The London Games Festival kicks off today, which is good news if you're interested in games and live/work in the capital. The festival mixes industry and consumer events, with the highlights probably being the BAFTA awards ceremony on Thursday. The week is a brave experiment, especially considering the UK's patchy history when it comes to game events, and it will be interesting to see how it all goes. So, fancy it then? Read on for a for an UPDATED reminder of the consumer events - with full details of how you can play Pro Evo 6 on Friday.
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. (Probably best left to teenagers this, but probably worth it thanks to the big screen)
Tournament Stage HMV Oxford Street - 2nd-7th October
(Press release to follow, but essentially Pro Evo 6 is on display this Friday - I'm guessing FIFA won't be...) Xbox 360 and Konami are teaming up to bring the first ever UK preview of Pro Evolution Soccer 6, which will only be available on one next generation console, Xbox 360, on Friday October 6th - weeks before the official launch. There will also be a PES6 tournament running throughout the day, with the chance to win exclusive Xbox and PES6 prizes.
The showcase will also provide the first chance to play next instalments in the popular Tom Clancy series, Rainbow Six Vegas and Splinter Cell: Double Agent, from Ubisoft. Both games are playable before their final release during the London Games Festival.
From Xbox 360 there will be an 'Xbox Live Arcade' section in the games department that will provide the opportunity for people to indulge in retro classics such as Pac-Man, Street Fighter II and Gauntlet, as well as new games such as Geometry Wars and Lumines. (Lumines is worth the trek alone...)
Keen golfers have the chance to 'putt' their skills to the test in Pro Stroke Golf on Thursday night, courtesy of Oxygen Interactive. Those that prefer the nineteenth hole to the green will prefer to try PDC World Championship Darts, also from Oxygen Interactive.
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.
