How do non-gamers play? It’s a question that has puzzled me for a while. In a country where the main form of recreation involves throwing large volumes of toxic liquid down your throat and declaring “I can’t remember what happened. Must have been a GREAT NIGHT!”, I can’t help wondering how else people play. Sure there are places like Go Ape, which are great fun (unless you’re me) and certainly a type of play, but they’re an awful lot of hassle to organise. Not to mention expensive. And scary as shit. People read books and watch films for fun, but they’re very passive hobbies. I’m not sure that counts as play.

From Friday to Sunday, London’s Southbank will be transformed into a giant playground by Hide and Seek, a games studio working to invent new kinds of play. Here’s a basic summary of the plans, shamelessly lifted from the official site: Friday 6pm till 10pm: round-the-table games, spectator-friendly games, and one great big hundred-player chasing-across-the-Southbank game.
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Rejoice, a consumer game show is upon us!

Microsoft’s contribution to this years London Games Festival is a great big Xbox 360 lounge in Soho. I’m talking lots of cushions, sofas, 360′s (surprise, surprise) and 300+ games all in one big room. Best of all it’s FREE. Right, I’m in. Anyone else? Location details: The Vinyl Factory Basement Studio Marshall Street London W1F
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