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Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Ten most important games you've never heard of

Former EDGE editor, Margaret Robertson, reveals 2007's ten most important games you've never heard of at this year's Edinburgh Interactive Festival.

Respected industry consultant and former editor of EDGE magazine, Margaret Robertson, today revealed she will be speaking at Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008 to praise ten of the most important games of last year that many people won’t be familiar with.

Entitled: ‘Need To Know: The Ten Most Important Games Of The Last Year You’ve Never Heard Of’, Robertson, who regularly contributes to BBC Online’s Technology section, will speak on Monday 11th August between 13:45 - 14:15 before an invited audience of industry delegates and press at Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The last twelve months have been dominated with talk of BioShock, GTA IV and Wii Fit, but Robertson questions whether they are really the most significant games of the year. Have they done the most to change the rules, and to establish the trends which will shape the industry in the years to come?

Robertson said: “While big-hitting titles such as these grab the headlines, the games whose personnel, means of production, target audience, chosen platform, gameplay innovations, visual style, business models or marketing approach are rather more revolutionary can easily get overlooked. So, if you've ever wished you'd spotted Portal back when it was still Narbacular Drop, this session will steer you through the robot-building, wing-walking, child-rearing, music-battling games that will change the industry in 2009.”

About Margaret Robertson:
A historian by training, Margaret Robertson has written for many specialist magazines, mainstream publications like FHM, Seed and the BBC, and four years wrote for, and ultimately edited, Edge, the world's most respected videogame magazine. She also part of the team behind the GameCity festival, and serves as a juror for IndieCade, the Independent Game Festival and Dare to be Digital. Now, as a consultant, she advises companies like EA, Sony and Channel 4 on game design and industry trends.

About Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
Now celebrating its sixth year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is powered up to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games. And this year, the Interactive Festival is more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival than ever, appealing to the press, public and professionals from film, television and interactive media backgrounds alike, offering a bigger event for delegates, more consumer focusing – an overall spectacle for all.

New to Interactive Festival 2008 will be Features, Exhibition and Recruitment areas specifically tailored to cater for the public - allowing them access to the latest games and job opportunities in games.

As ever, the three-day Interactive Festival wouldn’t be complete without the cornerstones of conferences, keynotes, panel sessions, debates, games screenings and even more people than ever jostling to get through the doors.

Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EE
UK

Sunday 10th August
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site

Monday 11th August
EIF Conference
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site
Conference Networking event

Tuesday 12th August
EIF Conference
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site
Digital Interactive Symposium

Edinburgh Interactive Festival will also play host to the Digital Interactive Symposium, the games event aimed at academics and games industry professionals. It takes place on the afternoon of Tuesday 12th August.