It's come a long way since the days when teenagers sat in their bedrooms, playing Jet Set Willy and Impossible Mission, while hunched over their Sinclair Spectrums and Commodore 64s.

These days, the gaming industry generates millions of pounds every day for the UK economy and its creative, cultural and educational aspects are being highlighted at the third Norwich Gaming Festival.

Organised and hosted by The Forum in the city centre, and backed by the Norwich University of the Arts and the University of East Anglia, the free festival launches at 10am today and finishes on Saturday.

Danny Mcilwrath, one of the Norwich Gaming Festival organisers from The Forum, said: 'We can't wait to kick off NGF16 – there are so many fantastic additions to this year's festival including a Gaming Village, new game releases, concept art, competitions, music, talks and workshops from gaming experts.

'The festival is a chance for the public to really see what it means to work in the gaming industry, it's one of the fastest growing, creative sectors in the UK and it's important we encourage and support it. The industry generates more than £4.5m a day for the UK economy and employs more than 19,000 people, making it a legitimate career choice for many and we hope to showcase and celebrate that.'

Last year's festival saw more than 45,000 visitors. This year offers another mix of indie. mainstream and retro games, seminars, talk, workshops and even a gaming pub quiz.

The quiz will take place at Open in Bank Plain at 7.30pm on Friday. Tickets for it are available at www.open247.org.uk

Do you have a gaming industry success story? Call business editor Mark Shields on 01603 772426 or email mark.shields@archant.co.uk