Square Enix, Valve, Media Molecule Notables To Headline MIGS

Organizers of the Montreal International Game Summit today revealed the show's headlining speakers, with Square Enix president and CEO Yoichi Wada set to deliver a keynote address. Also delivering keynote addresses will be Valve's business development director Jason Holtman, who spearheads the company's successful Steam digital distribution service; Media Molecule lead architect Paul Holden, who plans to speak on user-generated content; and author Heather Chaplin, best known for her book Smartbomb. Finally, "by popular demand" according to an official statement, outspoken Maxis developer Chris Hecker will deliver the show's closing address by cleverly avoiding the phrase "Are games art?" while asking, "Can video games be considered as cultural products in the same way as literature or theatre?" Wada was given top billing in the announcement, and is said to be addressing the route his company has followed to maintain the uniqueness of the company's various brands, which now include Square Enix itself as well as Taito and the most recent acquisition, Eidos. The Montreal International Game Summit is scheduled to run November 16 to 17 at the Hilton Bonaventure Montreal, with an expected attendance of 1,500.