After the promising start made by London Games Festival last year, chairman of LGF Keith Ramsdale has told MCV that publisher announcements made at 2007’s event will have ramifications throughout the international industry.

And the EA boss has spoken of his confidence that with ‘nearly all’ major publishers and platform holders signed up, LGF will demand sizeable media coverage – not least because of its deal with dedicated PR agency, Cake.

“I anticipate that LGF 2007 will be a key event in the global games industry calendar and that all participants will use it in that context for any announcements they are ready to make,” Ramsdale told MCV. “It isn’t designed to replace E3, but forms a key UK event on the wider worldwide stage.”

Activision, Atari, Eidos, EA, Konami, Microsoft, Nintendo Sega and Ubisoft have all offered their support to the event so far – and more big names are expected to follow their lead.

“We are so much further forward than we were last year,” added Ramsdale. “In 2006, support from the publishing community was fairly minimal, but this year nearly all major publishers and hardware owners are signed up to be involved.

“Cake has been given the brief that the LGF will be judged on column inches and they are rising passionately to that challenge.”

London Games Festival will take place from Monday, October 22nd to 26th and house over 40 events, including the BAFTA Games Awards and the Video Games Live concert at Festival Hall.