Play the Problem is an experimental workshop held at Halle Tropisme in Montpellier, in the Occitania region of southern France, on 5 November. It is run by game designer Romain Pichon-Sintes, an author, publisher and game designer who leads the agency and publishing house Ludogamie.
What happens in the session
Teams take a real-world problem and turn it into a game system. Rather than settling on one answer, participants build several models of the same situation and test each of them through the lens of play. The point is to compare viewpoints, broaden the shared understanding of an issue and sketch out possible actions, not to arrive at a single "right" representation.
Why it fits the Festival Jeu & Écologie
The workshop forms part of the Festival Jeu & Écologie, and for this edition it turns to ecology and society. Its focus is on how people perceive the ecological transition, both collectively and individually, and on how a game can make those different perceptions visible and discussable.
It suits visitors interested in games as a way of thinking, people working on environmental or civic questions, and anyone curious about how play can be used beyond entertainment. No prior experience of game design is implied by the description, though the session is built around making and testing models together.
Practical notes
- Venue: Halle Tropisme, Montpellier
- Date: 5 November
- Led by: Romain Pichon-Sintes
- More details and booking: via the event page at tropisme.coop