Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009

“Expanding the Creative Culture of Games”

This is the slogan associated with this year’s Edinburgh Interactive Festival (running the 13th and 14th of August this year).  A summertime dedication to all things interactive such as: videogames, social networking, mobile entertainment, education, film, music and television.  It should be said that the event itself is family friendly, so expect a diverse crowd including parents, children, students, gamers and of course the usual press. With sponsors such as Nintendo, Sony, Gamestation EA, Eidos, Disney and Interactive Ontario there’s sure to be a much heavier focus on our industry in particular.  I hear you ask what all the fuss is about and how this affects Xbox360 fans – well, with its ‘Free Play Public Area’ videogamers can sample upcoming titles without charge before they’ve even hit the market as well as be treated to presentations and demonstrations.  Some currently featured titles are:

• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Mini Ninjas
• Wii Sports Resort
• Disney – Toy Story Mania
• Disney Sing It: Pop Hits

That’s not all though as you can be sure before the event’s opening on the 13th August that more will be announced (and hopefully a few more 360 titles).

As well as the above mentioned free play gaming EI 2009 will also feature a ‘Screening Programme’ which is supported by leading retail giant Gamestation.  Scottish companies Dynamo Games (Championship Manager) and Realtime Worlds (Crackdown) will be there to lend a voice, as the aim of the programme is to meet and greet developers, sample games and the technologies which propel them.  Also there’s a chance for members of the public to create their own game.  Would-be developers new out of university are encouraged to come along to this aspect of EI 2009 (with their C.V.’s of course) as the organisers are adamant that companies showcasing here are always scouting for talent!  If you’re interested in going along, please visit a Scottish Gamestation store or go here.

EI 2009 isn’t all about the gamer or consumer it also offers a lot of conferencing and networking opportunities for developers and manufacturers.  Speakers this year include but are not limited to: Peter Moore (EA Sports), Peter Cowley (Endemol), Ray Maguire (Sony), Kristian Segerstrale (Playfish) and Sean Dromgoole (Some Research).  The idea being that they get together and explore themes such as demographics, brand reinvention, overcoming development costs/licensing fees, social gaming and the effects of sound in games.  We at Xboxer360 think that it’s brilliant because it helps to make the industry better for all of us because for two days a year three hundred odd of the big hitters get together and discuss pressing themes such as these rather than competing against each other (which for EA is an achievement in itself).

So, now we know what Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009 offers you, the loyal gamer and the developer too there isn’t much more to add.

So far there doesn’t appear to be much of a focus on Microsoft Xbox 360 titles but no doubt some elements of the show have yet to be confirmed so I suspect we’ll see more games announced in the upcoming weeks before the event.

If you want to learn more about EI 2009 or keep up-to-date with upcoming announcements visit their website: here.