2008 DICE Summit Adds ESA, Nanaon-Sha, Blizzard Heads

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced new speakers set to join this year's Feb. 6-8 D.I.C.E. Summit, including new ESA president Michael Gallagher, Nanaon-sha head Masaya Matsuura, and Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime. First stepping in in May of this year, the AIAS describe's Gallagher's role in the Entertainment Software Association as "protect[ing] the primary interest of industry executives and gamers nationwide from government oversight and restrictions, [and] allowing them to continue to produce and consume games that shape the industry." As head of Nanaon-sha, Masaya Matsuura is credited as inventing the rhythm music genre as a whole with the creation of games like PaRappa the Rapper, Um Jammer Lammy and Vib Ribbon. Morhaime, as co-founder of Blizzard, has been behind groundbreaking games like Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo and, of course, World of Warcraft. Also added to the summit roster is LucasArts president and Lucasfilm senior vice president Jim Ward -- who has overseen games such as Star Wars: Battlefront, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Mercenaries -- and Nokia games strategy and technology director Dr. Mark Ollila. Said AIAS president Joseph Olin, “As games enjoy a record year with consumers, it is appropriate that some of the industry’s best minds who are behind these great games take the stage at D.I.C.E. We believe that when you sum-up the wide experiences that our new speakers bring to the industry, this year’s Summit is not to be missed.” This year's summit will be held at Las Vegas's Red Rock Resort, February 6-8, 2008. For more information on the summit or to register before its January 14th deadline, visit the official D.I.C.E. website.