The festival includes game screenings and seminars

The organisers of GameCity said they hoped the three-day event would help the East Midlands develop as a centre for the interactive games industry.

The event is being supported by Nottingham Trent University and other organisations in the city.

Seminars, game screenings and exhibitions will be held around the city until Sunday.

Piano recital

Iain Simons, director of GameCity, said Nottingham was chosen as it is already a base for firms involved in the video games industry.

"GameCity will entertain, inform and educate individuals, industry and the public sector on the value and the potential of interactive entertainment for everyone," he said.

"It is a unique event where the public and games developers can come together."

The European debut of the Into the Pixel exhibition - a display of video games art from Los Angeles - will be on show at the city's Council House.

Events will also include a piano recital by Richard Jacques, composer of the soundtrack for Sonic the Hedgehog, and an address from internationally renown games developer Lorne Lanning on Saturday.