Nintendo has signed up to support this year's Edinburgh Interactive Festival, becoming a 'Gold Partner'.

So, what does being a Gold Partner mean? According to the event's organisers ELSPA and TIGA, it means the company is "a major supporter and partner of the Festival. It will also have a presence on the floor of [the] three-day event, allowing the public and Edinburgh Interactive delegates to experience Nintendo games."

This marks the third year running that Nintendo has supported the festival.

Both Nintendo UK's managing director, David Yarnton, and the festival's chairman, Chris Deering, were keen to emphasise the cultural importance of games as part of the wider Edinburgh Festival. "Edinburgh Interactive Festival raises our industry’s profile into the wider cultural arena and celebrates the input, talent and creativity from all with a common interest in video games”, said Yarnton.

“Nintendo’s support of Interactive Festival in Edinburgh is great news and demonstrates an understanding of the importance of a cultural games event within the landscape of the world’s biggest cultural Festival. Games and EIF have been embraced this year by Scotland PLC like no other year and the support of Nintendo is an important factor in encouraging these respected organisations’ commitment to us”, added Deering.

The EIF will run from Sunday 10th August to Tuesday 12th. You can find more details here.