HMV will open a state-of-the-art gaming zone in its Edinburgh store today.

The gaming area is the largest games space in the entertainment retailer’s 250-shop chain.

It covers 2,000 sq ft, with the rest of the ground floor set aside for the sale of games.

The concept has 27 Xbox 360 console pods, which customers can play for £3 an hour.

HMV head of games Tim Ellis said: “We have a good community online – we want to access it and bring it to life in a store environment. Games are now a much more prominent part of HMV’s offer.”

Possible roll-outs will follow in London, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.