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Live Stream Links – Thursday D.I.C.E. Keynote
and 16^th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards

Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve Corporation, will be giving the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Thursday Conference Keynote, entitled “A View on Next Steps” on Thursday, February 7th at 9:30 AM PT.  The Thursday keynote will focus on where the industry is heading, the advances Valve is making with Steam and Big Picture to prepare for that future, and more.   

Gabe Newell Live Stream Link Here.

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 7th at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas during the 2013 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit (#DICE2013). The AIAS, in collaboration with media partner Variety, will live stream the Awards on Machinima in its entirety at 7 PT / 10PM ET. Self-proclaimed nerd and video game enthusiast Chris Hardwick, founder of Nerdist.com and host of his own Comedy Central stand-up special, AMC’s Talking Dead, and newly announced BBC America’s The Nerdist, will serve as host.  

Gabe Newell will be honored at the upcoming 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards on the evening of February 7th as the 2013 AIAS Hall of Fame inductee.  Infocom co-founders Dave Lebling and Marc Blank will be the evening’s Pioneer Award recipients.  

16^th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Live Stream Link: www.machinimalive.com 

Please check back on www.youtube.com/entv for 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit session highlights; full 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit sessions will be available on www.youtube.com/variety in the next couple days. 

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J.J. ABRAMS AND GABE NEWELL TO GIVE

WEDNESDAY OPENING KEYNOTE AT 2013 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT

Veteran writer, director and producer J.J. Abrams (“Star Trek,” “Person of Interest,” “Revolution”) and president and co-founder of Valve Corporation Gabe Newell will present the opening keynote discussion at the 2013 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit (#DICE2013) on Feb. 6, 2013.  The annual Summit, which is produced by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, brings together the best and brightest minds from the interactive entertainment industry at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. 

Abrams is the founder and president of Bad Robot Productions. Formed in 2001, Bad Robot has produced films and television series such as “Cloverfield,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” ABC’s “Lost,” Fox’s “Fringe,” and CBS’s “Person of Interest.” In 1998, Abrams co-created his first television series, “Felicity;” he then created and executive produced “Alias” in 2001, and co-created and executive produced “Lost” in 2004. In 2006, Abrams directed his first feature film, “Mission: Impossible 3,” followed by 2009’s “Star Trek” and 2011’s “Super 8,” which he also wrote. His most recent feature, “Star Trek Into Darkness,” will bow this May. 

In 2005, Abrams received Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series, both for “Lost.” He also received Emmy nominations for writing the “Alias” and “Lost” pilots. In addition, Abrams composed the theme music for “Alias,” “Fringe,” “Lost,” “Person of Interest,” and “Revolution,” and he co-wrote the theme song for “Felicity.” Abrams serves as Executive Producer of CBS’s “Person of Interest,” Fox’s “Fringe,” and NBC’s “Revolution.” 

One of Abrams' latest ventures is Bad Robot Interactive, which co-created Super 8 and created Action Movie FX -- two award-winning apps.  Apple recently named Action Movie FX as the iPhone App of the Year. 

Newell was previously announced as the Thursday Conference Keynote and will be speaking on, “A View on Next Steps.” Additionally, Newell will be honored at the upcoming 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards on the evening of February 7th as the 2013 AIAS Hall of Fame inductee. 

Click here for the official press release.
Click here for more information on J.J. Abrams, Gabe Newell, and the rest of our speakers.

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TOP STARCRAFT II PLAYERS BATTLE

AT INAUGURAL D.I.C.E. IPL SHOWDOWN EVENT

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and IGN Pro League (IPL) today announced they are joining forces to produce the first D.I.C.E. IPL Showdown event (#DICEIPL).  Four of the world’s top StarCraft II players will battle it out for a $10,000 prize pool and the title of Fight Club champion on Thursday, Feb. 7^th, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT, in the Vinyl Nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.  This exhibition show will be open to all 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit attendees to check out.

Four of the top StarCraft II players are competing in the head-to-head battles at the D.I.C.E. IPL Showdown: 

• Manuel "Grubby" Schenkhuizen is one of the most accomplished real time strategy players of all time, winning more than 38 live events, including 6 World Championships. Having a storied past in WarCraft III, Grubby has shown promise recently in StarCraft II, playing in the GSL for the first time this year. He is now living and training in Korea with two time GSTL champions FXO.
• Pedro "LucifroN" Moreno Duran is one of the best StarCraft II players from Spain and quickly becoming one of the best players in all of Europe. LucifroN broke into eSports near the end of WarCraft III's international scene when it was very difficult for unknown players to make a splash. He won the WCS 2012 Spanish Championships and then finished 3rd in the WCS European Finals. He has since gone on to perform well in several international championships, including representing the World in the “GSL Korea vs World All Stars” match.
• Chris "Illusion" Lee has shown promise, but has yet to meet his full potential as one of North America's top players. He's taken a step back from public play amidst team turmoil. In the past, he has shown top level micro and strategic play. Chris has been training hard in Korea, and he's back to show off his skills at the D.I.C.E. IPL Showdown. IPL prides itself on developing new NA players. As an unknown, Scarlett took IPL 4 by storm, and we hope Illusion does the same here after his excellent performance in IPL's Fight Club at Hot Import Nights. Chris has the international experience to be one of these players and IPL looks forward to some upsets at the Showdown.
• Sasha "Scarlett" Hoshyn came to prominence by winning the Playhem "Sponsor Me!" Tournament that gave her entry into IPL4. She did not waste her free trip as she pulled huge upsets against Terious and Ddoro before losing in the third round in a close match against Oz. She then pulled off a great victory against DeMusliM to knock him out of the tournament. Her most notable feat is winning the Battle.net North American Championship following a win in the same series for Canada. Both were won with relative ease, and Scarlett won a combined $30,000 for her efforts. 

