Let’s get digital
. t ff." ,' .‘ “f” _ Out and About
Summer Observing Evenings Fri 6 Aug. 7pm. £2.60 (£1.85). Royal Observatory Visitor (‘entre. Blackford Hill. 668 8404. Learn about the Aurora Borealis and check the stin for spots. Sizzling Summer Barbeques l'ntil Sun 8 Aug. noon -4pin. From £3. Royal Botanic (iardens. lnverleith Row. 552 7171. [Enjoy a summer BBQ at the Terrace Cafe. weather permitting. Asian Spice Fri 6 Atig. 7- 10pm. £12 (£8). lidinburgh '/.oo. (‘orstorphine Road. 334 9171. An liastern themed evening with food. music and dancing full of spice and fun. See photo caption. Meadowbank Grand Prix Sat 7 & Sun 8 Aug. 1pm. .‘vleadowbank Sports Centre. 13‘) London Road. 66] 5351. lisperience the thrill of top class cycling at this men and women‘s competition. which includes British Sprinter League (‘hampionship races and the 15k (irand Prix on Sunday.
Yoga Classes Mon 9 Sat 28 Aug. 10.30am» noon. £6 (£4). Quaker Meeting House. 7 Victoria Terrace. 225 4825. Recharge your batteries and zone out from the Festival madness by learning a bit of yoga.
Summer Evening Saunter in Holyrood Park Wed 11 Aug.
(i 7.30pm. Dunsapie Loch car park. Holyrood Park. (352 8510. Join the ranger to discover the natural world in Holyrood Park at the height of summer. Booking essential.
North Berwick Highland Games Sat 7 Aug. 10am 5.30pm. £3 (£0.50). Recreation Park. Dunbar Road. North Berwick. 01620 890350. Highland games with pipe bands. heavy events and highland dancing.
Exhibitions and Events
Earth from the Air L'ntil Sun 26 Sep. 10am 7pm. Free. Royal Botanic Gardens. lnverleith Row, 552 7171. Scottish premier of photographs by French photographer Yann
Arthus Bertrand capturing the characteristics and patterns of the natural world "mm a unique aerial perspective. prov iding a breathtaking pictorial record of our planet today. See photo caption. Edinburgh International Games
Festival: Go Play Games Sun S—Sun 22 Aug. Sun noon- 5pm; Mon 9 Aug & Wed 1 1 & Thu 12 Aug 10am--5pm: Tue 10am»8pm. £2. Royal Museum. 2 (‘hambers Street. 247 4219/4422. An exhibition giving gamers the chance to try out the latest software and hardware products. (‘hildren must be accompanied by an adult. See preview. GameMaker Mon ‘)»--Thu 12 Aug (not Wed). 10am. Free. Royal Museum. 2 (‘hambers Street. 247 4219/4422. Ages 10+. Let your imagination llow freely in this special half day workshop to create your own computer game. designing your own characters and their challenges. Booking essential Translucence Mon 9 Aug. 12.45pm. Free. National (iallery of Scotland. the Mound. 624 (i200. Preview performance of the highly contentious song cycle by Derek Jarnian and Mercury Music Prize nominated Donna McKevitt .Wull/u’iv VIEW/(ml .W(II‘/v‘_l"i“*:('(l 1.14kt’./\'*”’:kt’(lJu/m . . . performed close to some of the National (iallery's religious art works.
78 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 5% 12 Aug 2004
COMPUTER GAMES
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL GAMES FESTIVAL 2004 Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Sun 8-Sun 22 Aug; Odeon Lothian
Road, Edinburgh, Wed 11—Sat 14 Aug
Have you recently developed an unexplained tingling in your thumbs? Those intuitive opposable fellows must know that the Edinburgh International Games Festival is back, with organisers hoping to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event. This feast of all things game is split into two parts, Go Play Games and Games Screenings. Go Play Games is a two week interactive exhibition at the Royal Museum, where you can get your little mitts on the latest and greatest hardware and software around, from Nintendo, Nokia N-Gage, PlayStation2, Xbox and The Way It’s Meant To Be Played from NVIDIA on PC. There are competitions to enter
and prizes will be awarded to winners.
