The First Post, "a huge raft of creative people who never get the chance to explain themselves – because they're never asked."

It's true, and the sheer approachability of GameCity is hard to resist. For five days in mid-October top games developers, commentators and academics are moving into town to meet the public.

Q&A sessions will move beyond earnest appraisals of Lara

Croft's bazooka to a consideration of the music, art, design and narrative of classic and next generation games.

Delights to be savoured among more than 80 events include a keynote speech from Keita Takahashi, producer of the hallowed Katamari Damacy game; an exclusive showing of the rough cut of Playing Columbine, a documentary about the notorious Super Columbine Massacre shoot-'em-up in which players could actually take the role of deranged high school murderers; the first public showing of the complete Lego Star Wars (previous page); and, in addition to countless presentations and demos, intimate pub lunches with top designers for laptop-toting rookies.