The stories for this week:

Some good news out of the Sony camp today.  One of the more requested features we've been seeing lately is to have split screen co-op play combined with online play.  What does that mean?  That means you and a friend could be playing split screen with other people online as well.  Very few games seem to support this, Halo 3 being the biggest that comes to my mind.

This week's HUD we are joined by special guest Charles Husemann from Gaming Nexus.  As usual the questions are varied, and our panel of 10 get right down to it.  So what's on tap?

Not too long ago, we discussed the fact that Phantasy Star Zero would have online (and local wireless) co-op. However, details of the game have been scarce for a while. Fortunately, the crew at Siliconera got some hands-on time at TGS and walked away with some details. Some of the information is just confirmation of old news. The game is very much like PSO, and features the same action-RPG gameplay. Likewise, the game's messaging system is akin to Pictochat, though apparently it features a few chat bubbles that likely deal with common statements, like "resurrect me."

We have some really bad news today folks.  It appears that LittleBigPlanet, Sony and MediaMolecule's brilliant 4 player co-op platformer, is going to be delayed a few weeks.  From what we've heard there was a level in the game that featured references to the Qu'ran in the background music.  

How does the saying go?  Better late than never?  

After last night's Gears of War co-op night I'm totally stoked for Gears 2.  I forgot how visceral and satisfying the game is.  Nothing beats popping a boomers head off from 50 yards with a sniper rifle, watching it explode like a watermelon hitting a mac truck.  We previously posted plenty of impressions of the 5 player co-op horde mode, but now previews are showing up for the 2 player co-op campaign mode.  

You know you want it.  Just looking at that above graphic makes you desire the 4 player co-op zombie slayer Left 4 Dead from Valve Software.  It's got zombies.  It's got co-op.  It's got car alarms.

Scott Phillips of Volition is a man after my own heart. It's enough to know that he had a hand in the bot-tastic Red Faction II, a prime example of how to play competitive games with a co-op twist.

We Want War, Wake Up!  

Just a reminder that tonight is our monthly Xbox Live Co-Op night.  This month's featured game is Gears of War.  With Gears 2 right around the corner, and the hype train going full speed ahead it's time to revisit this truly excellent cooperative title.  Perhaps you never got around to finishing the game, or perhaps...you never even played it in co-op.  Blasphemy!

We report from NYC with some hands on time with Fable 2's co-op play.  There's some really good surprises here, including some great options we've rarely seen in a cooperative title.  Want to know the details on Lionhead's gorgeous and ambitious title?  Read on.