I know what you're thinking, "But this is the second time Mike's posted an ODST-related This Week in Co-Op!"

I'll admit you're right, but this was special.  Really, really special.  You see, it was our first Official Halo Waypoint Co-Op Night, and we were tracking high scores in Firefight.  You'll also learn a very valuable lesson in why you should probably think twice before you ask for my help.

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As Mike and Nick discussed in the 28th episode of the Co-Opticast, there was a study conducted at the University of Missouri to compare competitive gaming to co-op gaming.  While the study didn’t go to too great depths to test the effects of co-op vs competitive gaming, the summary suggested that aggressive games (and gaming) appeal to young men as it allows them to participate in that primal male-male competition for dominance.  This phenomenon, unfortunately, isn’t always limited to competitive gaming.  There is that occasional aggressive side to co-op, when the co-op experience turns from being a group working together to achieve a goal, to a group of individuals all attempting to achieve or prove something on their own.  It is something that I myself was guilty of not that long ago.

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"The treasure is in the plaza" says Nathan.  All that stands in our way is a gigantic swarm of enemies that will lay their life on the line to protect it.  Or perhaps they want to steal it themselves?  No matter, our trio will shoulder on and steal what is rightfully ours.  If a few goons go down in the process, the world will be a better place for it.

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Have you ever been tempted to experiment with little pick-me-up out in the Borderlands? Say you're wandering around the Arid Badlands when a horde of goons surround you. It feels good to berserk just a little, doesn't it? We're here to tell you it only takes once to get addicted to Berserkeroids, and it takes all the friends you have to help you through the ups and downs that follow. This is the tale of an overdose of Berserkeroids, as Nick aka Brick had one too many hits, and tragically could not stop running.

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I can hear the cries now, "WHAAAAAAAAAAAATT???!! That game’s not co-op! Why don’t you go write for Solo-Optimus!?!"  Well, relax those troubled cries for one moment and read on.  What follows is not a description of some dude who sat down and played a traditionally single player game.  Nay.  What follows is a tale of making an old game new again, and a gamer remembering why he began co-op gaming in the first place.

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This is a story about dads and sons, parenting a teenager, changing interests, and, of course, zombies.

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So it all started when Nick and I decided to play some Halo 3: ODST (Yes, ANOTHER ODST story) and co-op through Legendary.  Jason, having recently picked the game up, wanted to join our session, so we agreed upon a time to meet.  Our time arrived, and I partied up with Nick, set up the lobby, and threw an invite to Jason, which is where our story truly begins...

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Oh, gaaaawd! No more Halo! Yeah, yeah...we know. Trust me: we know. Take a pill.

Beyond this intro is a very small collection of screenshots taken from my recent experiences in Halo 3: ODST's Firefight mode. We're Co-Optimus...we like to share.

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After an exciting performance of "I want to Hold your Hand" out of Billy and the Co-Opticrew at PAX 2009, it was time for the band to break up and head their respective ways.  Sadly when I arrived home from the show there was no Beatles to be found in my house.  This simply did not sit well with my wife, and after several not so subtle hints - including her telling our 6 month old to ask me for game - it was time to trade in some games and pick up the Fab 4's videogame debut.

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Halo 3 is one of those titles that I just never picked up.  Even though I only recently (i.e., within the past year) bought a 360, the latest game in the Halo series wasn’t one that I just had to get hold of right away.  I actually avoided it for as long as possible for a variety of reasons, but a certain someone, along with the price tag that comes with a game that’s close to two years old, convinced me that it was probably time to finally see what folks have been talking about.  Buckle up tight, folks: this week in co-op, we take a day trip to New Mombasa.

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