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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Earlier this week Microsoft held an event to showcase some upcoming holiday products including Windows 7, Zune HD, and numerous Xbox 360 titles.  We've already written up some extensive coverage of Halo 3: ODST, which if you haven't already, you should go check out.  Despite ODST being a highlight of sorts, there were other interesting things worth mentioning

Microsoft has just announced the ZuneHD.  The long rumored device became official today via a Press Release.  But what does it have to do with co-op gaming?  Perhaps more than you expect.

One of the core concepts of Zune has always been around the social aspects, the original was the first player that let you share songs wirelessly with other Zune users.  The ZuneHD looks to take this a step further by integrating with the Xbox and a brand new Zune Marketplace on Xbox Live.  Could this mean integrated friends lists on our portable media player?  Could we be receiving Xbox Live messages from friends asking them to journey with them in the world of Sacred 2?  We can only hope.

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Ok, there's actually not any Gears of War themed lingerie, and for that I'm glad.  But we do have a lot of other Gears of War 2 related news. 

As pictured above there will be a limited edition Gears of War 2 120GB Zune available in early November.  It'll be priced at $279.99 and include almost 250 pieces of Gears of War content including the original soundtrack, concept art, and trailers.

Speaking of trailers, the next video documentary is up on the official Gears of War 2 website called Enter the Horde.  The video shows off some of the new enemies, including a priest like character that can revive guys.  You'll definitely want to point that out to your co-op buddy as soon as you see him and take him down!  You can check out that video right here.

Finally for any of the folks heading to LA this weekend for the E for All Expo, you'll be able to get your hands on Gears of War 2's Horde mode.  The Horde mode is a 5 player co-op mode in which players take on wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies.  

We are used to playing co-op on handheld gaming devices, thanks to Nintendo and Sony.  Ever since Microsoft jumped into the console market with the original Xbox, it has been rumored that they would follow suit with a portable gaming device of their own, as well.  While this hasn't been the case so far, owners of Microsoft's portable media player, the Zune, may get to play some games after all.  A Zune was seen playing an XNA game at GDC recently.  Chris Satchell, XNA guru, had this to say:

One of the things we talked about was the network play, and we've had people doing prototypes internally of multiplayer shoot-'em-ups both in versus and co-op.

Most gamers will not head out to buy a Zune for a few co-op shoot em ups; however, the Zune is a fairly full featured device already, and adding a few games to the mix would certainly help it stand up to Goliath.  Current Zune owners and those on the fence might keep this news in mind.