Go techno retro at MOSI

Experience 20 years of video games and head to the new Games Lounge at MOSI(Manchester Museum of Science and Industry). Celebrate the ground-breakinggames of the 80s such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man as 90s classic Sonic theHedgehog as well as modern games on x-Box and Playstation as part of aprogramme of free family events during 19-27 February.

This Year of Computing theme is to celebrate 60 years since the world'sfirst commercial computer - the Ferranti Mark 1, which was developed at theUniversity of Manchester in 1951. It was made as a commercial version of theBaby computer - the world's first computer - a replica of which is in MOSI'snew Revolution Manchester gallery.

Visitors can also play an interactive game based on a fun program whichrandomly generated love letters and was one of the first computer programson the Ferranti Mark 1.

A one-man show about the pioneering mathematician and computer genius AlanTuring will also be performed as part of the series of free events at MOSIduring half term.

Visitors can also take part in workshops to design your own computer gamecharacter, storytelling and a computer quiz trail around the site.Gareth Redston, presenter team leader said: "The Games Lounge is going to begreat fun. Whether you're into computer games or not it's fascinating to seehow much games have developed, and many of us get a twinge of nostalgia atthe sight of Pac-Man or Sonic the Hedgehog."

Year of Computing events are free and part of a year-long programme of events at MOSI. For more information visit www.mosi.org.uk