50 years of Dungeons & Dragons and scientific innovation at the PLAY Festival del Gioco

This year the PLAY – Game Festival opens with a special celebration: the fiftieth anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, the most famous role-playing game in the world. For the occasion, Pavilion B will be entirely dedicated to this universe, with an exceptional guest of honor, David “Zeb” Cookan iconic figure in the world of role-playing games since the 1980s.

David Cook, known for having contributed significantly to several editions of Dungeons & Dragons, will interact with participants during the “Survive the Dungeon” event and will be available to play and discuss his works at the Mondiversi stand. Fans will have the unique opportunity to meet him during various moments of the festival.

Another highlight will be the exhibition “D&D: 50 years of adventures and art”, curated by Alessio Mazzacani. The exhibit will offer a multimedia narrative of the D&D universe, set in a fantasy tavern, and will include historical artifacts such as manuals and original game boxes. The works of Katerina Ladon, including a blow-up selected by the USPS for a commemorative stamp, and the works of Francesca Baerald, will add an artistic touch to the exhibition.

The festival will not only be a gathering place for old-school fans, but also an opportunity for new fans to explore the rich history and evolution of Dungeons & Dragons. Special events such as the “Grand Multi-Epoch Multi-Table” will allow participants to play in scenarios that intertwine the past and future, demonstrating how player actions can influence the overall narrative.

PLAY Festival del Gioco hosts, among other things, a significant event scientific presence, with an entire pavilion dedicated to the cultural and educational aspects of the game. Collaborations with prestigious bodies such asINAF (National Institute of Astrophysics), INFN (National Institute of Nuclear Physics), and Italian universities such as the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and the University of Florence will enrich the programto.

Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with scientific games, participate in workshops and attend conferences that explore the link between games and science. Among the unmissable events, there will be “
Pixels – who wants to be an astrophysicist?
“, a board game that introduces participants to astrophysics research, and “Physics Gets Played”, an adventure that discovers the playful side of physics through board games and video games, led by expert researchers.