With the release of the new Banjo Kazooie game and their involvement in the avatars on the 360's dashboard update these are busy times for veteran UK developer Rare. I had a chat with studio head Mark Betteridge.

Thursday's edition of Chatterbox

Microsoft is hyping NXE – the new dashboard update for the Xbox 360 which launched today – up to be as important as the launch of colour TV. Ha. But ridiculous hype aside the NXE is actually rather nifty and a definite improvement

I think I'm done with World War II. Playing Call of Duty: World at War last night, as well-designed and effective as it is, I found myself heading out on a sniping mission and just losing heart. The same bomb-battered urban environments, the same gruff commander running up ahead, the same targets, the same objectives. From Battlefield 1942 to Brothers in Arms and back to Call of Duty, shoot-'em-up fans will now have played through most of the key campaigns of the conflict. I've had enough. Going by the strong sales I must be in a minority

As folks turn to new moneymaking options with the economic downturn from traditional businesses, one arena seems untouched - and a possible haven for those wishing to cushion devaluing securities: the sale of virtual goods

Wednesday's edition of Chatterbox

"She looks innocent enough – a happy woman who has a twinkle in her eye and loves to cook – but if you take just a minute to think about what happens to the animals who are killed for Mama's meals, a fun cooking game no longer seems quite so innocent..."

The annual South by Southwest Interactive event has become the must-go party of the year for people who like to make digitalia. It's a place where gamers hobnob with new media types, and pick up the occasional pop star who's arrived a couple of days too early for the celebrated Music festival. And of course it's got the annual Screenburn game design competition

Tuesday's edition of Chatterbox

Last week, I got my first hands-on time with a selection of iPhone titles from ever-reliable French publisher, Gameloft. I was struck by the successful implementations of the device's accelerometer and touchscreen controls, especially in Real Football (I never thought I'd get used to thumbing players in order to direct them) and Asphalt GT, where you tilt the screen to steer your car

As you know, production of The Guardian's home-brewed text adventure Spaceship! is winding down, with the aim of launching at an event in Brighton the second week of December. To launch in style, we need some shiny Cover Art, and we'd like to extend the the offer to you, dear readership

LittleBigPlanet:

I'm blaming the sheer number of games out at the moment, but I very nearly did something I haven't done for ages this weekend ...

Monday's edition of Chatterbox

Reviewers have criticised EA DICE's wonderful Mirror's Edge, failing to give it credit for sequences of innovative genius

Friday's what you playing this weekend edition of Chatterbox

There is a lot to love about Mirror's Edge, the first person platform/action game that is released tomorrow. For a start it looks bloody marvellous. The city setting is a bleached minimalist dream, shot through with flashes of colour.

While Wii Fit was an amusing physical romp, with a few pretentions to toning your body, it was never going to replace your daily/weekly/annual trips to the gym. But Electronic Arts is about to take the physical activity genre to the next level

Thursday's edition of Chatterbox

Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion to World of Warcraft, launches tomorrow – although there are numerous midnight openings for fans tonight – and I sat down with Blizzard's COO Paul Sams and Associate Producer Lee Sparks this afternoon.