So Next-Generation is dead. Sigh. I've been a fan of Next-Generation since their second or third issue (whichever one had Mario on the cover) and while it's dropped in quality (not to mention page count) lately, it's still the only magazine I read on a regular basis. Longtime community members may remember that at one point I ran a site whose full name was "Next-Generation Online Presents: loonygames - a blue's news publication" and that I contributed some content to NGO before it became Daily Radar. I will miss Next-Gen dearly. Anyone know what the rest of my 2002 subscription is going to be filed with? (My guess is PC Gamer).

• Well here's a surprise...it looks like The Matrix may wind up on the GameCube after all. If memory serves correctly, it can't be released for some time after the Xbox one, so this is a loong way off.
• Cube.IGN has posted a review of the Mobile Monitor 5.4, Interact's monitor for the GameCube that's very similar to their PSOne product, as well as a look at Kirby's Tilt n' Tumble, which is the first GC game to feature the ability to use the GameBoy Advance as a controller.
• Meanwhile, over at Xbox.IGN there's a new hands-on preview of Nightcaster, as well as new media from Unreal Championship.
  
• GameSpot has a new preview of the truly bizarre Herdy Gerdy for the PS2 tonight, as well as a Blood Omen 2 Q&A.
• Here it is, Sony's PS2 release calendar for the next few months. Note the new release date for Drakkan and Parappa the Rapper 2.
• Some reviews for you: PS2.IGN has a review of Jak and Dexter: The Precursor Legacy (9.4), which is also at at GameSpot in separate text and video reviews (8.8), and GameSpot also has a review of the import version of Shenmue II (8.7).

Console Game of the Evening (continuing Good Licensed Games Week): Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1/2/2x/3 for PSOne, PS2, N64, GBA, Xbox and GameCube. The licensed game to end all licensed games, this one not only proved an "extreme" sports title doesn't have to suck, it wound up being one of the best games released for nearly every platform it was released on (and it's certainly been on lots of them).