London to Host a New Gaming Conference

As you probably know, there are a lot of gaming conventions, festivals, and conferences in this big ol’ world of ours. The biggest: Gamescon, PAX, E3, the Tokyo Game Show… they’ve been running the show for quite a few years now, and they’ve almost become the markers that gamers and journalists alike use to track the passing of the year. We all know the tension of an approaching E3, the apprehension as the Tokyo Game Show promises new and exciting secrets, the revelry of PAX….

Well, if you love these with all your heart, then I have some great news--or, more specifically, a minecrafted version of London’s Mayor Boris Johnson, has some great news for you. Check it:



Yep. London is getting its own game festival. Running from April 1st to the 10th, the London Games Festival, or "an exciting new celebration of the art, culture and business of video games", will be host to 15 exciting events spanning across 10 of the city’s most iconic locations. Unlike some other trade shows, this one will be open to the public, and will encourage people to get involved as much as possible.

In a follow-up statement, Boris Johnson added:

"London is already a star player when it comes to games and interactive entertainment, but international competition is fierce and we need to ensure our city can compete with our global gaming rivals. Through Games London we are supercharging an increasingly important sector for our economy, one that exemplifies the capital's reputation for creativity and innovation. From design to banking and civil engineering to film, games technology is being used in a host of different sectors. We are investing in a dynamic and constantly evolving industry to take London to another level as a world-leading capital for games and interactive entertainment."

Well, that’s pretty exciting! I’m not sure if this is the kind of thing that would lead to the announcements of any games, trailers, or the like, but still, a new avenue to celebrate our culture--especially in a city as important and ancient as London--is pretty swagtastc. I hope to hear more about this in the coming weeks!