The Press Start festival dedicated to video games returns to the BPI at the Centre Pompidou, for its 11th edition, from September 27 to October 2, 2023. This year, the free festival introduces us to sports in video games. On the program: workshops, meetings and video games!
Before you get your chance to take part in Paris Games Week, head for the BPI (bibliothèque publique d'information) at the Centre Pompidou, which is once again organizing Press Start, the festival for video game enthusiasts. Conferences, games, workshops and concerts are all on offer at this free videogame festival, running from September 27 to October 2, 2023.
Each edition has a special theme. After revival in 2017, emotions in 2018, cinema in 2019, post-apocalyptic in 2020, video game bestiary in 2021, and music last year, it's time for sports! From sports games to videogame competitions, the Centre Pompidou explores different aspects of this theme, with a special focus oneSport.
The full program has now been unveiled, and it promises to be a great time! The Centre Pompidou has announced several highlights to be enjoyed during the festival. Don't miss the round tables, where industry specialists discuss a range of themes. This year, the BPI is also organizing a live recording, in front of an audience, of the "Fin du Game" podcast. Streamer Jarm0u takes on a speedrun challenge, while you can play in an arcade created especially for the occasion. There will be retro game terminals, Mario Kart games and VR headsets, as well as a " selection of sports and esports games that will enable tournaments to be organized for the most competitive players."
And what would a video game festival be without games to try out? As always, Press Start is the perfect opportunity to discover independent, experimental and mainstream games, alone or in teams, on PC or console. Workshops are also on offer to take a behind-the-scenes look at the world of video games, and find out how the games we love so much are made.
Detailed festival program :
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
- Game Design workshop
3pm - 5:30pm - Graphics Lounge - Level 1
On registration at nouvelle-generation@bpi.fr
Come and discover how to create video games during a Game Design workshop on the theme of the Olympic Games. Using easy-to-use tools, you'll customize a multi-sport game that you'll leave with at the end of the workshop, led by Copotato.
- Carte blanche à la médiathèque de la Canopée: Boomerang Fu and badges
4pm-6pm - Video Games Lounge - Level 1
Free admission
The Canopée librarians take over the Video Games Lounge and host a Boomerang Fu competition. Choose a sweet or savoury avatar and go into battle armed with a boomerang and powers, each more cunning than the last! You can create your own badge to celebrate your victories.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
- Game Design Workshop
3pm-5.30pm - Graphics Lounge - Level 1
Registration at nouvelle-generation@bpi.fr
- FIFA Tournament on consoles
2pm-5pm - Video Games Lounge - Level 1
On registration at nouvelle-generation@bpi.fr
Come and compete in a tournament on the most famous of soccer games, FIFA.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29
- Virtual reality
12pm-8pm - Atelier 1 - Level 2
Free entry subject to availability
Until October 1, the Parisian VR room MindOut will be offering a virtual reality animation. Come and try your hand at virtual reality by competing or collaborating on a wide range of sports games.
- Just Dance
12pm-8pm - Graphics Lounge - Level 1
Free admission subject to availability
Until October 1, Press Start will be offering a Just Dance animation, a dance video game on the program of the 2024 Video Game Olympics.
- Graines de Studio
7-10pm - Petite salle du Centre Pompidou - Niveau -1
Free entry subject to availability
Long-time partners of the festival, students from Gobelins Paris invite you to discover their graduation video games. They'll be performing a traditional exercise in the video game industry: the pitch. Broadcast live on www.bpi.fr and on the Gobelins Paris Twitch channel.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
- Virtual Reality
12pm-8pm - Workshop 1 - Level 2
Free admission, subject to availability.
- Just Dance
12pm-8pm - Graphics Lounge - Level 1
Free entry subject to availability
- Play Graines de Studio games
3pm-5pm - Video Games Lounge - Level 1
Free entry subject to availability
Come and try out the games you discovered at the Graines de Studio event on September 29. You'll be accompanied by the games' creators for a perfect experience.
- Video Game Forum
14h-17h - Petite salle du Centre Pompidou - Niveau -1
Free entry, subject to availability
Three round-table discussions will feature former esports enthusiasts, coaches, training directors and players on the eSports scene, led by Héloïse Linossier, a journalist with JV magazine Culture Jeu Vidéo, a partner of the festival, offering a wide range of viewpoints on the subject.
- Fin du Game
19h-22h - Petite salle du Centre Pompidou - Niveau -1
Free admission, subject to availability
For the first time live, the Fin du Game podcast team will record a special episode in public. With several hundred thousand listens per episode, this podcast, which traces the history of video games that have left their mark on the industry, is now one of the leading video game podcasts on listening platforms.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
- Virtual Reality
12pm-8pm - Workshop 1 - Level 2
Free admission subject to availability
- Just Dance
12pm-8pm - Graphics Lounge - Level 1
Free entry subject to availability
- League of Legends LAN Tournament
2pm-5pm - Video Games Lounge - Level 1
Registration at nouvelle-generation@bpi.fr
League of Legends, a multiplayer strategy and action game, revolutionized eSports when it was released in 2009.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2
- Mario Kart Tournament
14h-17h - Workshop 1 - Level 2
On registration at nouvelle-generation@bpi.fr
Come and compete in a Mario Kart tournament on real terminals with bucket seats and steering wheels.
- Game Design Workshop
3pm-5.30pm - Graphics Lounge - Level 1
Register at nouvelle-generation@bpi.fr
- Speedrun demonstration by JarmOu
7-10pm - Petite salle du Centre Pompidou - Level -1
Free entry, subject to availability
To close the festival, speedrunner JarmOu will give a speedrun demonstration (finishing a game as quickly as possible under different conditions) on the game Tintin in Tibet (Snes), followed by a shuffler performance (different games following each other randomly).
A free, friendly festival open to all: Press Start is the ideal place to live your passion and share it with friends and family! So get out there and play!
