GameFest, presented by UOW's Video Games Association

Instead, it has become quite acceptable to indulge in video games at any age and regardless of being male or female.

Whether you like Pokemon Go on your smartphone or Final Fantasy on your Playstation, all things gaming will be celebrated in Wollongong this weekend for the fourth annual Game Fest.

The all ages LAN convention, organised but the University of Wollongong’s Video Game Assocation, will run non-stop for 24 hours across two levels of the Uni Centre from midday Saturday.

Club president Michael Kosteski said they expect people to come from as far north as Queensland and as far south as Victoria.

Mr Kosteski said GameFest was more like a “small convention” and not just about sitting in front of a console competing against other festival goers - although that is part of it.

“We do PC, we do console, we do board games, card games, so there’s like Pokemon trading cards and Yu-Gi-Oh as well,” he said.

“We’re live streaming it all on Twitch TV, it’s like a live gaming stream.”

Screenings of Japanese Anime will run throughout the festival, Evey Dantes and Variable will host the CosPlay competition, “moders” (people who modify computers to look cool) will be on site and lavish prizes are on offer – like a $400 replica of Garen’s sword from League of Legends.

Festival-goers are also advised to wear a onsie as it’s become the “unofficial” uniform of the event.

“I’m going to be here for 24 hours, I want to be comfortable,” VGA member Luke Pate said.

Luckily one of the event sponsors is Red Bull to prevent bleary eyes, though Brendon Potter said crazy antics are often seen in the early hours of the morning to beat fatigue.

Last year participants set-up a giant human chess board at 3am. Each person represented a chess piece and had to confer with their teammates on where to move next.

The club boasts more than 1200 registered members from all walks of life, from teenagers to people in their 40’s, and anyone is welcome to join for free.

Some of the gaming tournaments will include: League of Legends, DotA, CS:GO and Super Smash Brothers.

GameFest, Uni Centre, Saturday August 6 from 12pm through to Sunday August 7 12pm.

Tickets will range from $15 for a day pass to $35 for 24hr pass which covers for dinner and breakfast the next day.

For more information visit: www.uowvga.com.au