GAMEfest comes to Birmingham

IT'S the biggest computer games showcase of the year - and it's here in the Midlands.

GAMEfest is a three-day gaming extravaganza at Birmingham's NEC, offering you the chance to play new and upcoming blockbuster titles.

It runs from September 16 to 18 and is open exclusively to holders of GAME's Reward Card.

But don't worry, because you can sign up for a card for free at the store's website.

So what's going to be on offer? The line-up is growing every day but there's already a rollcall of great games, many of which will be available to try for the first time in the UK.

Among the big-hitter headliners are Batman: Arkham City, Saints Row: The Third, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Spider-Man: Edge Of Time.

And, of course, there are sequels and threequels galore, including the latest incarnations of fan favourites such as Streetfighter, WWE, Legend Of Zelda, Need For Speed and Lego Harry Potter.

For sports fans, FIFA 12 and PES 2012 will be going head to head, and who can resist Mario & Sonic At The London 2012 Olympic Games?

Tickets, priced £10, are available via http://events.game.co.uk/gamefest/ and can also be bought instore. GAME promises that there'll be lots of special offers and discount deals at the event, too.

Here's our list of the essential games to sample: Call Of Duty: MW3, Goldeneye 007: Reloaded, Spider-Man: Edge Of Time, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Prey 2, Streetfighter x Tekken, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Dead Rising 2: Off The Record, Battlefield 3, Need For Speed: The Run, FIFA 12, Mass Effect 3, PES 2012, Silent Hill: Downpour, Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Mario & Sonic At The London 2012 Olympic Games, Overkill Extended Cut, Rise Of Nightmares, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Driver San Francisco, Saints Row: The Third, WWE12, Batman: Arkham City, Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7, Gears Of War 3.

See you there!