After announcing its intentions to open a heavy-duty LAN gaming centre in October, Gamerbase and HMV have at last opened the doors on the first of its partnership epicentres at the retailer’s leading Trocadero store in Central London.

To tie in with the event Gamerbase has also confirmed that it has struck a deal with leading PC firms Intel and Dell that will see the duo supply the core of technology at the centre.

"A key part of HMV's new strategy is to continue to improve the in-store customer experience,” HMV CEO Simon Fox stated. “With Games becoming an increasingly significant part of our product mix, we are delighted to partner with Gamerbase, Dell and Intel to create a premium quality gaming experience for our customers

HMV’s head of games Tim Ellis added: "The way people discover and enjoy games is showing signs of broadening out, and we want to be at the forefront of this process so we can continue to cater to all tastes and demands as they develop.

“The Gamerbase gaming centre is located right next to the store's Games department, so gamers can buy or pre-order a PC title straight away if they've had a great experience playing it."