Multiplayer gaming is what people look to more often than not these days, but for me, I like to take into consideration games that my partner (Kirsty) can play with me. The amount of co-op games is on the rise, some good and some bad, but the shift is obvious; co-op is the new single player!

So, what’s the attraction of co-op gaming? For me it’s because I can hold a conversation with Kirsty that doesn’t involve any over- explanation because she doesn’t have a clue what I’m on about. Co-op is also something that we can do together and work as a team which beats playing with yourself (no pun intended… well maybe a little). You can discuss tactics and have a laugh, and you can also explore the story together. The main problem when it comes to co-op gaming is finding a decent game to play, so I have decided to do you a list with my recommendations in no particular order.

Halo 3 and ODST

Let's take a drive.

That’s right folks you guessed it, Halo! So, it’s been out a while and you may have already played it, but have you played it with up to three of your mates? If not then that’s ok, there is time for you yet. Halo features up to four player co-op so if you want to start your co-op experience I would start here. Halo 3 may not be the longest game made but if you start on the normal difficulty then increase it once you have finished it once, you can get some real fun out of this game. It also has one of the most brilliant stories in any game, as well as one of the most iconic characters ever.

The same accusation of a brilliant story can be said for ODST which focuses more on stealth and picking your fights, rather than a gung-ho attitude. The story also differs from that of Halo 3 as it’s the first time in a Halo game that you don’t play ‘The Master Chief’. This produces two unique challenges to keep you and your chosen partner(s) occupied. If you do get ODST as well, be warned that you also get all of the maps packs (except for the newest one that was released the other week) for Halo 3 and the multiplayer component is on a separate disk.

Verdict: Both these games are great for beginners as they both have a varied spectrum of difficulty settings and really are two different experiences set in the same universe.

Borderlands

Sniper and a Siren sitting in a tree... S.h.o.o.t.i.n.g...

Borderlands approaches storytelling very differently in comparison to other games of its type. There is a beginning, middle and an end, which is all you really need to know. The story is pretty much told through the missions that you can undertake as and when you have unlocked them and in any order. This also features up to four player co-op too or just two player on the same console split-screen. This title literally has hundreds of hours of gameplay, if you fancy completing it as each of the four different characters. There is also a comedic feel to the game and many times you will be laughing at how over the top it is.

Verdict: Because Borderlands is a RPG, you upgrade your abilities as your character gains a level, adding extra depth and another reason to keep playing. With over a hundred missions, what better game to play with others?

Left 4 Dead (1&2)

I don't think we're alone...

What’s not to be said for zombie killing, is there anything that’s more fun?! What better way to spend your evening than to allowing up to three of your mates to partake in hunting the undead (or is it you that’s getting hunted… the lines are a bit blurry). With two games to own and play, there really is a good reason to own both, mainly due to how they provide two different experiences. This game speaks for itself, it doesn’t need a story (survive, that’s about it) and can have you jumping all over the living room in an effort to evade the blasted witch that keeps chasing you at every turn. The other good thing about this game is atmosphere with a capital A. Once you learn the tell tale sounds and have the volume up high and the lights out, you really do get drawn into a zombie apocalyptic where you create your own stories in gameplay. Absolute mayhem.

Essentially you are in a team of four throughout the levels, but if there is only three or less of you, the other members are replaced by the ever helpful AI. A good reason to own both is that you can use melee weapons in the second one; there is nothing more satisfying than killing a zombie with a frying pan (THUNG!).

Verdict: A co-op game that on harder levels really does require and reward team ethic.

Gears of War (1&2)

Marcus and Dom. You can cut the sexual tension with a chainsaw.

Gears is one of those games that just makes you want to play through all the way, even if it’s only the once. Both are fantastic games and although the second game added some nifty features, the original is still the better. Now, even though there are four main characters, Epic didn’t make it a four player affair so you will have to pick one of your mates to join you. Disappointing, but at least you can still play with a friend (seriously I’m not trying to be rude… it just keeps happening).

Verdict: With its cover and flanking system at the heart of it, and a story written with co-op in mind, this is a great game to play with another.

Army of Two (1 & 40th day)

I think I love you, man.

These are two of my favourite co-op games, and I think they should only ever be played in co-op due to the terrible partner AI that you have to contend with when you are on your own (seriously I don’t think it ever kills anything). Salem and Rios are awesome characters and they have a proper ‘bromance’ going on which keeps you entertained if nothing else. The game is pretty much designed to be played co-op and you can reward your partner or bash them over the head if needs be. You also have to do things as a team like hoist your partner up a wall to cover you from up high or hold a shield and have your partner shoot everything from behind you. Working together is essential and there is not many better games in which to do that.

Verdict: Like with Gears of War, this is a game with the co-op aspect at the very core of the experience.

Lego Star Wars/Indiana Jones/Batman

Don't get any ideas Luke, she's your sister.

They’re silly, stupid, OTT and spoofs the respective franchises perfectly, whilst keeping to the original stories.  They’re also bloody hilarious while never uttering a single word. You get to play a vast selection of colourful characters, each with different abilities that require you them to work in sync to get through the levels. These games need no write up and if you’re now looking at this article and saying the words ‘it’s a kid’s game’ you really don’t know what you’re missing. Trust me when I say, playing the Lego games are some of the best times that I have had with another human being (not including the obvious).

Verdict: Great to play with a friend, but if you want these games for online play then look away, as for most of the Lego titles the co-op is local only. Also keep an eye out for Lego Harry Potter which is coming soon.

Resident Evil 5

Chris: 'My bicep is bigger than your head Sheva...'

Yet another helping of resident evil, only minus the zombies and the horror. Although this game isn’t like any of its predecessors, the split-screen/online co-op is thoroughly enjoyable once you get used to the controls. This game works far better in co-op, and even though there aren’t many things to do as a team, you really have to communicate while taking on enemies and bosses. The only atmosphere in the game is the overwhelming sense of urgency, making you work heavily as a team and that is why this is on the list, but if you want zombie carnage look elsewhere.

Verdict: Subtle use of co-op, but as enjoyable as any of the games on the list.

