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| Video Game Industry Leaders Bet Big on D.I.C.E. The video game industry's most influential leaders have gathered in Las Vegas for the 2008 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, kicking off today and continuing through Feb. 8 at the Red Rock Resort. The conference includes three days of seminars with some of the most celebrated and creative minds in the video game industry. The D.I.C.E. Summit also plays host to the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony on February 7, where industry members pay tribute to the individuals and products that drive the multi-billion dollar interactive entertainment business. Comedian and game enthusiast Jay Mohr returns for his third year to host the award festivities. The power-packed conference has attracted a dynamic lineup of high-profile industry leaders to discuss topics relevant to the current state of the video game industry, as well as developing trends and key issues facing publishers and business leaders. The single-track conference program features sessions led by the elite shaping the industry, including: - John Riccitiello - Electronic Arts, CEO; - Shane Kim - Microsoft Game Studios, Corporate Vice President; - Gore Verbinski - Pirates of the Caribbean, Director; - Russ Crupnick - The NPD Research Group; - Robin Kaminsky - Activision, Executive Vice President; - Mike Morhaime - Blizzard Entertainment, President; - Masaya Matsuura - NanaOn-Sha, President; - Michael D. Gallagher - ESA, President; - Dr. Mark Ollila - Nokia, Director of Technology & Strategy for Games; - Yannis Mallat - Ubisoft Montreal, CEO; - Dr. Mike Capps - Epic Games, President; - Andy Burke & Mike Acton - Insomniac Games. Hall Of Fame Inductee During the Interactive Achievement Awards, the AIAS will honor Mike Morhaime, President, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, as the eleventh visionary to be inducted into the organization's prestigious Hall of Fame. As one of the AIAS's highest honors, the Academy's Board of Directors votes anually on potential candidates. Induction into the Hall of Fame is bestowed upon individuals who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the industry while demonstrating proven success and leadership. Morhaime will be honored for his efforts and contributions to the massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) space through Blizzard Entertainment's spectacularly popular World of Warcraft, as well as the tremendous success of the company's Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo series. In particular, World of Warcraft has cemented Morhaime's influence and impact on the multi-billion dollar interactive entertainment industry; it is the world's largest online game, with more than 9.3 million subscribers. Morhaime and Blizzard Entertainment are recognized for creating an MMOG that expanded the traditionally hardcore audience of the genre to also include the broader casual gaming audience. Lifetime Achievement Award The AIAS has named Honorary Chairman and former President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Ken Kutaragi, as the recipient of the coveted 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be bestowed at this year's Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony. The Award honors those who have devoted their lives to the advancement of the interactive entertainment industry and have made significant contributions that have guided the business to the prominent position it is in today. Recognized internationally as the "Father of PlayStation", Kutaragi will be honored for revolutionizing the global in-home entertainment market with the creation and monstrous success of the PlayStation computer entertainment systems. The original PlayStation, launched in 1994, and the PlayStation 2, launched in 2000, went on to become the most popular computer entertainment systems of the era, resulting in combined shipments of more than 230 million units worldwide. Special Events In addition to the conference sessions and the Interactive Achievement Awards, the AIAS will host several other activities during the three-day event: - The EA Sports 5th Annual D.I.C.E. Summit Golf Tournament: The tournament will be held on Wednesday, February 6 at the beautiful TPC Canyons Golf Club, host to the SENIOR PGA TOUR'S Las Vegas Classic. - The 3rd Annual Poker Tournament at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino: The Texas Hold 'Em tourney will be held on Friday, February 8 following the close of the speaker sessions. - Interactive Achievement Pre-Awards Party: Comcast/Game Invasion will host the pre-awards party at the decadent Cherry Nightclub and private Cherry pool and cabanas. This party sets the tone for the red carpet, awards and the post-awards party. Party goers can enjoy music, dancing, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. - Interactive Achievement Post-Awards Party: The 2nd Annual post awards party will be held at the Red Rock Resort, in their state-of-the-art VIP bowling alley. Cosmic bowling with dancing lights, fog machines, glow in the dark lanes, pins and bowling balls will be offered for an evening of fun and festivities. - Into the Pixel (ITP) Exhibit and Auction: ITP is an exploration and celebration of the art of video games. The exhibit enables published game artists to be reviewed and recognized by the public and by their peers. ITP features a representative sampling of video game art, selected by a panel of jurors from a field of submissions. Funds raised at D.I.C.E this year will benefit the AIAS and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). 2008 D.I.C.E. Summit Sponsors The D.I.C.E. Summit 2008 key sponsors include: Bioware/Pandemic, Boesky & Company, Business Wire, Comcast, Day One Studios, Dell Computer, EA Sports, Electronic Arts, Enterprise Talent, GameRecruiter, Insomniac Games, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, Philips amBx, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Stormfront Studios, and Ubisoft. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Game News :: home page |