The UK is going to be a crowded place for game conferences this summer. In addition to ECTS and the European Games Network events in London, the Edinburgh International Games Festival 2004 (EIGF04) is also on the games industry's calendar. Set to run from August 8-22 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the agenda features conference sessions (August 12, 13), awards (August 12), gameplay exhibitions, and game screenings. The second annual festival focuses on Scotland's gaming industry, home of Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar North (noticeably absent from the activities, by the way).

　　EIGF04's conferences will include a number of big-name speakers, including Doug Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association; Neil Young, from Electronic Arts' Maxis studio; Seamus Blackley, of Creative Artists Agency; Alex Seropian, founder of Bungie; Charles Cecil, from Revolution Software; Professor Edward Castronova, of Cal State Fullerton; and Steve Schnur, worldwide executive of music at EA.

　　Among the intended exhibitors are Nintendo, Nokia, Nvidia, Sony, and Microsoft. EIGF04 is sponsored by the British video games trade groups ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) as well as TIGA (The Independent Games Developers Association). EIGF04's Web site has more information on the event.