So, that’s my list of great co-op games and I know that you’re thinking I have missed a few. There are a few that maybe could have been considered, such as Modern Warfare 2, Rockband and the like; however that’s just the way it goes. Just for you guys (who are fussy) I will name a few more games for you to have a go on when you have finished the above ones.

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (1&2): Reasonable co-op experiences, however the second is easily the better with its own separate co-op levels. Best played in a four (or more) man team, whilst drinking.
Rainbow Six Vegas (1&2): Both games co-op components follow the story missions, but the enemy AI is frustrating at times.
Kane and Lynch: Dead Men: Fun till the novelty wears off and has little or no replay value. Also tries to be like the movie HEAT, minus the class.
Crackdown: Brilliant game but no split-screen, you need two Xbox’s and two copies.
The Simpsons game: Tries to be like the Lego series. Only mildly amusing, but worth trying though.
Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3: Only worth it for fans of the series but it’s good fun. Once again, no split-screen, although would have proven to be difficult to implement.
Conflict: Denied Ops: This is the ‘avoid at all costs’ title that you only try in extreme times of desperation. It is however on the better end of the spectrum of some of the bad co-op games.

The Infinity Ward and Activision saga
Credit: CVG
Apparently the only people on the planet who didn’t want to see Modern Warfare 2 were Activision themselves! It was revealed this week that the two biggest advocates for another Modern Warfare title were evicted from the Infinity Ward studios by heavily armed security from Activision and fired from their positions due to ‘insubordination’. Vince Zampella and Jason West, now former bosses at Infinity Ward apparently had to fight Activision tooth and nail to make a sequel to CoD4! Wow, remind me not to oversee the most financially successful video game of all time, why don’t you…

In October of last year, Zampella and West discussed in length their differences of opinion with Activision. West said that Activision felt making another Modern Warfare title was ‘risky’ and ‘crazy’ West also claims Activision said. ‘They were doing Market Research to show us we were wrong the whole time’. Are they kidding? What kind of nincompoops are they employing over there?

Unsurprisingly, shortly after this both Zampella and West are seeking to take Activision to court for ‘breach of contract’ and other claims. Apparently, Activision owe some serious royalties to both men but fired them before they were due to give them their bonus. Here’s the word from their attorney…

“Instead of thanking, lauding, or just plain paying Jason and Vince for giving Activision the most successful entertainment product ever offered to the public” attorney Robert Schwartz said, “last month Activision hired lawyers to conduct a pretextual ‘investigation’ into unstated and unsubstantiated charges of ‘insubordination’ and ‘breach of fiduciary duty,’ which then became the grounds for their termination on Monday, March 1st.”

In addition to compensation, the suit seeks to return the contractual rights Zampella and West previously had to the Modern Warfare brand.

In the midst of this, it’s also unsurprising that Activision have been quick to announce replacements for the duo and Infinity Ward CTO Steve Pearce and head of production Steve Ackrick have assumed the top spots for an undisclosed period. Seems like Infinity Ward is now going to be run by Steve Squared!

Non-FPS Call of Duty Announced for 2011
Credit: CVG
In further head scratching Activision news, the next game in the Call of Duty franchise will not take place from a first person perspective! To make things even more interesting, they’ve added a third development team to the franchise alongside Treyarch and Infinity Ward and this new game is going to be developed by Sledgehammer Games, who are apparently looking to bring the franchise into the ‘action/adventure’ genre.

The title’s development is being headed up by Dead Space veterans and former Visceral Games bosses Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey. Activision made this statement regarding the bold undertaking:

“2010 will be another important year for the Call of Duty franchise” stated Mike Griffith, president and CEO of Activision Publishing. “In addition to continued catalog sales, new downloadable content from Infinity Ward and a new Call of Duty release, we are excited about the opportunity to bring the franchise to new geographies, genres and players.”

I wonder what the Market Research findings were for this release? Hmmm…

First Halo: Reach Gameplay trailer available – loads of new features!
Credit: Joystiq, Xbox 360 Achievements, Bungie

• Jetpacks!
• Assassination Moves!
• Load outs!
• New multiplayer modes!
• Is it May 3rd yet?

Check out the official trailer after the drop…

Valve confirms Portal 2
Credit: Joystiq, CVG
Valve have been putting PC players through the motions this past week. First they update Portal with a big patch through Steam with a new achievement. They’ve also implemented radio into each of the game’s levels. Apparently, if players listen to all stations, not only will they get a shiny Steam achievement but they will also get a big clue re: something Portal related when pieced together.

In addition to that, Valve released a new, extended ending for Portal a bit later on in the week, which introduces players to a whole new character.

Then, after a leak of a cover of a magazine, Valve came clean and told the World that Portal 2 is in development for PC and Xbox 360 and will be due out this Holiday Season. In addition to that, Portal 2 will also feature two new characters and an all new co-operative mode!

Seems that Zombie game really has been ‘Left 4 Dead’ for now…

Credit to Stephen Jacob for bringing some of this information to my attention.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light announced
Credit: Joystiq, Gamespot
It seems we’ll no longer associating Lara Croft with just being a simple Tomb Raider. Crystal Dynamics have been touting that Lara Croft is due a reboot and they’re about ready to supply us with the results this Summer. One of the big changes for this release is that the game will be available through digital distribution only. There are no confirmed platforms scheduled although it is safe to assume PC owners will be able to continue with the brunette’s latest adventure and probably XBLA and PSN owners. The game will also have a more arcade feel, have an isometric view and feature co-operative play. Seems to be a particular theme in this week’s round up…

More details to come closer to release…

Splinter Cell Conviction Xbox Special Edition Bundle incoming
Credit: CVG
Seems like Microsoft can’t get enough of packaging their Xbox with the latest games as a Splinter Cell Conviction bundle has been announced to co-incide with the game’s launch. They also seem to want to flaunt this new 250gb Hard Drive around and rub it in current owner’s faces. This new bundle will feature Splinter Cell: Conviction, a Black Xbox, a 250gb Hard Drive and two Wireless Pads. The package will retail at $399.99 in America. The bundle will also be released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for an undisclosed fee. Expect to see this in early April.

Achievements for Splinter Cell Conviction now available
Credit: Xbox 360 Achievements
In addition to a nice fancy bundle, for those that are interested, the full achievement list for Splinter Cell Conviction has been posted and is now available for your perusal. For a total of 1000 gamerscore and 50 achievements, there certainly seems enough to keep you busy when the game drops next month.

