Fifty thousand gamers from around the world flooded into Moscow recently to see what exciting developments are in store for the next year. The battle of the thumbs has come a long way from the days of the old arcade game.

Now its not even limited to your hand, with legs, costumes and even fists all being part of the play.

The second annual Games World Expo at the Russian Exhibition Centre offered a window into the latest offerings of this gaming world.

“Its very important right now to get consumers to buy legal games, very important for us and for worldwide companies, Microsoft, and so on,” said Yury Virych, the head of Product Management, Buka company, Moscow.

There was a lot of variety on show for an industry that is continually looking to expand its market.

With families, girls and the older consumers in mind, the emphasis is heavily on offering an interactive experience.

Real-life battle fields, virtual studio dancing, and IT solutions designed to challenge the brain were all up for scrutiny.

All the worlds Who’s Who in gaming were in attendance: Sony, Microsoft as well as some of the home grown Russian companies.