The news about co-op in Blinx 2 definitely pleases me. While you can say the original Blinx was a rather average game, the girlfriend and I definitely enjoyed it and I look forward to being able to play through the sequel with her when it's released. It's reassuring that more and more games these days are adding in cooperative play, but I still feel there is general lack of it, despite how much gamers want it. The problem is typically two-fold; for one, it's more difficult to create a compelling co-op mode than it is something as simple as deathmatch; and secondly, developmental time constraints sometimes just don't allow for it, such as in the case of Fable. I hope this trend continues to grow as we have seen it can increase replayability and the gamers clamor for it (Halo PC).

	Blinx 2 Announced Microsoft Game Studios announced today the follow-up to Blinx, Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space. Slated for a holiday 2004 release and being developed by Japan-based Artoon, Blinx 2 is being billed as the first "5-D" game that allows Blinx to control, as the sub-title suggests, both time and space. An interesting new addition to the sequel is the use of multiplayer; both battle and cooperative play. The co-op mode will follow the story as normal and adds in an abundance of more difficult enemies. If you work well together, you can gain access to co-op only maps. We also have the first screenshots here.
	Xbox Video Chat Microsoft Japan's marketing director, Takashi Sensui, held a press conference today to further introduce their Xbox Video Chat product. The service will allow up to five people to hold a video chat session and will boast new sound and visual effects to enhance the experience, such as 40 preloaded music tracks and the ability to make other people's controllers rumble. The package, which includes the camera, headset, chat disc, and 12 months of Xbox Live, will retail for 6800 yen ($62). The service will launch in Japan first due to widespread access to broadband and for the simple fact that Microsoft Japan is developing the product.
	Metroid Prime 2 Details The folks at Computer and Video Games list a whole slew of new details for the upcoming Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. While there is definitely is way too many things to list here, a few details are that some enemies can cloak themselves, use sound as a weapon, and trudge across land and water to hunt you down. Multiplayer will run at 60fps in four-player splitscreen mode and 480p is supported. Finally, vastness of areas seems to be stressed as there is a new 'Gravity Suit' that allows Samus to "conquer seas." Plenty more information, including plot details, within the link.
	Help Decide Next Wave of Classic NES Titles There's a survey at the official Nintendo website asking for gamers to help Nintendo figure out what games they should use for the next batch of Classic NES releases. There areabout thirty titles with checkboxes next to them, such as Contra, Baseball Stars, Punch-Out!!, and Castlevania, but you're able to select any NES title ever from a drop down menu . Do me a favor and select Godzilla as an "other."
	Sony Teams up with Warped Tour Sony Computer Entertainment announced today their sponsorship of of the 2004 Vans Warped Tour. At each Warped Tour event, 45 in all, Sony will setup a Time Warp tent, allowing gamers to go retro and experience old PSone titles as well as sample new and unreleased games, such as Syphon Filter: Omega Strain, Gods of War, and Hot Shots Golf Fore! Sharon Shapior, director of promotions, commented, "The PlayStation Time Warp tent brings back the best of the classics including videogame favorites, a flashback photo area of past Warped Tours, and PlayStation exclusive reunion collectables."
	Xbox Live in the Summer GameSpy reports this evening on the summer gameplan for Microsoft and their Xbox Live service. They discuss the integration between Xbox Live and MSN Messenger as well as Xbox Live Alerts, a mail notification system that will notify gamers when they receive a friend request, a friend signs on, or when new downloadable content is available. A list of the upcoming games utilizing Xbox Live is available as well.
	Misc. Q&As/Interviews An interview with Resident Evil 4 and Under the Skin producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi is available at GameSpot this evening. CVG spends time with Monkey Ball mastermind Toshiro Nagoshi and discusses everything from the new portables to the Japanese game market. IGN interviews "the scariest man in wrestling," New Jack.
	Misc. Media/Previews
	We begin with GameSpy who has new screens for a couple games: Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Fullmetal Alchemist 2. Also part two of their Grand Theft Auto: San Adreas feature is available. IGN rises from the grave to deliver shots of the new Altered Beast title. They also go hands-on with Flipnic, a European pinball title. Finally, they preview the latest KoF, King of Fighters: Maximum Impact. Shots of Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Fight for the Future are at The Magic Box.
	Ton of Halo 2 stuff this evening... first, Bungie.net shows off Halo 2 screens and concept art that ran in a an old issue of Game Informer. GameSpy follows that up with a huge archive of "every available" screenshot. GameSpy also doesn't waste any time and puts up a preview of Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space. Xbox Nation puts a preview on their site of Jade Empire that recently ran in its magazine. Also, the official Jade Empire site updated with some new desktop wallpapers for the game.
	IGN goes hands-on and media crazy with Sega's Amazing Island . Also at IGN are new images of Donkey Konga 2: Hit Song Parade.
	GameSpot previews Spider-man 2 (NG) while GameInformer delivers with a hands-on impression and media barage for Mario Golf Advance Tour (GBA).
	At GameSpot this evening is a look at the offensive gameplay of Madden NFL 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GCN) and previews Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes The Neighborhood (PS2, Xbox). GamerFeed grinds out a preview of Tony Hawk Underground 2: World Destruction Tour (PS2, Xbox, GCN). New shots of The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (PS2, Xbox, GCN) and Mortal Kombat: Deception (PS2, Xbox) are at GameSpy this evening. IGN kicks it out with new videos for ESPN NFL 2K5.