Take a peek…

Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year edition playable in 3D?
Credit: CVG
We all know the awesome that is Batman Arkham Asylum here at This Is My Joystick. So much so in fact, that it became our overall Game of the Year in 2009 amongst all staff members due to majority vote. So, this official ad from India has certainly perked up interest. Apparently, in addition to all current DLC available and some exclusive to pre-orders and systems, the game of the year edition will also ship with Trioviz 3D technology and two sets of 3D glasses!

The Indian ad lists a late March release date, however there has been no direct confirmation from Eidos. What we do know is that the game will not be coming to North America but will be in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

American McGee working on creepy looking Red Riding Hood game
Credit: CVG
American McGee created a game about Alice nearly a decade ago and chilled the pants off most anyone who actually played it. The game had a sinister undertone and looked at the dark side of Wonderland, as opposed to colourful caterpillars that get high and playing cards that like piling on top of each other. Now, after some stumbling blocks along the way, he is hard at work on a sequel produced through EA, called Alice 2.

However, after a recent post on his blog, American McGee has given us a sneak peek at his next project. With some concept art and a heritage of several years behind it, American McGee discusses how he intends to twist and perverse another classic tale, Red Riding Hood!

I’m getting horrific visions of being chased through creepy woods by a rabies-induced wolf that’s hungry for blood! Eek…

Travellers Tales secure license to produce Lego games until 2016
Credit: Xbox 360 Achievements
Sick of Lego games? Hope they’re going to go away? You’ll hate this news. LEGO and Warner Home Entertainment have come to an agreement with TT Games to continue developing LEGO games until 2016!

TT’s LEGO licenses so far include LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Indiana Jones, LEGO Batman and LEGO Harry Potter, which have sold close to 50 million units to date.

Next up for TT Games’ LEGO range is LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, and LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars later this year.

NHL 2k11 now a Wii Exclusive
Credit: Xbox Achievements
So, it seems as if the once thought dead Ice Hockey Franchise is now being resuscitated. However, 2K have said that this year’s installment of NHL will no longer be on Xbox 360 or PS3 but instead will remain a Wii exclusive. The word from 2k is that they want to focus on making the best product possible for Wii and seem unable to do that while diverting their attentions on Microsoft and Sony’s formats. However, don’t fret, according to 2K, the Ice Hockey franchise will be back next year for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 owners and it will be bigger and better than ever!

Red Dead Redemption delayed a month
Credit: Joystiq
Rockstar’s upcoming GTA clone in a Wild West environment has been pushed back a month to May 18th in NA and May 21st in Europe. Some may argue that Rockstar did this to add more polish to the game, some may say it made more sense from a marketing perspective. There’s been no official word from Rockstar as to why there is a delay, but what we now know is that Red Dead is going to ship the same day as Alan Wake!

Good move or bad move by Rockstar? You be the judge …

Even more Borderlands DLC incoming!
Credit: Joystiq
Bored of lands? Either way, it seems as if the steady stream of content isn’t over yet, as 2k games have said to expect even more to come from the franchise over the coming months. So, if you’ve zapped all the Zombies, if you’ve mingled with Moxxi and grinded with General Knoxx’s Secret Armoury (Perv!) then fear not, your days of cel-shaded blood spilling are not over yet. No release dates or titles announced as yet…

UK Catalog Store Argos enter pre-owned games market
Credit: PS3 Trophies
Currently only in trial phase, Argos are the latest UK retailer to enter the pre-owned games market. Only 27 stores out of 735 in the UK are partaking in this and it seems to be only a small number of games, most specifically Assassins Creed 2 and Grand Theft Auto 4. However, the difference between Argos and other pre-owned game retailers is that Argos offer gift vouchers which can be spent on anything in store.

So if you’re done with Ezio’s exploits in Italy and would rather trade it in for a groovy lava lamp, Argos seems to have you covered!

On Xbox 360 This Week
Credit: Xbox 360 Achievements, Major Nelson
This weeks deal of the week is a step up from the last, but not a big one. You can now pick up the entire collection of CoD World at War maps for 1600 points! Considering the World War 2 espionage epic is still ranking in the top five games playing over Live right now, there’s obviously still a market for it, although those that wanted the maps probably already have them. Either way, now’s your chance to get them at the cheapest possible price.

Also, Continuing the House Party trend on Xbox Live Arcade, Scrap Metal releases this week for 1200 points. Here’s a peek at what to expect from the official blurb…

• Drift around corners with guns blazing and take out legendary competitors in the fast-paced, top-down racing game Scrap Metal™.
• Fight your way through explosive, action-packed missions and defeat cunning bosses to add their vehicles to your garage.
• Customize your newly-acquired cars and then return to the track to blast through more enemies.
• Jump online with Xbox LIVE ® to race against your friends and crush their cars with the wheels of your monster truck in pulse-pounding online multiplayer matches.
• Racing action: It’s fast-paced, top-down racing action with beautiful HD graphics and fantastic racing physics.
• Story mode: Take on all the cunning villains and defeat the tricky bosses.
• Awesome, customizable vehicles: Drive everything from muscle cars to monster trucks to air boats and even tanks.
• Multiplayer: Try split-screen or Xbox LIVE multiplayer modes.
• 3-D support: Scrap Metal has full anaglyph 3-D support.

On Nintendo this week …
Credit: Nintendo Fanboy
Here’s the recent round up of all that is Nintendo. All listed below…

DSiWare

• Let’s Golf (Gameloft, 1-2 players, 800 DSi Points): Golf alone or in multiplayer (taking turns) in one of three locations.
• Globulos Party (GlobZ, player, DSi Points): 20 minigames including Funky-Soccer, Monster, Pinball, Sumo, and more.
• VT Tennis (Virtual Toys, 1-2 players, 500 DSi Points): Use the touch screen to control your rising star tennis player in Quickmatch, Tennis School, and World Championship.
• Flips: Terror in Cubicle Four (EA, 1 player, 500 DSi Points): In this e-book, investigate the mystery of the spooky haunted toilet.

