As gamers, we often wonder what goes on behind the scenes with game developers. What hoops are jumped through? What hurdles are cleared? And where did that bit of quirk in the game come from, exactly? Well, Game Informer got a fun list of things that went on during the development of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 that made it what it we get to play.
 

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Holy moly!  When it rains it pours!  And it's raining co-op games!  We've got three solid co-op titles hitting this week, all bringing their own unique flair to the table, and representing just about every platform out there.

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We've got our first big co-op release of the fall season today with Activision's Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.  The four player co-op brawler/RPG has players choosing from over 25 characters and teaming up to combine powers in a story set in the Civil War story arc.

The game has online and offline co-op for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and local co-op for the rest of the platforms including the Wii, PS2, PSP and DS.  There are certain characters that are exclusive to certain versions of the game, and we have the full list laid out for you.

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The Backyard Football series has been around now for over 10 years, with roots on the PC.  It has a long history of family friendly style football perfect for kids combined with real NFL players and teams.  Madden NFL 10 may have added an online co-op mode this year, but Backyard Football didn't want to feel left out.  The game is going to offer a unique 2 vs 2 co-op mode, perfect for parents that want to play with their kids.  

Look for the game on store shelves this October on the Wii, PS2 and Xbox 360.

Guitar Hero 5 hit the streets yesterday, and now we now a bit more about the game.  We were specifically curious about the import features.  Rock Band 2 supported the import of the Rock Band disc songs last year.  We loved this feature, and when it was announced that it was finally being added to Guitar Hero, we were quite pleased.  Last night, I was unable to contact the servers to try the import, but USA Today has the info. Edit: Updated information below.

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It's barely September, and the fist major game release of the fall rush is here!  Guitar Hero 5 hits store shelves today, and is available for pretty much every console.  Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and PS2 gamers can rock out to the new and improved game engine today.  I'm eagerly anticipating this one, and it's scheduled for delivery today; look for our review later this week.

Also don't forget that if you snag the game this month, you'll get Guitar Hero Van Halen for free.  Don't forget you can purchase Guitar Hero 5 at Amazon and help support Co-Optimus!

Velma was always the brains of the Scooby Doo gang.  She knew before anyone that the monster was really just some shmuck in a mask.  You'd always find her head buried in a book.  In the latest Scooby Doo!  Fright Nights trailer she's chucking those books at scary monsters, and with Scooby by her side in the game's two player co-op - well Scooby gets a treat of his own.

Ye-hehe-hehe-yarm!  Scooby Snack!

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The latest iteration of the Guitar Hero franchise, Smash Hits is exactly what it sounds like: a compilation of the best songs from previous Guitar Hero games.  One one hand, the entire idea of a greatest hits game reeks of "easy cash grab", especially given Activision's reputation for milking franchises dry.  On the other hand, these songs are indeed great, and they are fun to play, even the second time around.  The true value of GH Smash Hits lies somewhere between these two extremes.

"So.. like.. we just got this press release, y'know, and like... it just about BLEW our MINDS!  Like, totally.  Taylor Swift is going to be in Band Hero, and I think I'm like.. gonna faint!  I was all OMG I gotta txt all my friends about it!  Like, awesome.  She's so awesome I gotta get daddy to buy me this game!  And maybe one of those... Wii things, or something?  Check out the web site it's SO PRETTY oh wow... like... I wish I had her hair, y'know?"

Yes, loyal readers, Taylor Swift is invading living rooms across the globe, being featured in upcoming fall release Band Hero.  Our prediction is that the game will now sell eleventy billion copies.  We have a gallery for your perusal, featuring the in-game likeness of Miss Swift, plus a few other gameplay shots.  You can also view the reveal trailer, if you like!

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We've got two co-op releases this week, both based on classic 1980's franchises.  

First up is G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and PlayStation 2.  The game features a two player local co-op mode throughout the game's campaign.  It's loosely based on the movie of the same name which also comes out in theaters this Friday.

Also this week is the 3D remake of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time.  The game features local and online four player co-op through the classic arcade experience.   Now it's a bit more affordable thanks to a pre-release price drop.