GDC 2006 Adds Phil Harrison Keynote On PS3

The organizers of the 2006 Game Developers Conference (operated, like Gamasutra, by the CMP Game Group) have announced the final keynote for GDC 2006, to be given by Phil Harrison, President of Worldwide Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment, and entitled 'PlayStation 3: Beyond the Box'. Harrison's keynote, which will be given on Wednesday, March 22nd from 10:30 – 11:30am, will "focus on the new creative, technical, and business opportunities provided by the arrival of PlayStation 3", and is intended to "provide a look at how new technology and new business models will help fuel the growth of the computer entertainment industry by attracting new consumers", while sharing a detailed outline of SCE's plans for the upcoming next-generation platform. "Mr. Harrison's talk comes at the perfect time for the eager developer audience at the GDC," Jamil Moledina, director, Game Developers Conference, said. "His discussion will answer many questions developers have for Sony at this stage before the impending PS3 launch." Harrison made an appearance last fall at the 2005 Game Developers Conference Europe where he spoke about the next-generation of games in a casual interview-style keynote with GDC director Jamil Moledina. At the time, the SCE executive focused on the PlayStation Portable just launching in the U.K. and gave developers a preview of the benefits they could expect from the PlayStation 3. In September 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment merged its regional product development operations into a single global organization, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios. Harrison was appointed president of the newly-formed division, and is now responsible for establishing global strategy and management operations for 13 studios spanning five countries. Harrison's keynote joins others by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, Sim City and The Sims creator Will Wright, and Battlestar Galactica re-imaginer Ron Moore at next month's GDC.