Late Night Consoling

While I've never been one to listen to game soundtracks (despite owning a couple that came with special editions or as part of press packages) I found myself this week unable to get the soundtrack from Xenogears out of my head. I haven't the foggiest idea why, but I went and picked up the soundtrack CD(s) and remarkably, I don't feel too silly listening to it. Although actually, there's a really strange sensation that comes over me when I'm sitting on a subway during rush hour and the battle theme from Xenogears starts playing on my iPod. Maybe I'll pick up that Panzer Dragoon Saga soundtrack I've been ogling one of these days.

• Given the news here over the last couple of weeks, it's not surprising at all that Microsoft has lowered their sales expectations for the Xbox. That massive European price cut should help things, but that wasn't enough to help NVIDIA, whose stock took a tumble because of it.
• Getting back to real news, Computer and Video Games is reporting that the first online Xbox titles will be Whacked! (an irreverent gameshow-style game), the previously announced Mech Assault and what presumably is a new version of NFL Fever. Also confirmed as online titles were Unreal Championship and the Xbox port of Ghost Recon.
• Despite Nintendo's emphatic denial that Super Mario World X and Zelda Universe are the names of two unannounced GameCube titles, a Japanese gaming magazine will reveal tomorrow two previously unseen titles: one Zelda (which is not the cell shaded one we've seen), one Mario. (which is not Mario Sunshine).
• GameSpot has posted a new preview of Project Ego, the almost impossibly ambitious RPG from Lionhead and Big Blue Box. I want this game to be good...but I keep getting flashes of Daikatana from some of these quotes.
• Also at GameSpot are some details and much clearer screenshots from Resident Evil 0.