Praise the Sun!  We're nine days into 2012 and we haven't done a Dark Souls article yet?  Truly it is the end of days.  It's about time I fix that.  Over the weekend I received an email from a Co-Optimus community member concerning a petition to port Dark Souls to PC.  That's a mighty fine idea.  The more people playing Dark Souls, the better.  (I'm hoping for a sequel titled Darker Demon's Souls: Back to Boletaria)  I was curious if anyone would get behind the PC petition.  Lo and behold, as of this writing 52,392 people have signed on.

Last month for MMO Co-Opportunities we did a little preview of what the latest blockbuster MMO (the Old Republic) may have in store in way of Co-Opportunities. Now, a few weeks after the game's launch, we take and closer and more informed look.

The new trailer for Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City doesn't have gameplay footage, lacks any real co-op information, and seems to showcase the player versus player elements of the game. That said, plenty of stuff gets shot, stabbed, 'sploded, and sworn at.  The trailer is action packed, and really tickles my fun zone.

The problem with working on a submarine is that there is not much head room; plus there are sea monsters, nuclear meltdowns and crippling leaks. The solution to these issues was discovered by Fantasy Flight Games some time ago in their table top co-op game Red November - Gnomes. Fierce Wombat Games has partnered with Fantasy Flight to bring Red November to iOS, PC and Mac.

It's 2012, the year the world ends because some Mayan dude ran out of room on a stone slab. It seems silly to make a new year's resolution since the world is going to end, but let's do it anyway. Have you made any resolutions? Let's talk about it! I'm sure many of you have resolutions to work out more, eat better, or save more cash for the kids' college funds... BORING! Nobody wants to hear about that mundanity. Keep that garbage on Twitter!

Welcome to Beyond Co-Op, a weekly piece that talks about industry stories that may or may not be related to co-op gaming.  We like to take a look around the industry and see what news and links may interest you in the world fo gaming.

We're a week into 2012, and so far this is the lamest apocalypse I have ever experienced.  I guess I can start dismantling the steel spikes, armored plating, and barbed wire I recently installed on our Prius.  I live on the West Coast, so maybe all the hellfire missed us?  The rest of the staff seems eerily calm, considering it's the end of the world...

Resident Evil: Revelations will receive a free demo from the Nintendo eShop.  We don't know exactly when the demo will be available, but since the game comes out next month, we figure it will be out soon. Capcom’s Christian Svensson mentioned the upcoming demo in the Capcom-Unity forums: “A RE: Revelations demo for NA and Europe is coming... When we have something more concrete to share, you won't be able to miss it on the Capcom-Unity blog."  

I have a secret.  For many years now I've secretly desired a game like Hitman that allowed multiple players to plan and execute a kill.  In fact, almost 3 years ago I thought about starting a column here on Co-Optimus with the premise of having the community contribute to co-op game design ideas, with the first column being about the very topic.  Sadly, it looks like a true Hitm​an game with co-op isn't coming anytime soon - mostly due to the fact that Agent 47 as a character is a bit of loner.

When Samoza met Harry, again. Will LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 fix the over complex gameplay that dogged the first game in the series, or is it another case of Maximus Confusionius?

This week in Indie-Ana Co-Op, we ring in the New Year by looking at an action RPG that has its roots firmly in the mid-90s console era, yet found its way onto the PC, of all platforms. We also have a special treat for all you long-time readers!

I think we can all agree, Saints Row: The Third is a damn fun game.  I think we can also agree that the real gangsters are working at THQ.  Two bucks for some outfits?  What the hell, guys?  I understand that everyone likes to make money, but SR3 feels like it's been parted out and sold to us through a chop shop.  Oh well, if you don't like it, don't buy it.  I, however, need a samurai mask and warrior princess underoos for my character, so it looks like the joke is on me.