The reviews that are coming in from Grand Theft Auto 3 really reinforce my decision not to get a new console this year. If the reviews of Tony Hawk 3 and Metal Gear Solid 2 are as good as expected, there's just no denying that Sony has the superior lineup. Next year may be a whole different story, since then the PS2 will be up against second-generation titles, but for now it's just no contest.

• The first screenshot from Sega's Xbox title House of the Dead 3 has been released, and damn does it look good. Let's hope the game actually looks as nice as that screenshot.
• Speaking of the Xbox, Ubi Soft has announced that Loose Cannon, which was at one point a PC title in development at Digital Anvil, has now moved to Microsoft's console. Apparently the game's development costs have already exceeded $5 million.
• More Xbox news: Capcom has revealed the extras in Genma Onimusha, the Xbox version of Onimusha. It's still just a port, but among its new features is support for Dolby 5.1 audio.
• Okay, this is the last Xbox story tonight (promise): a whole lot of media from Dead or Alive 3 is up at Core Magazine.
• More details on TV de Advance, the funky device that lets you play Game Boy Advance titles on your television can be found at Pocket.IGN.
• Over in Japan, Enix has revealed the first Dragon Quest/Warrior title for the GBA. It's a side-story though, not one of the major games in the series.
• The system won't be out yet, but nonetheless, LucasArts has announced their plans to ship Rogue Leader in early November. To tide you over until then, GameSpot has posted new footage from the game.
• Now here's a stellar addition to the GameCube lineup: a game based on CHiPs. I guess it could be worse, they could be making a game based on Dos Mujeres un Camino, Erik Estrada's Mexican soap opera (which I'm ashamed to admit I've watched on multiple occasions).
• Finally tonight, PS2.IGN has some new information and artwork from Soul Calibur 2 online.

Console Game of the Evening: Altered Beast for the Sega Genesis. This was the original pack-in title for Sega's second system, and for better or worse it was nearly arcade-perfect. Over the years I've gone from loving this game to hating it with a passion...but I recently fired it up again and was amazed at how much fun I had with it.