Welcome to Beyond Co-Op, a weekly piece that talks about industry stories that may or may not be related to co-op gaming.

A game that has always intrigued me by its potential is Dungeon Defenders. Using the Unreal engine and promising cross-platform, four player co-op is a good way to appeal to the Co-Opticrew. From its First Wave debut on Android to a digital release on PC, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade, Dungeon Defenders has awed gamers with charm and accessibility. Well...charm, anyway.

Having trouble conquering those intimidating bosses in Dark Souls?  This latest video won't help you at all.  It will showcase some of the colossal beasties of Lordran.  This giant rat is the least of your worries, especially when you've got monsters like the one at the :40 second mark coming after you.  I can handle half naked giant spider ladies, but that tongue and teeth guy totally freaks me out.  If he get's a hold of you he swallows you whole!

Like a four year old buried in a leaf pile, the staff are dropped under a pile of fall gaming goodness.  Whether it's a major release like Gears of War 3 or Battlefield 3, or a co-op board game like Pandemic.  It seems like a good weekend to have the problem of "too many games" too - some of the United States is supposed to get snow which means a perfect time for staying indoors and playing.

Every time I write off The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, another awesome trailer pulls me back into the Tolkien hype machine.  This latest video has got it all: maps, rings, fire, eyes, eyes on fire, and undead horseys, all in the first thirteen seconds!  Choose your ranger, elf, or dwarf and get to troll stabbin'.  You had better bring some friends.  It looks like Agandaur has been eating his electrified Wheaties, because his force lightning looks bad-ass.  Strength, courage, fellowship!  

PC gamers craving new co-op experiences are in luck – the Steam Halloween sale includes lots of fine spooky-themed co-op games marked down to nearly rock-bottom prices. Highlights include Left 4 Dead games bundled for $10.19, Borderlands for $4.99, and plenty more. The sale lasts until November 1, so check out the list and get shopping.

The greatest war represented on video game consoles this generation is not set in World War 2, modern times, or even the future - it’s the war between the Call of Duty franchise and everyone else. EA has tried once before to settle the score, taking CoD head on with their Medal of Honor franchise with little effect. The latest attack has come in the form of Battlefield 3, a franchise who’s roots are in the PC but found new life with the Bad Company series on consoles. Battlefield 3 spans both PC and console and is definitely EA’s answer to Call of Duty, but does the focus on this war cost Battlefield 3 what has defined the series?

Are you slowly going mad as you wait for the release of Trine 2, the sequel to the hit indie physics platformer of 2009? If so, you may want to consider pre-ordering the game on Steam (either PC or Mac). Just pre-ordering through Steam grants you access to the Trine 2 co-op beta where you can shoot, slash, and levitate your way through two levels. If that isn't enough of an incentive for those of you wavering about a pre-order, the Frozenbyte CEO has also said that "a few very cool TF2 hats are coming as pre-order bonuses." Yep, you a pre-order game on Steam and there's like a 90% chance (real statistic, I swear) you'll be getting Team Fortress 2 peraphenalia. Pfft to you, immersion (I say this, but secretly covet my TF2 familiars in Dungeon Defenders...).

Paradox have announced a new piece of downloadable content for the four player co-op PC game, Magicka.  Titled "The Stars are Left," this new DLC is inspired by many Lovecraft-ian mythos including Cthulhu.  They also promise to make fun of other crafts and I'm not talking about basket weaving.  The main feature of this DLC is a brand new adventure campaign.

Unless you have featured in film or television I don't care about your opinion on Lord of the Rings.  Go home Professor of English Literature at Oxford University; see you Grandpa who actually knew Tolkien - neither of you have the kudos of some bloke off Big Bang Theory or one of the Hobbits from the films.  Snowblind Studios understand my needs with their new promotional video for The Lord of the Rings: War in the North.  Talk to us all famous people.

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is one of the most unusual games I've ever played. It is much more than just a game; it is a media juggernaut including a toyline, an adventure game on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii, a platformer for the 3DS, and even a light MMO on the PC or Mac. The various components work together seamlessly due to the innovative design of the toys themselves. It is incredibly polished, and it's clear that careful thought was given to even the smallest details.

The Saints Row: The Third Initiation Station is in its beta phase.  What the hell is an "initiation station?"  Why it's an honest to goodness character creator!  Of course, there is a Saints Row twist.  You can see what the community has come up with right here.  Yup.  That's happening.  Not only can you customize your character, you can also give them some obscene gestures!  I think "Pillow Princess" may get my vote for "the most awkward gesture to view in polite company," but there are many others that are just as bad.