UK NewsSpots: LGF events, HD DVD price cut, BBC on Live?

London Games Festival reveals more events
The organisers of October's London Games Festival have released details of more events to take place during the week-long celebration of gaming. Industry body ELSPA is hosting a forum titled "Ban these evil games?" on October 22, which will involve both an expert panel and audience participation. The London Game Career Fair follows on October 23, as do the high-profile BAFTA Video Game Awards.

The LGF also features events about the technology behind gaming. "Computational Brain" on October 24 will examine what the human brain and computers have in common, and the implications for the development of artificial intelligence. There is also an exploration of what gamers are really looking at when they are playing games on October 25 as part of the "Eyes on the game" seminar and demonstration. Further details of events and how to register can be found on the London Games Festival Web site.

Xbox 360 HD DVD player price reduced in UK
Microsoft has confirmed that the recommended retail price of an HD DVD player for the Xbox 360 has been reduced by £15 (approx. $30) in the UK. The RRP for the player is now £114.99, down from £129.99 previously. The price in the US was recently cut to $179 from $199.

The price reduction follows the recent news of Xbox 360 price cuts--the Pro system was reduced to £249.99, with the Elite console and its 120GB hard drive weighing in at £299.99. The Xbox 360 Core, which does not have a hard drive, now sells at £179.99, the same price point as Nintendo's Wii.

BBC content to feature on Xbox Live?
It was reported this weekend by The Sunday Times that Microsoft is in talks with the British Broadcasting Corporation about the possibility of showcasing BBC content on Xbox Live. Microsoft's Video Marketplace service is already live in the US, allowing subscribers to download films, trailers, and TV shows to their consoles, but a date has not yet been set for the UK launch.

The Sunday Times article quotes Ross Honey, senior director for media at Microsoft's content and partner strategy group, as saying, "We are working diligently on multiple fronts to make it happen. The BBC is a great content provider."