WiiWare

• Mega Man 10 (Capcom, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points): Time for more 8-bit madness as an old favorite returns for another installment
• Dart Rage (JV Games, 1-4 players, 600 Wii Points): Take the bull by the horns! Show some rage while throwing your darts!
• Happy Hammerin’ (Gamebridge, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points): It’s whack a mole and it’s cute.

Virtual Console

• Fatal Fury Special (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): An updated version of Fatal Fury 2 roughly timed to the Neo Geo’s 20th anniversary.

Thanks for reading another Weekly News Round with This Is My Joystick. If you have any news stories you’d like to report or if you have a game or product you’d like for me to look into and dig up the latest news on it, then you can send me a message on my Twitter @RayWillmott or leave a message on our facebook group then your news or request will be featured on the next News Round and you will be equally credited for it. If you are obtaining this information from another source, please ensure you give appropriate credit.

Our only warning is to snap up the bargains quickly as the prices on many of these offers seem to go up and down quite quickly, so if you see something you want make sure you grab it whilst you can. To get the most from Neil’s Deals remember to follow us on Twitter as many of the best deals don’t actually make it to this column.

Enough of my ramblings, let’s have a look at what gaming bargains we can find this week.

The cheapest price for the popular game Mass Effect 2 at the moment is £31.89, whilst Darksiders is £22.71 at Asda on both Xbox 360 and PS3 if you enter the special discount code of “spend20″ at the checkout. If your Xbox Live account is in need of a Microsoft Points boost, Asda are also currently the cheapest at £14.91 for 2100 points.

Those desperate for Alien vs Predator can pick it up for £32.95 but I am sure it will be around £20 within six weeks. Dante’s Inferno is £28.85 over at Shopto on both Xbox 360 and PS3 whilst the game MAG Collectors Edition is £29.85 on the PS3. Brutal Legend is a more than tempting £12 instore only at Tesco or  £14.99 on both 360 and PS3.

For those of you that have been waiting patiently for DJ Hero to drop in price, you will be glad to hear that it has dropped to £49 at Tesco Direct. Forza 3 is another great game that has finally dropped below the twenty pounds mark and can be yours for a cool £19.99 thanks to Amazon. On the 360 the cheapest price for Bioshock 2 is currently £29.95 at the game collection.

Highly rated game Army of Two: The 40th Day is only £23.99 on both PS3 and the 360 but if you are on a budget and enjoy picking up popular games on the cheap, Halo Wars is £13.99 whilst Halo 3 can be picked up for £7.93 from Amazon or the original Bioshock for £9.93 over at the Hut. Dark Void is also a very tempting £12.99 on both PS3 and 360.

Borderlands is now down to a respectable £17.49, Karaoke fans can pre-order Lips: Party Classics for £17.99 and PS3 owners are strongly advised to pick up Dead Space for a fantastic £8.85.

Bargain of the week
Many much wiser than me may suggest that Bayonetta is nothing but a childish sex-fest for young male gamers to lust over whilst locked in their bedroom, but for only £17.99 on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 I think it’s a cracking price for a top game, making it my Deal of the Week. **EDIT** now £23.95.

Neil's Deal of the Week, Bayonetta £17.99

That’s it for this week, if you have any requests please let me know and I will do my best to find you a good price and if you find anything to share, please let us know.

Remember to follow us on Twitter for the very latest deals and latest news, and feel free to contact me anytime if you have any requests.

Fallout New Vegas is coming in 2010!
Credit: CVG, IGN, YouTube
Fallout New Vegas is coming and it’s coming in 2010! Obsidian, the development team behind Knights of the Old Republic 2 and Neverwinter Nights 2  released a teaser trailer this week and gave us a release window of Fall 2010. If you needed any further convincing that Game of the Year 2010 was going to be a hotly contested affair, then perhaps this might give you some perspective.

Got to love Frank Sinatra music being used to promote a computer game. Awesome!!

Project Needlemouse becomes Sonic the Hedgehog 4, the first true 2D platformer sequel in 17 years!
Credit: Joystiq, IGN, CVG
SEGA have finally lifted the lid on Project Needlemouse and given us some specifics. More specifically, the game is going to be Sonic the Hedgehog 4; a direct sequel to Sonic and Knuckles released back in 1993! No more bird collecting and stories about flying carpets, this is Sonic as we know and love it, with 2D graphics borne out with 3D visuals. It’s also been announced that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions will sport 1080p support.

What’s more, while we’ve met many of Sonic’s friends over the years, the only playable character in Sonic 4 will be the spiky blue hedgehog himself, complete with his old school move set, joined by the homing attack of the more recent games. Sonic the Hedgehog 4′s music will also be familiar to people who’ve played the games in the past, reworking old themes and styles.

SEGA have said that the first episode will release in the Summer for all formats, and will have both Wii Remote and Six-axis support. The game will also enable you to compare speed runs via online leaderboards.

While I’m a little sceptical about the episodic nature of this and don’t quite understand how it will work, this is probably the best news to come out of SEGA in a long, long time. Am I allowed to be excited by news by SEGA? Is that still permitted in 2010?!

Still news in 2010!

Splinter Cell: Conviction dated for April 13th 2010
Credit: Joystiq
We finally get another ‘solid’ date for Splinter Cell Conviction. So solid in fact, that Ubisoft actually carved it into stone! April 13th 2010 will see the NA release of Splinter Cell: Conviction as cast into stone, and April 15th will see its release in the UK. It seems the first month of Q2 is just going to get as flooded as Q1 as a whole. Let’s hope that this one doesn’t disappear back into the shadows again.

Red Faction 4 to be unveiled at E3
Credit: IGN, CVG
THQ gave us a wealth of announcements this week, not least of which Red Faction 4, which they are preparing to showcase at E3 later this year. No real details were unveiled other than a tentative title. Whether it will be a game in the same vein as the original Red Faction games on PS2 or the newer spin on the franchise revealed in Guerilla last year remains to be seen. Either way, THQ seem to have a hit on their hands and they’re not shy in expanding that franchise even further.

