Play Lab – Programme

 
  • Everyone Everyone
  • Workshop Workshop
  • Board Games
  • RolePlaying Games
  • Digital Games
  • Miniature Games
  • Card Games
  • Family Games
  • Science Games
  • Live Games
Play Lab – Programme

Play Lab is the workshop room of Play – The Games Festival, in collaboration with Il
Salotto di Giano.
Play Lab is a hands-on hub for practical learning and full-spectrum exploration of the world
of games. Here, industry professionals and experts lead interactive workshops to share
skills, tools, and approaches that are useful to players, educators, designers – and anyone
passionate about games.
From game ideation to storytelling techniques, from gamification to experiential design,
every session is an opportunity to get involved, learn by doing, and expand your
perspective. Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned pro, Play Lab is the perfect
space to explore new ideas and hone your skills in the gaming world.

ActualPlay: Magic Tails with the Authors

Strange lights and noises in the night, smoking spires and sinister creaks. The old Lansbury Manor has always been home to eccentric and whimsical ...

Hall 20 - AMM S6 04 Friday
hours 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Tipology: Demo
Target: Everyone
immagine evento: ActualPlay: Magic Tails with the Authors

Birth of an Icon: Vecna through Sound, Image and Words

Workshop booking: LINK Writing a D&D campaign is no easy task—it requires imagination, creativity, and dedication. This storytelling workshop ...

Hall 15 G43 04 Friday
hours 01:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Everyone
immagine evento: Birth of an Icon: Vecna through Sound, Image and Words

Closure Technique

Crafting a strong narrative is one of the most rewarding—and challenging—tasks for both game designers and storytellers. In this workshop, ...

Hall 15 G43 04 Friday
hours 05:30 PM - 07:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Adults
immagine evento: Closure Technique

Equity and Accessibility at the Gaming Table: Best Practices to Facilitate and Manage Gaming Spaces

This roundtable is divided into two phases. The first one is about sharing best practices and reflections that emerged during the workshop on ...

Hall 15 G43 04 Friday
hours 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Everyone
immagine evento: Equity and Accessibility at the Gaming Table: Best Practices to Facilitate and Manage Gaming Spaces

How to Write a LARP Character

How do you start writing a character for someone else to bring to life—or for yourself? Live Action Roleplaying (LARP) is a powerful creative ...

Hall 15 G43 04 Friday
hours 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Children
immagine evento: How to Write a LARP Character

Theatre Techniques for Roleplaying

Booking required: LINK This year, Attori di Ruolo offers players and game masters a unique perspective on theatrical performance at the table—aiming ...

04 Friday
hours 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Adults
immagine evento: Theatre Techniques for Roleplaying

Anyone Can Be a Game Master

Think being a Game Master is too hard? This event will change your mind! Together, we’ll create a one-of-a-kind story using an illustrated card ...

Hall 15 G43 05 Saturday
hours 01:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Everyone
immagine evento: Anyone Can Be a Game Master

Letters from Another World

In this workshop, we will explore the creative process behind the birth of a character. Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) allows participants ...

Hall 15 G43 05 Saturday
hours 09:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Children
immagine evento: Letters from Another World

Weathering for Dummies: Ageing Techniques from the Film Set

Booking link: LINK A truly unique workshop! Join Gabriele Stazi for a behind-the-scenes masterclass on ageing and weathering techniques for ...

Hall 15 G43 05 Saturday
hours 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Adults
immagine evento: Weathering for Dummies: Ageing Techniques from the Film Set

Workshop: Playing with Emotions – The Fantasy Chronicles Experience for EuLabRPG

Hosted by Il Salotto di Giano A.P.S. What role do emotions play in a roleplaying session? How does colour influence a reader’s perception? This ...

Hall 15 G43 05 Saturday
hours 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Adults
immagine evento: Workshop: Playing with Emotions – The Fantasy Chronicles Experience for EuLabRPG

AI-Empowered Game Designer

This workshop explores the use of AI in game design, examining how reasoning models, agents, and emerging multimodal capabilities can support ...

Hall 15 G43 06 Sunday
hours 09:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Everyone
immagine evento: AI-Empowered Game Designer

Fantastic Geographies: Tools for Gaming Worldbuilding

Want to create a setting that captures the imagination and leaves a mark? This hands-on workshop will guide you through building a compelling, ...

Hall 15 G43 06 Sunday
hours 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Everyone
immagine evento: Fantastic Geographies: Tools for Gaming Worldbuilding

Three Tables, Three Elements, One Adventure! Collaborative Creation Workshop

Imagine a workshop where the beating heart is shared creation! An opportunity to bring to life, together with other fans, characters, NPCs and ...

Hall 15 G43 06 Sunday
hours 01:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Adults
immagine evento: Three Tables, Three Elements, One Adventure! Collaborative Creation Workshop

Workshop: Magical Places – Promoting Local Heritage Through Games

Organised by: Il Salotto di Giano A.P.S. Every place tells many stories—those of the people who have crossed it, lived it, celebrated or remembered ...

Hall 15 G43 06 Sunday
hours 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
Tipology: Workshop
Target: Adults
immagine evento: Workshop: Magical Places – Promoting Local Heritage Through Games

Back to events

An event by
Bologna Fiere  
In collaboration with
Modena Fiere  
 
Ludo Labo  
With the support of
TreEmme  
 
La tana del Goblins  
 
Ludus  
With the patronage of
Regione Emilia Romagna  
 
Università di Bologna  
 
Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia  
 
Comune di Modena  
Media partner
Rai Cultura  
 
ioGioco.it  
Sponsor
BPER  
Certifications
Accredia - ISF