October 2nd–7th sees London come alive with a festival celebrating the very best in contemporary video games. Throughout the week there will be a series of public and industry events showcasing some of the hottest games, consoles, topics and people helping to shape the fastest growing entertainment industry.

The festival includes a weeklong series of previews, appearances and hands-on gaming of the biggest titles for Christmas at HMV Oxford Circus, gaming areas at John Lewis Oxford Street, and a pitching event for new game ideas.

The London Games Festival is supported by Creative London, part of the London Development Agency and a number of high-profile media and retail partners have come on board, including HMV; John Lewis; Kiss FM; Visit London; Intent Media; Imagine Publishing; IGN UK; Gamespot and Eurogamer.

See and get hands on play of new games from some of the biggest and most respected hardware manufacturers and games publishers like Microsoft Xbox, Electronic Arts and Take Two.

Mainstream Events Calendar

Cinema Showdown
Vue Cinema, Leicester Square – 7th October
Play this year’s hottest new games on the biggest and best format available. Hone your skills and get ready to play against and in front of up to 400 fellow gamers. Tickets are free although subject to a small booking fee, and will be available throughout September from Vue Cinemas and competitions nationwide.

Tournament Stage
HMV Oxford Street – 2nd-7th October
Play new and future releases, and battle against fellow gamers at the HMV store on Oxford Street. Different games and challenges will be available throughout the week, along with giveaways, and celebrities making on stage appearances. Announcements on games on show will be made throughout September

The Family Game Show
John Lewis, Oxford Street – 2nd-7th October
Take a break from shopping in one of Britain’s top department stores to try your hand at the latest games. Games pods and consoles will be situated throughout the store, with something to appeal to all members of the family. Competitions, challenges, and special events will run throughout the week, turning a shopping trip into a family day out!

The London Game Career Fair
Café Royal – 3rd-4th October
The London Game Career Fair will provide the opportunity for games industry professionals, recent graduates and individuals from related industries, such as computer graphics, animation and film, to speak with leading companies in the game industry about career opportunities.

Fringe Events Calendar

London Games Festival Fringe
A range of central London locations – 2nd-7th October
This years Festival Fringe will explore aspects of interactive entertainment as culture, creative form and a market that falls outside the recognised games industry. The Fringe will involve performances, exhibitions, master classes and seminars, participatory workshops and, of course, opportunities to play. A full list of events will be released soon. Highlights of the programme include:

Lizards’ Lair
Central London location – 2nd October
Got an idea for a new game? Want to meet the makers and work at a games developer? Then this is the event for you. The London Games Festival is inviting you to enter your game idea, and then if successfully picked, present and pitch the concept to a panel of industry experts from some of the most respected publishers and developers. Each panellist will select their favourite game and the winners will receive a week’s hands on experience at a games company.

Playing Films, Watching Games
BFI’s National Film Theatre – 7th October
Playing films, watching games will be the forum for an exploration of the convergence between what are arguably the two most powerful entertainment forms. This event will see a panel of some of the most innovative drivers from film and games come together to discuss how the two industries currently relate to each other, and where they are taking us.

Sense of Play – A Game Design Symposium
Central London location – 6th October
Sense of Play is a one-day symposium, co-sponsored by the University College for the Creative Arts. The event aims to promote lively debate on the nature of game design: what it means to different people – both inside and outside the industry. Games designers are often considered to be key to the medium’s creative future and this event asks how we can best equip emerging talent to square up to the considerable challenges they face as the industry moves forward. Sense of Play will also look at whether talent from other industries could make a difference to the creative process.