This position paper is dedicated to describing a preliminary model of an integrated system, called Play Management System (PMS). PMS is designed to support both players and teachers to deliver, use, manage and track play situations. This PMS model results from a design-based research methodology. Our approach focuses on (1) the learners and the situation that emerges when they play the game, rather than the system dedicated to play and (2) the teachers who want to manage a game-based learning situation. Thus, we argue for a shift from a game-based to a play-based perspective. 1 Introduction Within a context marked by the development of alternative pedagogies, this position paper aims to describe a model of an integrated system, called Play Management System (PMS), dedicated to support players and teachers to deliver, use, manage and track play situations. The purpose of this article is to propose an innovative approach for implementing a play-based learning approach by (1) focusing on the learners and taking into consideration the situation that emerges when they play rather than the artifact dedicated to play (play vs game) and (2) focusing on the teachers who want to implement and manage a play-based learning situation in their classroom (play management vs game design). Thus, we address the issue of teachers' requirements for the orchestration of a play situation within an educational context. In the first section of this paper, we advocate for a player-centered approach for game-based learning. The second section presents a game developed during the project and the design-based research methodology adopted for designing this game. The third section describes