Darksiders 2, DeBlob 2 and Saints Row 3 Announced
Credit: IGN
THQ also announced that Darksiders 2, DeBlob 2 and Saints Row 3 are headed into production. It seems THQ is investing its future in sequels and rightly so. Darksiders has been fending well for itself despite its stiff competition in Q1, DeBlob was a sleeper hit on Wii in 2008, many hailing it as the best game Nintendo never made, and Saints Row 2 holding its own against main rival to GTA IV. Great news for fans of all three of these franchises.

Dante’s Inferno DLC announced
Credit: Joystiq
As is the case with most every game these days, EA have decided to extend the Dante’s Inferno experience with some additional downloadable content. However, some of the ideas going into the content actually sound quite innovative and interesting. In March, a Dark Forest Prequel level will explore the story of the character Dante’s return from the crusades to Italy. Then in April come Trials of St Lucia, a co-operative multiplayer expansion with a new playable character and in-game combat editor! The editor allows players to create combat trails and share them online!

No pricing or specific release dates have been announced as yet.

GTA Episodes from Liberty City coming to PC / PS3 on March 30th
Credit: Joystiq
It seems the exclusivity agreement Microsoft have with Rockstar is about to expire, as The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony are finally coming to Playstation and PC in just over a month. These are two excellent pieces of entertainment that have been hugely successful on Xbox and really added to the experience of an already tremendous title.

Great news for GTA owners and well worth the price of a full retail product for all the content contained therein.

Continuing the legacy!

Next Borderlands DLC  ‘The Secret Armoury of General Knoxx’ details released . Borderlands DLC disc to be released in Feb
Credit: Joystiq
One thing you can say for Gearbox, they certainly know how to support a game post launch. The third piece of Borderlands DLC has been announced with some screenshots. The Secret Armoury of General Knoxx will feature more achievements, more environments to explore and an increased level cap!

Also, later this month, for those who don’t get online or prefer shrink wrapping can purchase the first two pieces of DLC for Borderlands on disc, available for all formats.

Halo Reach not a Natal title
Credit: Joystiq
As we near closer to the Spring and the supposed launch of the Halo: Reach Beta, details are slowly starting to trickle in about the enigmatic new project from Bungie. A series of screenshots found its way onto the web last week, and we know the project is a prequel to the original Halo: Combat Evolved.

This week, we also learned that Halo Reach will be controlled via your regular Xbox pad and will not utilise motion control. But that was to be expected right? I mean, we don’t even have a release date for Natal yet, so how else would we have been able to participate in the beta in the Spring? Still, Bungie’s comments pertaining to this were not an outright dismissal of using the technology. Could there be some features within Halo Reach that use Natal? It would certainly add further stature and validity to a project Microsoft are investing so much time and resource into, and with Fable 3 already announced to be using the tech, surely the announcement of the new Halo game using Natal will boost its sales even more.

Let the speculation continue.

This week on Playstation Network
Credit: CVG
This week on PSN is pretty darn cool. Final Fantasy VIII, the most underrated edition in the series, makes its debut on the marketplace for both PS3 and PSP for the bargain price of £7.99. You can also pick up a demo for the highly anticipated Heavy Rain, an Eye Pet Lucky Dip Pack and an Infamous Giggawat Blade pack, all free of charge.

This week on Xbox Live Arcade
Credit: CVG, Major Nelson, Xbox 360 Achievements
It’s cheap times this week! The deal of the Week is yet another gem. For 400 points, you can pick one of last Summers crown jewels, Splosion Man! It’s already cheap at 800 MS Points, and so it’s ridiculously underpriced at 400 MS Points. Seriously, you can buy a lightsaber for your Avatar for the same price, but don’t buy the bloody Lightsaber, buy Splosion Man!

As for the XBLA release, we have Chime, also for 400 points. Single player game seeks significant gamer for musical puzzle fun. Me: unique, compelling, creative and demanding. You: quick-witted and open-minded with sharp reactions and a deep love of music. Let’s get together and play something beautiful. Featuring music by Moby, Paul Hartnoll (Orbital), Philip Glass, Fred Deakin (Lemon Jelly) and Markus Schulz. To make things even more interesting, for the first time ever that I know of, every sale of this game, 60% of the profits go to charity!

How generous.

KA-BOOOOOOM!!!

The third Behemoth game revealed
Credit: Xbox 360 Achievements
Behemoth, the genius behind the brilliant Castle Crashers and Alien Hominoid, have unveiled their next project, Battleblock Theatre… I know, right? Complete with a new trailer, here is a synopsis of the plot for their latest creation…

“Having shipwrecked on a mysterious island you find yourself both betrayed by your best friend Hatty and captured by the locals. All of this is happening while being forced into deadly performances. This however, is just the start of your problems.”

No word on a release date or price plan as yet.

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker has been delayed… In Japan
Credit: CVG
While this may not be a reflection on the release date for other territories, the Peace Walker release date has been pushed back in Japan to make a final ‘few adjustments’. Kojima went on record in December to say that the NA release date will be May 28th. However, that release window is certainly looking less likely. Regarding this recent news, Kojima has also gone on record to say the delay is ‘a crime’.

Bioshock 2 Reviews are in
Credit: Metacritic, IGN
The verdict is out on Bioshock 2, and if early indications are anything to go by, it seems Q1 won’t just be remembered for its quantity, but also its quality. PC Gamer gave it 90%, PSM3 gave it 93% saying it tops the original in terms of storytelling and combat and IGN score it with 91%. If you ever had any doubts that this game would not live up to its heritage, early indications seem ready to prove you wrong. Check out Metacritic for regular updates.

I have spent the last week searching across the increasing amount of bargain forums and websites looking for the good, the bad and yes even the ugly; one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Enough of the waffle lets get down to business and see what we have for you this week.

Although not strictly a gaming bargain, everyone should enjoy a gaming experience in glorious HD in 2010, if you have been looking for a 32” HD ready TV you could do much worse than this beauty priced only at £249.08.

Resident Evil fans may be interested in the Xbox 360 Black Wireless Controller and Resident Evil 5 package for £24.95 at Argos. PS3 drivers can have the Logitech Driving Force PS3 Wireless Steering Wheel £34.93.

Many people will tell you if you cross FernGully:The Last Rain Forest and Halo you will end up with Avatar: The Movie, for those of you that want an average game it is now £17.99 on both Wii and the 360.

