Mary-Margaret.com makes Friends with EIEF06

Wednesday 3 May 2006/... The Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival (EIEF06) today reveals Mary-Margaret.com, a leader in professional recruitment for the interactive entertainment arena, as the first to become a Friend of the Festival (FOTF) for this year's event.

The recruitment specialist is offering its website visitors the chance to win one full delegate pass to the EIEF06. The promotion will open online next month - check out www.mary-margaret.com for more details.

Fiona Cherbak, Director of Business Development for Mary-Margaret.com commented: "EIEF06 is the perfect hub for those who are passionate about the interactive entertainment industry to engage in stimulating discourse with like-minded people. We have found previous years to be both enjoyable and beneficial, and this year promises even more. "

Fred Hasson, director of TIGA said: "Mary-Margaret.com has been a long-standing supporter of the festival and we are delighted to welcome them back for 2006. We've honed the event for its fourth year - listened to its constituents, brainstormed new ideas, and evolved, which is why I believe this will be the best EIEF yet."

About Friend of the Festival (FOTF)

There couldn't be a better time for you and your organisation to become involved and show your support for an event that really is unique in raising our industry's profile with consumers, mainstream cultural media, press and other creative industries. Become a Friend of the Festival and ensure that your company stays close to the creative heart of interactive entertainment.

To find out more about the benefits of becoming a Friend of the Festival, please email info@eief.co.uk

Industry luminaries and the game-loving public will descend on the Scottish capital on 21st - 22nd August for the fourth Festival. EIEF06 celebrates the best of the interactive entertainment industry and creates an environment where the development and publishing community can celebrate the latest creative milestones and look to future innovations.

The EIEF06 program of events consists of:

* Two days of conference sessions - The Conference will take place at the Royal College of Physicians on 21st August and at the Odeon, Lothian Road on 22nd August

* Game Screenings - Offering members of the public a chance to get up close with the creators of some of the leading video games at the Odeon, Lothian Road - 22nd August

* Edge Award - Key industry figures will gather at the Jam House for the annual Edge Award and networking party - 21st August

Visit the official website at www.eief.co.uk

About EIEF06

The Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival EIEF) is managed by a committee drawn from all areas of the industry, including publishers, developers and the two industry trade bodies; The Independent Game Developers Association (TIGA) www.tiga.org and the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) www.elspa.com.

About Mary-Margaret.com

www.mary-margaret.com

Mary-Margaret.com is a leading recruitment firm in entertainment software, representing top clients and creative leaders in the games software and hardware industries. With offices in Los Angeles, Boston, Austin, Washington D.C. and London, Mary-Margaret.com is continually seeking and placing highly-qualified creative, executive and technical talent for clients in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, Australia and Japan.

About ELSPA

ELSPA (The Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) was founded in 1989 to establish a specific and collective identity for the computer and video games industry. Membership includes almost all companies concerned with the publishing and distribution of interactive leisure software in the UK. ELSPA's activities include: Official Chart and Industry Reports, Anti-Piracy UK and EU, PR and Communication, and Government Lobbying. More information all these activities can be found at http://www.elspa.com.

About TIGA

TIGA (The Independent Game Developers Association) is the trade association which represents the business, commercial and political interests of game developers in UK and Europe to government, EU, Publishers and Financiers. Its members are both independent and in-house studios of companies producing for games consoles, PC handheld, and mobile and iTV games. Launched in March 2001, by DTI Minister TIGA has more than 90 member companies that collectively represent expertise from right across the industry. TIGA works to raise the bargaining power of the UK developer community promoting communication between developers and publishers and those that provide services to them: TIGA aims to benefit its members' businesses and creative interests by encouraging a better climate for investment in games, best business practice, dialogue and favourable terms with publishers and by lobbying for government support to the industry. www.tiga.org