The other part, Games Screenings, takes place at the Odeon Lothian Road and is an opportunity to get inside the heads of leading games creators, plus have a sneaky-peek at some forthcoming titles. Eidos’ Ian Livingston will talk about the making of global phenomenon and raider of tombs, Lara Croft; Sports lnteractive’s Miles Jacobson will unveil Football Manager 2005 for the first time; there’s an exclusive chance to see LEGO Star Wars, and Lyle Hall from THQ’s Heavy Iron Studios presents the UK premiere of Disney/Pixar’s The lncredibles. Phew! Save some energy games fans - this festival will fight the war to end all wars, bring a new dawn to the central belt, and perhaps finally decide whether brown sauce or vinegar should go on chips; that’s right, it’s a live Edinburgh v Glasgow competition using the latest console games. After all that excitement, if you think you’ve got a simply smashing idea for a game, Channel 4’s Ideas Factory will lead a discussion on the realities of working in the games industry. It’s not all glam festivals apparently; expect no-nonsense advice from the folks who know. So whether you want to come and worship at the mantle of those currently in power, or you see yourself as the future ruler of Game World, polish off your joystick and head for the Edinburgh International Games Festival. (Morag Bruce)
NEXT ISSUE OUT THURSDAY 12 AUGUST
The Playfair Project Tue 10 Aug. 12.45pm. llawthornden Lecture Theatre. National (iallery. Weston Link. Playfair Link. Michael (‘larke. director of the National (iallery. gives the inaugural lecture at the new Playfair link.
Edinburgh International Games Festival: Games Screenings Wed 11 Sat 14 Aug. £4 t£3). ()deon. llb’ Lothian Road. 0870 50 50 007. Four day event offering the chance to get tip close and personal with some of the world’s leading games creators. David Roberts in Rome Wed 1 1 Aug. 12.45pm. Free. llawthornden Lecture Theatre. National (iallery. Weston Link. Playfair Link. Susanna Kerr. curator of at the (iallery of Modern Art gives this lunchtime lecture.
360 degrees around the world
Books
Terry Pratchett Sat 7 Aug. l 1am. ()ttakar's. .57 (ieorge Street. 225 449.5. Fantastical writer Terry Pratchett signs copies of a special edition of ()n/v l'uu ('rm Save Mun/rind.
Michaela Uch & Christina Sieber: Away with the Fairies Sun 8 Aug. 7pm. Free (£3/2 Suggested donation to cover costs). Roxy Art House. 2 Roxburgh Place. 550 0222. An evening of poetry and stories about fairies. Audience members are welcome to bring a poem or short story.
Kids
Silk Painting Sat 7 Aug. 1 lain & 1.30pm. £0 (£1.50 £4). \ot'lh lidinburgh Arts (‘entre. 15a Penny well (‘ourt. 315 2151. Ages 7+. Have a go at painting on silk.
Fred Tomaselli - Monsters of Paradise Famin Workshop Sat 7 Aug. 2 4pm. £4. l-iuitrnarket Gallery. 45 Market Street. 225 2383. A opportunity to create work in response to the first British solo exhibition of New York based artist Fred Tomaselli. Suitable for children aged 3 (i. Booking essential.
Jacobites Alive Sun 8 Aug. 12.45pm. 1.45pm. 2.45pm & 3.45pm. Free. Royal Museum. 2 ('hambers Street. 247 4219/4422. Be transported back in time with an lb‘th century clansman who w ill tell you all about the weapons and traditions of the Jacobite era.
Freshmess Triple Bill 't‘hu 12 Aug. 3 4.30pm. £5 U) (£(i). Dance Base. 14 l() (ii'assinarket. 225 5525. l'reshmess merge hip hop style with contemporary dance. creating movement which is easy to follow and fun. Suitable for ages 10+.
Wild Things Sat 7 Aug.
9.30am (rpm. Free. ()tt;ik;ii"s Bookshop. l'nit lo. ('aineron Toll Shopping ('entre. (i Lady Road. 600 tsuu. Dress up for a jungle themed fun day. with a treasure hunt. art and crafts. nibbles and a fancy dress competition.
for GLASGOW LIFE see non-festival magazine