Dungeon Defenders: First Wave - an Unreal Engine tower defense game with RPG elements - debuted on iOS last week, but in two days Android users can get their fill of cel-shaded co-op combat.

Everyone has a different tradition on how they decorate their tree for Christmas.  Some do it as soon as the previous holiday has passed, while others wait until Christmas Eve to dress up their blue spruce.  Some decorate the tree in matching colors with fancy crystal balls and an angel on the top while others using flashing colored lights, Hallmark ornaments and candy canes.

Namco Bandai recently announced another Naruto game entitled Naruto Shippuden: Kizuna Drive for the PSP. The game will include a traditional Story Mode revolving around Naruto and fan favorite characters and their investigation of the disappearance of ninja from Hidden Leaf Village. In addition to the Story Mode, there will be a co-op mode called Free Mission mode, supporting up to 4 players. This new installment to the Naruto game franchise features a new team-based combat system called the (who would have guessed) Kizuna Drive Combat System:

Are you a Left 4 Dead 2 addict?  Do you scoff at those who don't play in Realism mode, because seeing where your teammates are is for newbs?  Do you handicap yourself by using just the pistol and shove attacks?  Perhaps you even dream of zombie killing at night.  Well, for you hardcore undead re-murderers, Valve has just the thing for you, so you won't be far from your favorite special Infected even when you are tucked snug in your bed.

The team over at iiji must have a thing for doing co-op in a valley.  Earlier this year we brought you an exclusive first look at a new co-op mode called Death Valley for the free to play FPS called Alliance of Valiant Arms.  iiji's is back with a brand new free to play FPS called Genesis A.D. - a futuristic game that's more about twitch gameplay than strategy.  It too is getting a cooperative mode, this time called - Viper Valley. 

Good news, iGamers!  Co-Optimus has recently confirmed that Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light has co-op on the iPhone and iPad.  We loved this isometric action title, which got a great co-op review.  The iOS versions are identical to the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade versions, minus the DLC.  Co-op is available through wi-fi between any of the devices - that means iPhone gamers can play with iPad gamers and vice versa.

Does this remind anyone else of Inception?

Which one do I hit again?

Having just gotten out of a 3D showing of TRON Legacy, the sequel to the 1982 film from Disney, one thing left an impression with me.  Sure the colorful visuals, the thumping soundtrack by Daft Punk, and the impressive 3D effects all were excellent; but what really stuck out at me was the reinforcement of co-op throughout the movie.

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

It's the most wonderful time of the year, or so the song says.  Many staffers here at Co-Optimus are busy with finals, family, and the typical holiday chaos that runs rampant in late December.  Red Dead Redemption and the addiction-inducing World of Warcraft will be making appearances in several weekends for us.  What are your gaming plans?

When skimming some new release arcade titles on XBLA, my interest was immediately piqued by an arcade style beat-em-up with a heavily comic book theme titled Unbound Saga. As a reviewer I couldn’t resist the pull of the story, but did the co-op and gameplay really hold up to expectations?