The event "eGames Lab > Ready to Play!" is organised around different lines of action in order to ensure a continuous experience that brings together multiple generations, enabling the showcasing of video games, thematic talks, activities for students and families, theatre, and plenty of entertainment.

For more detailed information, download theAgenda. 

🎮 eGames Lab > Ready to Play!
🚀 24 April to 3 May 2026
📍Madeira Shopping

The FNAC Talks programme features 10 guest speakers.These talks, open to the public, will address topics such as the impact of artificial intelligence, the future of education, storytelling, gamification, and the economic potential of the creative industries in the Region.

Days: 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 april, 1 and 2 de may
Time: 19:00 - 20:00

The talks series begins on 24 april, with David Mendes, CEO of PYTHAGORAS, who will explore the topic “Games That Tell a Story”. David Mendes holds a degree in History and is the driving force behind one of the most dynamic board game publishers in the country. His experience in transforming cultural heritage into playful experiences, as seen in games such as Pessoa or Aljubarrota, and his approach to teaching history through gamification, will be among the key topics discussed. This talk will reflect on how games, design and history can come together to create competitive products for the European, American and Asian markets.

“Purpose-Driven Intelligent Gamification” focused on the contribution of generative artificial intelligence and gamification to the modernisation of pedagogical practices, will be presented by António Durão, on 25 april. As a specialist in generative AI applied to education, António Durão will introduce strategies for modernising classrooms through immersive, gamified learning environments. Founder of Portugal’s first school dedicated to game programming, he will explain how technology can enhance educational success.

On 26 april, Telmo Silva, CEO of Grow uP eSports, will share the journey that has established him as a leading figure in esports in Portugal, in a talk entitled “urning Passion into a Profession: The Path in eSports”. Telmo Silva is recognised as one of the pioneers of esports in Portugal and the creator of the world’s largest female competitive gaming festival, GIRLGAMER. For those interested in learning more about the professionalisation of gaming and its role as a robust industry that generates employment and promotes social inclusion, this is a must-attend talk, taking place in the late afternoon of the event’s first Sunday.

On 27 april, Miguel Campos, CEO da WOWSystems, will present the talk “WOWSystems: 18 Years from Code to Video Games”. This session will take the audience on a journey through the path of one of Madeira’s leading technology studios. Miguel Campos will share how the evolution of code has enabled WOWSystems to lead innovative projects that bridge entertainment and business solutions.

On 28 april, speakers Lígia Gonçalves, CEO da WalkMe Mobile Solutions, and Philippe Moreau, CEO da Greener Act, will take part in a roundtable discussion entitled “Sustainability and Gamification: Changing Habits”. This dual session will focus on sustainability and on how gaming contributes to the adoption of new knowledge and behaviours. Lígia Gonçalves will present the game Waste Rush and share the challenge of developing apps with more than 40 million downloads from Madeira. Philippe Moreau will explain how the Greener Act platform uses gamification to encourage responsible behaviours aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), both within the community and across the business ecosystem.

On 29 April, with the talk “Creating Is Not Generating: Imagination, Technology and What Has Not Yet Been Automated”, speaker Roberto Macedo Alves (Sétima Dimensão), a visual narratives enthusiast and creator, will explore the boundary between the digital and the analogue, reflecting on the role of human imagination in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence.

On 30 April, Pedro Campos, Director of Research at WOWSystems, will guide us through the behind-the-scenes of creating highly complex video games with the talk “Lights, Camera, Emotion! The Magic and Technology Behind ‘Hanno’ and ‘The Kause’”. With more than 200 scientific publications, Professor and Full Professor, as well as Scientific Director of the eGames Lab, Pedro Campos will discuss how Human–Computer Interaction is a key factor in the success of titles such as Hanno.

On 01 may, at 17:00, Nelson Carvalho, Director of UCAD – the Operational Unit for Intervention in Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies, will challenge us with the question “Shall We Talk About the Use of Technology in the Family?”. Clinical Psychologist Nelson Carvalho brings a public health perspective, offering guidance on the appropriate use of technology, criteria for online dependency, and the distinction between Gaming and Gambling.

Writer and illustrator Nuno Caravela, author of “O Bando das Cavernas”, will bring the FNAC Talks series to a close on 02 may, at 19:00, with the talk “A Journey Through Imagination”. One of the most prominent figures in children’s and young adult literature in Portugal, Nuno Caravela will demonstrate how pure storytelling lies at the foundation of every great game. He will explore how literature can be connected to an entertainment-driven mindset in increasingly digital generations.


The participation of these 10 specialists is made possible by the eGames Lab consortium, one of the largest national consortia dedicated to the digital creative industries. Bringing together 22 entities—including companies, research centres and public organisations—the consortium aims to internationalise Portugal’s video games cluster. This project is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) through the Mobilising Agendas.