ACCORDING TO Chris Satchell, XNA group manager at Microsoft, companies like Sony, Nintendo and Apple are "inviting trouble" if they don't utilise Microsoft XNA-style security to protect against malicious user-generated code and content.

"I think there's a potential risk on any platform where you're allowing...where you're running in what we call native mode, where you're writing straight to the metal, not a sandbox layer like XNA, and then that runs a script engine and you let people do that in that script engine," Satchell told Eurogamer in an interview.

"Any platform that let's you do that, and doesn't have the right security measures in place - whether it's Sony, whether it's Nintendo, whether it's Apple, whether it's anyone - you're inviting trouble, because sooner or later someone will want to prove they can do it," he added.

Xbox 360
Last Monday, MTV News broke a story that Microsoft has been working on an Xbox 360 copy of the Wii remote since last summer.

MTV then updated the story with confirmation it wasn't an April fools joke.

Rare has been tasked with creating a unified interface and look for the controller. Rare has also fleshed out Microsoft's take on Nintendo's Mii avatar concept. The company has had trouble hitting its deadlines, according to MTV's source.

The source was quite derogatory about the new peripheral - stating:

"[Microsoft] marketing just want it so they can match the Wii point for point. The biggest parts of their marketing materials outline how easy it would be for third parties to port their Wii games to the 360."

Oddly, Microsoft released a HD-DVD update this week, stating "Compatibility improvements with certain titles", and "Additional support for network features ". We suspect it might be the last.

Don't even think about stealing someones Xbox 360 - the Internet will unleash its fury.

Gizmodo has an interesting look at an Xbox 360 in a microwave.

PS3/PSP
The next PS3 firmware upgrade (v2.30) promises to bring even more goodies for PS3 consoles everywhere.

First of all, the new update will allow the support of DTS-HD Master Audio output.

Secondly, the update will come with the new-look Playstation store.

Sony has already confirmed that the redesigned Playstation Store will go live in Europe on 15th April, alongside the firmware update.

Engadget has a preview in video form of the new firmware.

The PSP is also getting another firmware update - 3.95, and it's out now. This isn't quite as spectacular as the PS3 update - Sony's added in reconfigurable button mapping to PS1 emulation, and allowed you choose to shut down your PS3 after remote play.

Sony's handheld sold 121,000 units this week - more than double than that of the Nintendo DS. This is largely attributed to the continued success of the new Monster Hunter game.

Wii/DS
Nintendo has told Gamesindustry.b iz that previous reports of an incoming Wii price cut were "rumour and speculation. "

Jeux-France.com had reported that the console with a copy of Wii Sports would allegedly be reduced this May to 149 Euros, while a Mario Kart Wii bundle would be introduced for 199 Euros.

The Beeb has announced that its BBC iPlayer will shortly be available on the Nintendo Wii console.

The BBC web site states: "Early versions of the service will be available from 9 April but more polished software will be released as the service is developed."

It looks likely the PS3 will also get its own version of the iPlayer, through its browser, but the chances of it appearing on the 360 (due to the lack of browser) appear slim.

If you love your Neo Geo games on the Virtual Console, check out this Neo Geo 2 stick for the Wii.

Engadget also has a look at a controller - this time the Rock Band wireless guitar for the Wii, on the FCC site.

Here's the usual Wii Virtual Console round-up from Eurogamer. µ