Bayonetta is only £29.99 on the 360 over at the Games Collection, which is the cheapest I have seen it so far. Dead Rising can be pre-ordered for only £27.73 on both the 360 and PS3. Amazon have Darksiders for a more than tempting £32.79.

Racing fans can pick up the Forza 3: Limited Edition which includes DLC, USB Pen and Keyring for £32.73 over at The Hut.

Most people would have had Batman Arkham Asylum and Borderlands in their top games of 2009 list but if you did miss them, they can be yours for a mouth watering £17.73 on both PS3 and 360 too. Grand Theft Auto is also a very affordable £11.98 at Tesco.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is worth looking at for £17.99, Star Ocean: The Last Hope will not appeal to everyone but £8.99 could tempt a few people. Colin McRae: Dirt 2 is a very resoanable £14.98 over at Game for 360 owners.

Bargain of the week
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is currently £14.98 at GAME (yes, I am giving GAME a bargain of the week). *Edit* GAME have now increased the price so cheapest is now £16.85 at shopto. If your prefer your games to be a little more cerebal than COD on both PS3 and XBox 360 is the game for you.

The thinking man's "Call of Duty" £14.98

That’s it for this week, if you have any requests please let me know and I will do my best to find you a good price and if you find anything to share, please let us know.

Remember to follow us on Twitter for the very latest deals and latest news, and feel free to contact me anytime if you have any requests.

In true Christmas spirit, I even offer an olive branch to the high street store GAME, who believe it or not probably have the most bargains if you are a little savvy with your browsing. As deals often expire by the time this page goes live, I intend to add updates via the comments section at the bottom of this article, so please keep it bookmarked and come back. I realise that not everybody follows the deal alerts on Twitter, so I will also post the best ones on the current Neil’s Deals too.

If you have been thinking of picking up an Xbox 360 for Christmas, you can currently pick up the Arcade Console for £104.97 if you use the voucher code “Hamleys09″ at Game. If a Nintendo DS Lite is on your last minute Christmas shopping list rush over to Argos as it’s only £79.99.

£17.99 seems to be the new magic figure when purchasing games, most of the top twenty games can be picked up for this price by shopping around and here are a few examples. Brutal Legend on PS3 and 360 £17.99, WWE Smackdown vs Raw £17.95, Sherlock Holmes VS  Jack the Ripper £17.95, Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes From Liberty City £17.95, Borderlands £17.95, Steetfighter IV Collector’s Edition (360) £16.98, Colin McRae Dirt 2 (ps3 and 360) £17.95, Mini Ninjas (PS3 and 360) £12.95, Dragons Age: Origins (PS3 and 360)£22.98 and for Left 4 Dead 2 the cheapest price is £24.99 at HMV.

If you fancy picking up a few cheap pre-owned games to play over the Christmas period, GAME also have a few hidden gems in the usual pile of old out of date football, golf and wrestling games. On the PS3 for under £5 you can choose from Quantum of Solace, Heavenly Sword, Viking, Clive Barker’s Jericho, Genji: Days of the Blade, Haze, Beowulf, The Club, The Darkness or Devil May Cry 4.

On the Nintendo Wii for under a fiver, you can choose from Battalion Wars 2, Mad World, Red Steel, No More Heroes, Trauma Centre Second Opinion, Trauma Centre New Blood (actually £5.98), Nights, Eledees or The Golden Compass.

Finally on the Xbox 360 pre-owned list for under 5 quid at GAME they have Mirror’s Edge, PGR 3 ,Forza 2, Kameo, The Club, Condemned 2, Tomb Raider Legend, Alone in the Dark, Gears of War Classic, Lost, Boewulf, The Darkness, Smash Court Tennis 3, PDC Darts 2008, You’re In The Movies (Solus), Tom Clancy’s Advance Warfighter, Dark Sector, Stuntman, The Outfit, Virtua Fighter 5, Conan, Prey, Clive Barker’s Jericho, The Bourne Conspiracy, Devil May Cry 4,
Unreal Tournament 3, Kane & Lynch, Lost Planet, Rainbow Six Vegas, Bullet Witch, The Golden Compass, Blue Dragon, Eragon, Just Cause and Table Tennis.

Guitar Hero fans can rock out to Guitar Hero Aerosmith on the Xbox 360 for £8.95 and PS3 owners can pick up Lego Rock Band for £17.99, Red Faction: Guerilla for £12.89 and Operation Flashpoint for £17.95.

Bargain of the week
Sure it’s yet another football installment from EA, but at Christmas a mini FIFA tournament always goes down well with the fellas, even though it may annoy their partners and will probably go home to the sound of “I don’t want to spend Christmas watching you play…”

Gamestation are currently selling the popular franchise on Xbox 360 and PS3 for under £20, which makes it my Christmas bargain of the week.

Deal!

Hopefully there should be plenty on this week’s Neil’s Deals to keep you gaming over Christmas, and I hope you all have a cool yule and may all yor baubles dangle.

Remember to follow us on Twitter for the very latest deals and latest news, and feel free to contact me anytime if you have any requests.

After it was revealed in the media this week that high street stores charge different prices across the country depending on their location, gamers need to be more savvy than ever but luckily there are some fantastic bargains available whatever your taste in games.

The Zavvi mega Monday is always a good place to start Neil’s Deals especially considering that at the moment if you simply text “Zavvi” to “82100″ you are rewarded with a £1.00 off voucher. If you use this voucher you can pick up games at a fantastic price. For example Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City for £16.95, Tekken 6 on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 for £16.95, Batman Arkham Asylum £16.95 again on both Xbox 360 and PS3 with PES 2010.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising on the Xbox 360 is only a mouth watering £15.99 if you Enter “shoptovoucher3″ at checkout.

As it’s Christmas though, the best offer to keep the family this happy this Christmas would be Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action on the Xbox 360 with four wireless controllers £8.95 with the afore mentioned voucher.

Elsewhere on both PS3 and Xbox 360 Rise of the Argonauts is only £11.98 and if you are lucky enough to have any in stock near where you live, you can pick up Banjo-Kazooie for only £4.99 from Comet. The Hut have Bionic Commando for £8.73 and Skate for £7.73 for your gaming stocking fillers.

