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VR space battles! Jelly Baby wrestlers! Plastic guitar solos! Developers talking about frame-rates! Only one place has all these thrilling attractions on offer this weekend - other than the Digital Spy offices, of course - and that's Birmingham's NEC, where this year's EGX gaming expo will be in full swing.
Previously known as the Eurogamer Expo, EGX is the UK's answer to the frenzied sights and sounds of expos like E3 and gamescom – an unholy congregation of the hottest new games, and the coolest new developers and hardware. But be careful: unless you're well prepared, you'll end up queuing hours to play a game you'll be playing in a couple of weeks anyway, instead of seeing the really cool stuff...
1. Try virtual reality for the first time
Yes, you're probably sick of hearing how virtual reality is the hallowed future of gaming, which makes EGX the best place to slip on a Daft Punk-style helmet and actually test the thing yourself before it arrives next year.
PlayStation VR and Steam VR's HTC Vive will be at the show in force, but they're by appointment only – so if you haven't booked by now, you may have already missed out.
There will be plenty of other chances to try VR, though – you can play cockpit-bound space shooter Elite Dangerous and story-driven game The Assembly on the show floor, while the Rezzed and Indie Megabooth areas will have novel puzzle game Esper and racer VR Karts – and there's bound to be other developers with their headset-powered games, too.
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2. Play the next generation of plastic instruments
Remember hammering away tunelessly at plastic guitars and drum kits about ten years ago? Well it's back: Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero Live will be released on October 6 and 23 respectively, and it's time to find out which 'axe' rocks the most.
Of the two, Guitar Hero Live seems the most intriguing thanks to its new intuitive six-button controller that better mimics the layout of a real guitar, and an in-game, full motion first-person video feed that simulates what it's like to stand on stage at a real-life concert.
While Rock Band 4 sees more of its changes in-game, it may rekindle a fire that's been dormant these last few years, and see you consider dusting off that drumkit in time for its PS4 and Xbox One release. And with four band members playing a song at once, this might be a nice queue-beater if you're eager to get jamming sooner than later.
3. Sample Nintendo's unique delights
Secretive old Nintendo rarely does demos or betas ahead of a game's release, so EGX will be the best time to try its line-up of games first - two of which are perfect expo fodder.
Star Fox Zero has just been delayed until 2016, and its unique control scheme might be why. Some people relish the opportunity to aim out of a first-person cockpit on the Wii U's touch-screen controller as they fly in a classic view on the television, while others find the split far too confusing. It's divided critics a bit, and it's worth taking a trip so you can make up your own mind.
Meanwhile, there's 3DS multiplayer game Zelda: Triforce Heroes, which has three Links explore and battle through complex dungeons together. Whether you have a couple of friends on standby or are happy to play with fellow showgoers, there's a handful of stages available to get stuck into.
4. Play Gang Beasts and dozens of other amazing indie games
And now the properly mental stuff: smaller independent games outnumber blockbusters on the showfloor by quite a margin – so take advantage of the shorter queues to sample some of the weird stuff that smaller teams are making.
If you're stuck for choice, then Gang Beasts – a bizarre multiplayer game where Jelly Baby-style wrestlers in animal costumes batter each other – is a great starting point whether you're playing or spectating from afar (trust us, it's hilarious).
It's otherwise a great opportunity to have an explore and see what takes your fancy – who knows, you might stumble upon the next Rocket League or Super Meat Boy before they hit it big.
5. Don't just play games at EGX
There's much more to EGX than playing shiny new games - there's also plenty of old ones in the show's Retro Gaming Area, giving your trigger fingers a rest so you can make new friends while playing classics like Mario Kart 64.
If dice are more your thing, there's also a Board Game Zone for table top gaming, and if you fancy seeing the country's best at DOTA 2, Street Fighter, Counter-Strike and some incredible cosplay, there's stages and areas for that too.
And if you want to learn more about the industry, it's worth planning your day around the Rezzed sessions, giving you the inside track on what it's like to test games, survive life as a small indie studio, or become a mega YouTube star.
Don't confuse these talks with the Developer Sessions - with the likes of PlayStation's Shuhei Yoshida and Valve taking to the stage, expect big queues to get a seat - which you do from the comfort of your own home later on YouTube anyway. Get playing and mingling instead!
EGX 2015 takes place from September 24 to 27 in Birmingham's NEC.
