The second running of the gaming competition is the brainchild of Warrnambool gamers Paul Hayward and Phill Orero and will see 128 console warriors go head to head across four gaming genres and 16 individual titles.

The top prize is $1000 cash, while the best players on the individual titles and the overall genre winners will also walk away with rewards, with the entire prize pool around $2000.

Orero said the event was not just for hardcore gamers.

“It’s focused on accessibility,” he said.

“Anyone with a general interest in gaming has a fair shot at making it a fair way through the day.

“We had some people last year (who weren’t hardcore gamers) who surprised themselves.”

Orero said Gamestart was aiming for something different to the single game tournaments that attract huge crowds around the world.

“We’re looking for the ‘every gamer’,” he explained.

The competition is spread across a wide variety of consoles (from old-school arcade machines to the latest generation Playstation and Xbox) and time periods (from “retro stuff to modern AAA titles”) but fit into four genres — fighting, racing, arcade, and sport.

“Everybody has a chance to be decent at something,” Orero said.

Pizza and drinks will be available on the day, helping to complete the vibe, he said.

“We want to make it like a normal Friday night where you catch up with your friends, have a bit of friendly competition and some pizza and drinks,” he said.

Gamestart Level 2 takes place at St Pius Hall in Warrnambool on June 22. Registrations open at noon and gaming starts at 1pm.

Ticket sales for competitors close by Tuesday. Spectator tickets are also available.