Dark Messiah: Might And Magic Elements is only £7.99 and if you really must buy James Camerons new Avatar game you can pick it up for £26.99. If you want to appear really generous this Christmas you could do much worse than a 12 month Empire Magazine subscription which comes with Assassins Creed 2 for free, I believe the offer is also with FHM if that’s your thing.

Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution is only £6.95 for boxing Wii fans, and it is also worth checking out if Comet have games such as Pikmin or Mad world in stock near you for only £4.99.

It may also be worth me mentioning that if you buy one £15 iTunes gift card at Tesco you get the second one half price meaning you pay £22.50 for £30 worth of card. This is confirmed to be available in most Tesco stores nationwide and ends 9 December but is not available online. It is also being reported that Morrisons are selling 2 x £15 ITunes cards for only £20 so might be worth asking the friendly cashier to scan there first.

Wet would be a very tempting bargain of the week for £12.99 on both Xbox 360 and PS3 but I found a little to disappointing to do so.

Bargain of the week
We are reaching that time when endless lists will appear telling you the best games of 2009, Borderlands will be near the top of most of these lists and for £16.95 it’s simply not wise to miss out. Remember to Simply text “Zavvi” to “82100″ and you will instantly receive a £1.00 voucher to get the game at this price.

£16.95 for the must have game of 2009

As this week’s Neil’s Deals comes to an end, remember the best deal is a free one, so remember from today that we starting our 12 days of Christmas Giveaway, there should be something for everybody and we want to give you a special thank you for your help and support this year. Remember to follow us on Twitter for the very latest deals and latest news, and feel free to contact me anytime if you have any requests.

“Slowly does it” I thought, while I got the hang of the feel of the cool white and pink pad in my hand once more. I was never that great at shooters… hang on, who am I kidding?! I was awesome! This however, was going to take some getting used to. It’s amazing how out of practice you get, but in some respects it is not much different from riding a bike, in that you may forget to begin with but it doesn’t take long to get back into.

I made my return with Halo: ODST. The irony lying in the fact that Halo 3 was where my journey began in 2007. Having completed that in a few days (and with only a few hours put into it because let’s face facts, it’s a pretty short game and not really worth the £34.99 I paid for it), to get online once more I had a bash on Halo 3 Multiplayer. Sadly my copy of COD: WAW (possibly my all time favourite game for online play) went some time ago. I do mourn for it though. Funnily enough, during my stint on Halo 3 MP, I commented that I was bored of shooting the hell out of the boys sat in their parent’s basements with only a cuddly toy for company due to their inability to interact with anyone face to face in human form. Funny why? Because ten minutes after coming out of the game I received a message and friend request  through Live, from such an idiot as fore-mentioned, asking if I wanted a shag. Hmmm, clearly not much has changed when it comes to the outlook on female gamers.

I quickly grew bored of ODST, despite a commitment to complete the legendary mode. I download a puzzle game from Live with some Microsoft Points I had remaining, I was the most disappointed I have ever been. Expecting at least a small challenge, I discovered I had thrown my money down the drain with a cheap version of Bejeweled with a terrible storyline. This was no good! I had even lost the ability to spot a game worth playing. Roll on the release of something I could get my teeth stuck into.

Loving this game.

Due to being out of the gaming scene so long, I had to rely on Simon to make a decent suggestion for a game. Granted both Simon and Andy have kept me filled in on the happenings of TIMJ and gaming news, but generally it went in one ear and out the other. Sorry to disappoint, but my earlier enthusiasm for gaming disappeared, thanks to tiredness and stress. I had always intended to remain a part of TIMJ, but juggling life with it became near impossible. Now I know many people work full-time and still game and even write like our staff do, but when I’m out for twelve hours a day and have being a full time mum and dutiful housewife to fit in, I had to jump the TIMJ ship for a bit. As it happens, I write this while keeping an eye on five children (Si, Andy, my nephews and Jack), watching CBeebies and having a lazy Sunday afternoon. Now how’s that for multitasking?!

So along came Borderlands and Oh My God! COD: WAW what? That was quickly forgotten as this game took over. It’s extremely addictive and I like the Fable style quests mixed in with some decent combat and out of this world weapons. Of course, I play the girl (it would be rude not to) and I feel the Siren is perfectly suited to me as she kills a gang of bandits and modestly exclaims “God I’m good at this” followed by an evil laugh. Now this was what I was missing. Granted I thought it was too easy at first, but now I’m up to level twenty-eight and it’s beginning to get interesting. I tried playing it on co-op with my inexperienced twelve year old nephew the other night I re-spawned around four times in five minutes due to trying to rescue his butt. This was definitely a part where I needed a good gamer by my side. We got through one mission in an hour and it was an easy one for crying out loud! I’m looking forward to continuing through it, and the fact that it seems to have hours of play makes it all the more worthwhile, especially after spending £60 on two copies for the both of us.

I have had a stint (all be it very brief) on Forza 3, I only really played to A) show my stepson he could be beaten by a girl after being given a 20% head start and B) because my son really likes pretending he is driving. For the record, I don’t “do” racing games (although this strictly excludes Micro Machines because this is a superb game and deserves a comeback). It’s not because I am rubbish at racing games (unlike sporting games which I don’t “do” because I’m genuinely appalling), but I find driving, in effect a cartoon car, mind numbingly boring. The novelty of the challenge of winning without crashing soon wears off. Give me a shooter or an RPG any day and I’m happy.

So, while I’m occupied with my bad ass girl on Borderlands, I step further towards a time that I can pick up Left 4 Dead 2. This is my most anticipated game of 2009, and I only hope it isn’t a let down because I really have all my hopes pinned on this one. Despite all the hype a while back and everything kicking off with fans point blank refusing to pay for a new game while the first is still awaiting content, I am willing to put my trust in Valve to create an equally as good if not better, follow up. I’ve also recently got a hold of Modern Warfare 2, but I’m yet to sink any real time into it. I never even saw the first game, but I became terrifyingly hooked on WAW. Although I probably will get into it around the Christmas break so I can have lots of time with pure, unadulterated gaming pleasure… not to mention drunken online matches!

