It's time for the gaming world's equivalent of Glastonbury Festival - the mighty Insomnia. Tim Hughes looks ahead to a great weekend...

COMPUTER game enthusiasts are set to gather this weekend at the UK’s largest gaming festival, Insomnia.

The convention, at the NEC in Birmingham, is organised by video gaming specialist Multiplay, is a magnet for fans of online gaming – with Street Fighter V, FIFA 16, Rocket League and Minecraft tournaments and casual play opportunities for gamers of all ages.

Founded in 1999, the Insomnia Gaming Festival has been a place for gamers of all backgrounds to congregate, socialise, discover new things and celebrate all things gaming.

The event includes a vast Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) Local Area Network (LAN) gaming hall, a large line-up of content creators from the worlds of YouTube and Twitch, competitive areas, main stage entertainment, trade stalls and a host of gaming related zones and activities for all levels of gamer - from novice to professional.

The event is supported by high-profile Youtubers. Among fans of Insomnia is cult hit Jack Septic Eye who saw fans queueing for hours for an autograph and selfie at Insomina56, last December.

He told the Oxford Times “Insomnia is a great event and has caught the imagination of young gamers.”

Commenting on the reception he received from young fans he said: “It’s amazing. It’s insane.”

* Insomnia57 will take place at The NEC, Birmingham, 25-28 March, 2016. Tickets are on-sale from insomniagamingfestival.com/tickets and in GAME stores.