This Thursday we’re doing something that I’ve always wanted to do – host a Co-op Night on Xbox Live with Renegade Ops alongside the Co-optimus team! Ever since I started Renegade Ops project, this was high on my list of activities – a chance to play some games alongside fellow SEGA community members, hang out, and have fun. If you’ve not had a chance to check out the game and are looking for an excellent opportunity – this is it. Even if you are an experienced player, we welcome you to participate, meet the players and help some new folks into the game!

How to Participate

Head to the event page on Xbox Live, make sure you have an Xbox and the ability to go online and play with us! You MUST own a copy of the game, but you already do, don’t you? Then simply send an invite or friend request to these gamertags:

• Rolukad
• Lady Murasaki
• BAPenguin
• Cubninja
• EastX
• Merzalof

When? Where? Time?

You have the game, online access, and you have the gamertags – what’s next? Cancel your Thursday dinner plans, your late night gaming sessions with your friends, and that date you’ve been planning… full details below:

When: October 13, 2011
Where: Xbox Live / Interwebs
Time: 8-11 PM ET (5-8 PM PT)

Still Don’t Own Renegade Ops?!

If you still don’t own Renegade Ops and want to participate, head to the good folks at Co-optimus.com and check their twitter feed. They’ll have giveaways each day leading into the play session this Thursday! They have a twenty codes to give out, so chances are good to get in on the action and play some games with us!

It’s been the best-kept secret* in gaming this year, but we’re delighted to (finally!) confirm that Sonic Generations will be released on PC and available via SEGA’s partners for PC digital download in November this year.  Sonic Generations is the ultimate celebration of 20 years of Sonic the Hedgehog and sees SEGA’s iconic mascot racing through a brand new adventure as both the much loved classic 1991 character, and the modern day video game hero he has become today.

Sonic Generations  for PC digital includes Steamworks features such as Steam Cloud, which allows save files to be stored on Steam’s servers so you can resume your game progress from any PC.  As with the other console platforms, Sonic Generations will be available to play in full stereoscopic 3D and will contain Achievements and online leaderboards.  The PC version will also support resolutions up to 1080p.

Sonic Generations will be available via PC digital download as well as Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 in November.

*this is sarcasm.

Aliens Infestation, the newest from SEGA and WayForward is now available worldwide! Developed for the Nintendo DS, Aliens Infestation is a 2D sprite based side scroller that returns gamers to a familiar world within the Aliens franchise, where you’ll encounter chest bursting, face hugging, and mini-mouth face stabbing, among many other epic Aliens moments. It’s not all Colonial Marine death scenes though, there’s plenty of key finding, blowtorch using, smartgun blasting, power loader driving, and more!

The reviews have been coming in since the recent European launch of the game on September 30th. Lots of good stuff too, which we’ve combed over the net to deliver to you, saving you the painstaking googling – Read on!

1Up.com – 91%! – read the full review!

Infestation is a game that any fan of Metroid, Aliens, or classic action games in general should grab. It’s a wonderful verse in the DS’s swan song. I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Official Nintendo Magazine UK – 82%! – read the full review here!

Warrior aliens, facehuggers and chestbursters roam around each area’s corridors, with only a small beeping dot on your motion tracker telling you there’s something nearby. There’s a real feeling of suspense when you’re wandering around an area that you know to be infested with aliens, especially when your ammo is running low and you realise you’re going to have to resort to your useless pistol.

Joystiq.com – 4/5 Stars! – read the full review!

The tension in pretty much any room in this game is effective; you’ll find yourself taking a minute in a clear room to load shotgun shells individually, and slowly; you’ll hide behind crates to fire at robots from cover. While you do find more weapons, unlike other games in the genre, you never become an overpowered super-soldier capable of blasting through earlier areas with abandon. There’s no Screw Attack equivalent. From beginning to end, you risk death from almost any random enemy, unless you move carefully and conserve ammo.

Eurogamer – 80%! – read the full review here

WayForward wastes no time in creating an imposing atmosphere about the USS Sulaco, where your adventure begins. Metallic clanks and hisses are accompanied by an ominous synth-led soundtrack, creating a slow-burn tension through the early stages that is released by one of the cheapest scares in the book. (One which I, playing in the dark with headphones turned up to full volume, was completely suckered by.)

In celebration of Sonic the Hedgehog’s 20^th Anniversary and Sonic Generations, we’ve partnered with leading action sports event producer ASA Entertainment to create a historic event — Sonic Generations of Skate — featuring three generations of professional skaters competing throughout the Sonic-themed day. On Saturday, October 22, Sonic and skateboarding fans will descend on Venice Beach, California (on the basketball courts near Muscle Beach), the iconic location where performance skateboarding planted it roots. Viewers in the USA will also be able to catch all the action on FOX Sports Network on Friday, November 25^th.

This unique one-day skateboarding competition incorporates Sonic’s celebrated qualities of speed, adventure and fun. Twelve of skateboarding’s most elite athletes, including Andy Macdonald, Lincoln Ueda, Pierre Luc Gagnon, Steve Caballero and Tony Hawk will compete for a cash prize in multiple half-pipe events. Videogame fans will have the opportunity to preview Sonic’s upcoming game, Sonic Generations, more than one week before its official launch, for free! Consumers will have the opportunity to pre-register online  for clinics with professional skaters and free skate sessions on a 4,500 sq ft street course!

 “This format, inclusive of all generations, promises to be exciting, above all, fun and will give both dad and mini shred something to cheer for,” said Andy Macdonald, veteran pro skater who’s one of just four skaters who have competed at every X Games, with 21 X-Games medals under his belt.

“We’re excited to be a part of this event and enjoy gravity-defying tricks from three generations of the top skaters in the U.S. in celebration of Sonic’s 20^th anniversary,” said Marcella Churchill, Director of Marketing at SEGA of America. “Many of these skaters have grown up with Sonic and we are ecstatic to launch Sonic Generations at the birthplace of performance skateboarding with an event that honors the historic legacy of both Sonic the Hedgehog and the sport itself.”

“ASA is always trying to develop events with unique formats and fresh concepts that bring something new to the table— both for the skaters and the crowd,” said Rick Bratman, CEO of ASA Entertainment. “SEGA really understood that mentality and is a tremendous partner for this event. They have such a great history of setting trends in their own industry, as proven by Sonic the Hedgehog reaching his 20^th anniversary this year.”

“Sonic Generations of Skate” airs in the USA on FOX Sports Network on Friday, November 25^th. Check your local listings for specific air times.

We’re excited to reveal another of the rivals you’ll be facing in Sonic Generations – Silver!

Be sure to check out our Flickr page with all the images above in full mega resolutions!