Looking forward to sinking some time into MW2

I may also put Ghostbusters on my Christmas list, although I think that may be a rental as Christmas with three kids doesn’t come cheap, and generally major games such as L4D2 and MW2 involve purchasing two copies for our two consoles; there is no more split screening in my household. I wouldn’t mind seeing if I can get my mitts on Lego Indiana Jones 2 for a bit of light hearted gaming too.

All in all, it looks like my gaming calendar is full in the run up to Christmas, and January wont be much different. With Army of Two: 40^th Day coming out and after the laughs Simon and I had on the first game, this is a must purchase. Hopefully I can fit in some more editorials and/or reviews and make a decent comeback to TIMJ, because I sure have missed it. If I do have to take a step back again, I’ll make sure I’m not away for quite as long; I hate feeling left out!

Speak soon mi amigos! x

The biggest problem with running Neil’s Deals is that often by the time the article gets published many of the deals have finished, so please accept my apologies if any of  the prices change by the time you get to read this.

Christmas is nearly here and we all need to save on purchases more than ever, so I am happy to announce that Neil’s Deals weekly updates will return to the site and that we have a Christmas Giveaway coming up in December. So whether it’s bargains for yourself or for Christmas presents, you have come to the right place. Get your cards ready and brace yourself for the latest installment of bargains for all your gaming needs this Christmas.  Enough of the talk, let’s get down to business.

XBox 360 bargains
I won’t ramble on about Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2, because I’m sure you all picked it up for £26 using my thrifty tips upon release, but if you fancy treating yourself to something quite geeky then why not pick up the Officially Licensed Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 Throat Mic Communicator Headset for £14.95.

Sainsbury’s have a few cracking deals hidden away for the Xbox 360 for example you can pick up Lego Batman, Mirrors Edge for only £5 or Prince of Persia at a stocking filler-tastic £6. For just a few pounds more you can get the classic Dead Space and Grid for an incredible £8 each or Tomb Raider for a cool £10.

Don King Presents: Prize-fighter Boxing is never going to win any gaming awards, but £3.97 for a few hours entertainment and easy pickings for the Achievement whores out there is worth a look. Extreme Sports fans will love Skate and can be add it to their collections for only £7.19. Shadowrun is an underrated game with good multiplayer action and would recommend it to anyone for the current price of £3.95.

Zavvi have a few cheapies too with titles such as Final Fantasy XI for £4.95, Lost Planet for £7.95 and Velvet Assassin for £9.99. Also for under a tenner out there in internet land is Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for £8.95 and although a little old is still a must for any collection. Speaking of which, Dead Rising is also available for a respectable £9.99.

Play.com has Red Faction: Guerrilla for £14.99 which is a game I really enjoyed playing and well worth the asking price; they also have Alone in the Dark which is worth a punt at £4.95. For those on a budget who don’t mind buying pre-owned games, you can now pick up Resident Evil 5 for cracking price of £12.

The cheapest game out there at the moment is Vampire Rain for an unbelievable price of £2.49; what’s the catch you cry? Well the game is a pile of crap and it comes with Italian packaging but one mans trash is another mans treasure so somebody out there might like it.

Sainsburys £14.97 in-store only - but hurry!

If you are expecting a few people round this Christmas and you’re short of enough Wireless Xbox 360 controllers you can now pick up a pre-owned one for only £13.95, not to be sniffed at for a spare controller that somebody else is going to use, and better than spending £35 at Game for new one. If you are really lucky you may be able to pick one up from Sainsburys brand new for £14.95, but this is instore only.

Have you noticed just how quickly prices are dropping for games? A prime example for this is the Tarentino style game Wet which already is available for only £17.73 along with Mini Ninjas. Even if you missed out on Rockstar’s GTA4, have no fear because you can still buy the new Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City which consists of two new standalone GTA games in one box (GTA 4 not required) for £24.39.

Retro fans should pick up Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade which contains over 30 classic games such as Pac Man, Pole Position and Dig Dug  for only £6.99.

Xbox 360 & PS3 bargains
On both the Xbox 360 and PS3 Beatles fans can now purchase the Beatles Rock Band game for just £19.99 and, lets face it, most of us would have been a better drummer than Ringo and now you can prove it. Fairytale Fights can also be brought on both the major consoles for £17.95.

Nintendo Wii bargains
Wii fans can get up to all sorts of mischief with House of the Dead 2 & 3 and Gun Pack for £12.99 or the Ghost Squad and Gun Pack for the same price. Now I would pay to watch the nation’s Grannies playing those games this Christmas but if these are too hardcore for your Wii loving family, then maybe Mini Ninjas for £13.75 would be a better option, or Let’s Tap for £9.99 and finally for the young at heart, A boy and his blob is £20.95.

PS3 bargains
PS3 Owners should have the award winning Killzone 2  in their collection by default but if for some reason you haven’t got the game, don’t worry too much because Amazon have it for an affordable £12.99, a small price to pay for your blushes.  The somewhat average Godfather II is £12.73 but the much better Infamous is a snip at £14.73. There is a shortage of PS3 bargains right now, but this just makes me want to track more down for next time.

There are however, quite a few of the new releases dropping to a more than reasonable price of £25 at Asda such as Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Eye Pet featuring eye camera and magic card, Fallout 3 game of the year edition, PES 2010, Operation Flashpoint 2 and fan favourite Borderlands.

Bargain of the week
Although price wise there are more worthy winners of the bargain of the week title, I feel that with Brutal Legend being a new game and on both the PS3 and XBox 360 formats for £22.99 it may just edge the accolade this week.

Needless to say, the beast was stunned

As this week’s Neil’s Deals comes to an end I am off to search the forums again for more gaming bargains. Also, as a little teaser, I will begin working on a special Christmas giveaway coming your way in December. Remember to follow us on Twitter for the very latest deals, and feel free to contact me anytime if you have any requests.

Usually we’d give you a list of what we’ve discussed, however we talked about that much it’s not going to be worth it. Just listen to it, and rest assured it’s probably one of the better podcasts we’ve done. It was certainly one of my favourite to record.

The episode should be appearing on iTunes shortly as soon as the RSS feeds refresh, or you can stream it or download it below. iTunes users, please drop us a review and help spread the word of the site. If you have any questions or talking points please feel free to email us on podcast@thisismyjoystick.com.

Multifaros / CC BY 3.0