What's on at the London Games Festival

Today sees the start of the first ever London Games Festival, a week-long event aimed at both gamers and industry professionals. Here, GamesIndustry.biz presents a round-up of what's on, when and where.

TRADE EVENTS

London Game Developers Conference: Monday (10am - 5pm), Tuesday (10am - 6.30pm) and Wednesday (10am - 5.30pm), the BAFTA headquarters, 195 Piccadilly

This year's GDC London will focus on advanced techniques in game development, with particular reference to the UK. There will be a keynote speech by Jamie McDonald of SCE Worldwide Studios, plus presentations from Lionhead's Peter Molyneux, LucasArts' Chris Williams and Andrew Oliver of Blitz Games. Visit the GDC London website for more details.

London Game Career Fair: Tuesday and Wednesday, 11am - 7pm, Cafî Royal, 68 Regent Street

The LGCF will be top of the agenda for anyone looking to make a career move or recruit new talent. Hosted by GamesIndustry.biz and Gamasutra.com, the event will feature a keynote speech by ELSPA boss Paul Jackson. Other confirmed speakers include Lucasarts' Chris Williams, EA's Rob Hardie and Sam Coates of SCEE London - you can view the full schedule on the event website. Entry is free, and there's no need to pre-register; just turn up on the day.

London Games Summit: Wednesday (9am - 5pm) and Thursday (9am - 4pm), BAFTA headquarters, 195 Piccadilly

This event takes the form of a two-day seminar aimed at top industry executives and investors. It will look at next-gen business issues and ways of maximising new marketing opportunities, with a keynote speech from Michael Denny of Sony Worldwide Studios Europe. To register online, visit the LGS website.

BAFTA Video Games Awards: Thursday, 6pm - 1am, The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road

Vernon Kay is set to host this year's awards ceremony, which will recognise the best artistic, creative and technical innovation within videogames. Nominees include PSP title Loco Roco and Tom Clancy tie-in Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, plus We Love Katamari, Guitar Hero and Brain Training. Tickets are available from the BAFTA website.

CONSUMER EVENTS

Games Showcase: Monday - Saturday, 12pm - 6pm, HMV, 150 Oxford Street

Gamers will get their first chance to play the Xbox 360 version of Pro Evolution Soccer 6 at HMV's flagship store this week, plus Splinter Cell Double Agent and Rainbow Six Vegas. Other titles on show will include Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis and Pro Stroke Golf, and a special Xbox Live Arcade section will feature the likes of Pac-Man, Lumines and Street Fighter II.

Lizards' Lair: Tuesday, 7pm - 9.30pm, Visit London, 2 More London

This events gives gamers the chance to put their ideas to some of the industry's leading lights, with a week's work experience up for grabs. Panellists will include Lionhead's Peter Molyneux, Eidos's Ian Livingstone, Miles Jacobson of Sports Interactive and Free Radical Design director David Doak.

The World Series of Videogames: Friday - Sunday (12pm - 12am except Sunday: 12pm - 5pm), Trocadero

During this three day tournament, the world's best professional gamers will battle it out for more than GBP 40,000 worth of cash and prizes. Games featured will include Counter-Strike 1.6, Quake 4 and Warcraft III: Frozen Throne, and visitors can enter walk-on tournaments for their chance to win.

Video Games Live: Saturday, 6pm - 12am, Hammersmith Apollo

This unique event brings together video footage, synchronised lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and interactive elements in a celebration of videogame music. Retro fans will recognise tunes from the Sonic, Zelda and Mario series, while more recent pieces from the likes of Halo, Metal Gear Solid and God of War will also feature.

Game On: Until February 25 at the Science Museum

This Nintendo-sponsored exhibition looks at the history, technology and culture of computer games, from the PDP-1 to today's next-gen consoles. Nintendo is also hosting an invitation-only event at the Science Museum on Monday evening.

FRINGE EVENTS

Game / Play: Monday - Wednesday, 10am - 4pm, Trocadero

This networked national touring exhibition looks at what it means to play games and provides a basis for exchange and interaction between audiences and artists.

Artful Gaming Exhibition: Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm, Science Museum

An exhibition of gaming art and design specially put together for the London Games Festival. An Artful Gaming Forum will take place at the same venue on Thursday from 1pm - 10pm.

Insync: Games You Should Have Played: Monday, 6.30pm - 8.30pm at 01zero-one

A chance to hear what the experts hold up as gaming "classics" - and to have a play.

The Secrets of Game Production: Tuesday, 10.30am - 4pm at 01zero-one, Westminster Kingsway College Soho Centre, Hopkins Street

A day-long workshop from Skillset and Blitz Games focusing on the issues surrounding videogame production.

Mind Games (The Art of Videogames): Wednesday, 1pm - 9pm, Prince Charles Cinema

Two video screenings look at how visual art and videogames can interact using creativity and technology.

Artificial Intelligence for Games: Wednesday, 6pm - 8pm, Imperial College London

This public seminar will bring together industry and academic thinkers who will share their visions for the future of AI in videogames.

Play Time!: Wednesday, 10am - 5pm, 01zero-one

A day-long series of presentations, performances, workshops and interactive events focusing on how games fit into our lives.

Jump Start: Thursday, 10am - 5pm, 01zero-one

This one-day game concept design workshop is aimed at anyone seeking to develop original content for videogames.

Sense of Play: Friday, 9am - 5pm, Soho Theatre, Dean Street

A symposium and Masters Student Showcase which is designed to provoke debate about the nature of game design.

Playing Films, Watching Games: Saturday, 1pm - 2pm, National Film Theatre

A panel of figures from both games and film discusses how the two industries relate to each other and what the future holds.

The Games Den: Sunday, 3pm - 8pm, Karamel Club, 4 Coburg Road

A multiplayer gaming event aimed at the artistic community, featuring a network of Xbox consoles and large screen projectors.