Get off your backside and play some video games

October sees the return of the London Games Festival. From the 21st to the end of the month, London will bulge with events aimed at educating and exploring the world’s most popular pastime. OK, the world’s second most popular pastime.

Alright, one of the world’s most popular pastimes. Forget all your preconceptions, this festival isn’t about sitting shoulder to shoulder with spotty teenagers or socially inept 30-somethings, it’s a celebration of the multi-billion pound industry.

While this year’s festival is a touch more modest than in previous years – perhaps due to that whole ‘recession’ thing – there’s still plenty to see and do. So strap on a good pair of walking shoes and be prepared to learn a whole lot at these eye-opening events.

London MCM Expo
24th – 15th October
£10/£13
Excel Centre

The London movie, comic and media expo is a showcase for all the latest in, uh, movies, comics and media. But it also has a hefty games section. To ‘celebrate’ the London Games Festival, the MCM Expo will unveil a life-sized Warthog vehicle from the Halo video games. If you already know what a Warthog is, order your tickets now.

If you don’t there’s still plenty to keep your dusty thumbs very busy. Sega will be there showing its latest wares – yes Sega still exists, it still makes good games. Activision, the second-largest games publisher ever, will also be on hand to demonstrate its upcoming titles, as well as Namco, Ubisoft and Capcom. See what’s new and find yourself impressed.

And once you’ve had enough of the gaming, there’s a slew of TV and movie stars signing their glossy photographed faces, previews of upcoming films, Q&As and the odd competition. Get yourself down to London’s Excel Centre. Booking details can be found here.

Eurogamer Expo
30th – 31st October
£6
Old Billingsgate, EC3R

As one of the leading online gaming magazines, Eurogamer knows how to put on an expo. So much so, that you’ll have the chance to play every major, and not-all-that-major, new title due to hit the shelves in the next six to 12 months. Even if gaming isn’t your thing, for £6 you can keep up with your nephew for once and maybe find something you didn’t know you liked. Left 4 Dead 2 anyone? Yes please. For a full list of the games on display, check this out.

Playful
30^th October
£40
25 Red Lion Square, WC1R

Gaming isn’t just about wiggling your thumbs until you throw your controller across the room in frustration, it’s a continually evolving medium with an envelope so heavily pushed it’s falling over. Playful is a one-day event aimed at exploring what it means to ‘game’ – from the different ways we’re challenged in media to how gaming has become far more mainstream in recent years. Go on, admit it, you don’t like games but you enjoyed playing on the Wii that time.

To quote Sims creator Will Wright, “We have this ability as humans to build fairly elaborate models in our imaginations, and the process of play is the process of pushing against reality, building a model and refining that model by looking at the results of looking at interacting with things.”

Some of the smartest bods in game design will be there to talk about how gaming is changing the world you live in and educate your brain to the point of exploding (your brain will not explode). Playful is even offering free lunches and ‘all the tea you can drink’. You don’t get more British than that.

The Fringe Festival
£FREE
Location: Various. Check website for details

Like your childhood haircut, no festival is complete without its fringe. The London Games Festival is no exception. Usually small events in pubs around the capital, the Fringe Festival is the chance for you to meet fellow gaming fans, pit your skills against them and maybe learn a trick or two. Due to its streamlined nature this year, the London Games Fringe is a little on the sparse side right now, but head over to DS London to get a taster.

DS London is a meetup for people who own a DS. The members meet in a pub and play DS games all while being totally social – which is exactly what the spirit of the London Games Fringe is all about. There should be other events advertised in time so keep your eyes peeled on its website.