GAMERS of all ages had the chance to get their hands on the latest releases this weekend.

The EA Gaming roadshow pulled up in Wharf Green on Saturday and Sunday giving people the chance to try out the games and take part in competitions, while their friends and families shopped.

The games on offer included Need For Speed, where gamers were trying to record the best lap time to win a T-shirt, and FIFA 13, where there was a crossbar challenge game.

Glen Fry, one of the members of staff running the gaming hub, said it had proved popular with a lot of people, especially the game Dead Space 3, which has yet to be released.

He said: “This is something that has been travelling around the country from Scotland to Portsmouth.

“Saturday evening was our busiest time.

“It is a good way to experience games before you buy them. We have also had a series of challenges running on the games where people can win prizes.”

James Gibbs, 15, of north Swindon, was enjoying the gaming hub with his friends from school and said it was a good thing to have in the town centre. He said: “I didn’t realise this was here but it is a lot of fun and you don’t usually have the chance to play these games for free.”

It wasn’t only the children who were enjoying the games.

Philip Rose, 38, of Old Town, had left his partner shopping to enjoy a spot of gaming.

He said: “It is great for us guys who get dragged to the shops to get away from going around the shops. You get similar things in the shops but there are lots of different games available here to try before you buy.

“It’s a great idea and it is really popular with the children and better than them sitting on the street corners bored.”