co-optimus.com list of B.Y.O.B. co-op titles. (This editorial is rated P for Profanity.)

With the recent Xbox 360 price drop, retailers are going to be competing for your business.  That means kick ass deals for you.  Amazon has a very co-op friendly deal going on right now - purchase the Xbox 360 Pro with a 60GB hard drive for the new $249.99 price; and you'll get one of the following co-op games for free: Halo 3, Fable 2 or Halo Wars.  You choose and you also get free shipping!

If that's not your thing you can get the Xbox 360 Elite console for the new $299 price with one year of Xbox Live Gold for free!

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Lionhead has officially announced Fable III today at Gamescom in Germany.  The game takes place 50 years after the events of Fable 2 where you'll play your Fable II character's child on a quest to become the ruler of Albion.  We've been teased all week on the official Lionhead site for the announcement, being shown pictures of great rulers and quotes.

Once you become ruler of Albion you'll have the choice to rule as a tyrant or a benevolent figure, something we've seen before from Mr. Molyneux in his many god games.  There's a teaser trailer up on the Lionhead website, though there really isn't anything shown of the game.  There's no word if we'll have cooperative support, but if there is, lets hope for something a little more robust than Fable II.

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This week's Xbox Live Deal of the Week for Gold Members only is the Fable 2 Knothole Island expansion pack.   The DLC pack is 30%, which knocks its 800  price down to 560 .

If you read our impressions of the DLC a while back, you know we were pretty happy with what we got for our $10!  Knothole Island contains three new quests revolving around the weather of Knothole Island.  Players can unlock new and unique items, including an Assault Rifle from Halo.  Yes...and assault rifle.

The DLC deal comes at a pretty good time as the New York times just confirmed that Fable 3 is in development, again, thanks to a wedding announcement.  You can't make this stuff up.

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While we still don't know a date for the next Fable 2 expansion pack, we do know it'll come with new achievements, much like Knothole Island. 

The See the Future DLC will add 250 Gamerscore to the already existing 1100, bringing the total to 1350 points available in the game.   The new achievements aren't only specific to the new content, so owners of the regular game can take advantage of them as well.  

Most of the achievements could be quite interesting for co-op, for instance, The Nutcracker has players obtaining 25 groin shots - or seeing another Hero do so.  And really, what's funnier than a kick to the love nuggets?  Perhaps exhibitionism is your thing as the new Paramour achievement has you unlocking 10 gamerscore for doing the deed 25 times - or watch someone do it 25 times.  

I guess the new co-op is watching someone have fun.  The full list of achievements are right ahead.

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