The planned location seems a good one: the local high school is a specialist Arts and Computing college and nearby towns run game design courses and the University of Cenral Lancashire (UCLAN) runs extremely successful Games Design and Development courses.

A recent feature added to the area is Halo: a panopticon sculpture that sits on a hill and can be seen from miles around. It’s meant to be a symbol of regeneration for the area but has proven to be more of a whipping boy for disaffected residents who resent all the money spent on it… no matter where the money came from. 

 

Those trying to organise the game event argue it’s a perfect backdrop for the event and could reintroduce Halo as a positive symbol again.

So, what would happen at the Festival?

• Local and international games companies will introduce their latest releases.
• Game designers will host workshops and discussion groups.
• Video Games Voice actors will showcase their craft.
• Illustrators and Animators will demonstrate drawing techniques.
• Writers will give storyline/scripting lessons.
• Business savvy Games companies will tell you how to raise funds and gain grants.
• And Marketing people will show you how to sell them.
• Cosplay Live Action Role players will perform beneath The Halo.
• Games buy and swap market.

There are people in place for every aspect of what’s described above, including a writer who has worked for DC and Marvel Comics, a cartoonist from Warner Bros who has worked on Daffy Duck, a voice Actor from Dragon Age, support from www.gamevoices.co.uk and www.worldgamingexecutives.com and managers from a number of the world’s leading developers and publishers and much much more.

• If you’re interested in more info or would like to take part, head over to the Festival’s Facebook page