Click here to read the official press release. 

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16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards
Opening Teaser Trailer

The AIAS in collaboration with media partner Variety, is excited to release the first trailer for the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards!  Check out this awesome live action clip inspired by Assassin’s Creed III for a taste of what’s to come – produced in conjunction with our friends at Noodlehaus. 
 
Don’t miss out on the action!  You can come out to the Awards to see it all at The Joint in the Hard Rock Casino and Resort Las Vegas or view it LIVE on our Awards show partner site MachinimaLIVE.com on February 7^th beginning at 7 PM PST.

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Hit List with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker
Glen Schofield, Sledgehammer Games 

The AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well.
 
Today’s Hit List features Sledgehammer Games co-founder and studio head Glen Schofield. At his forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit session Glen will speak on “The Art of Inspiration” to discuss how he derives inspiration from anything and anywhere, and how these sources of inspiration have influenced his work as a video game developer on a daily basis.
 
Click here to read Glen’s Hit List.
Click here to read the Hit Lists from other 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit speakers.

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Stellar Additions to the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Line-Up 

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) today revealed additions for the 2013 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit (#DICE2013), which will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Feb. 5-8, 2013.  

Recently confirmed speakers for the 2013 D.I.C.E Summit include:

• Dan Connors, CEO and co-founder of Telltale Games, creators of 2012’s award-winning The Walking Dead game series.  He will be speaking on “Appointment Gaming: How Telltale’s Episodic Model is Changing the Way People Play” where he will discuss the company’s philosophies on interactive storytelling in the world of multi-platform digital-first publishing.
• Glen Schofield, co-Founder and studio head of Sledgehammer Games, co-developer for Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and previously served as vice president and general manager of EA Visceral Games, where he was executive producer of Dead Space.  Schofield will speak on “The Art of Inspiration” to discuss how he derives inspiration from anything and anywhere, and how these sources of inspiration have influenced his work as a video game developer on a daily basis.
• Julie Uhrman, founder and CEO of OUYA. Uhrman's presentation, "The Revenge of the TV", will provide insight into the future of console gaming on the television - not as the last bastion of video games, but as the next great opportunity for publishers and developers.
• Raj Talluri, senior VP of product management of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, Inc. Talluri will present on “Mobile Gaming, Today and Tomorrow” where he will talk about technology trends and challenges, and their impact on gaming.

The AIAS in conjunction with Penske Media Corp will make the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Sessions available through YouTube channels ENTV and Variety. Keynotes for each day will be live streamed on Variety, while other sessions will be available in highlight versions on ENTV, and in their entirety on Variety.

Click here to read the official press release.
Click here to see the full list of 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit speakers.

Hit List with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker

Victor Kislyi, Wargaming

The AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well.

Today’s Hit List features Wargaming CEO and co-founder, Victor Kislyi. At his forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit session Victor will be presenting on “The Evolution of Free-To-Play: From Tanks To Beyond” and will walk attendees through his vision of the free-to-play market as it stands today, as well as his thoughts and ideas on how it must grow in the future in order to remain viable.

Click here to read Victor’s Hit List.
Click here to read the Hit Lists from other 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit speakers.

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JOURNEY leads the 16^th D.I.C.E. awards with 11 nominations; CHRIS HARDWICK TAPPED TO HOST VIDEO GAME AWARD SHOW

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce nominations for the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (#DICEAwards), the industry’s premier peer-based Awards show.  The Academy also revealed self-proclaimed nerd and video game enthusiast Chris Hardwick, founder of Nerdist.com and host of his own Comedy Central stand-up special, AMC’s Talking Dead, and newly announced BBC America’s The Nerdist, will serve as this year’s host. 

Showcasing the breadth and depth of an incredible year of games, 63 games representing console to web-based to mobile, received D.I.C.E. Award nominations. Leading the nominations is Journey with 11 nominations, including Game of the Year.  Rounding out the Game of the Year nominations are: Borderlands 2, Far Cry 3, The Walking Dead, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown.  Several titles earned multiple nods, including The Walking Dead with eight nominations, Far Cry 3 with seven, Halo 4 with six, and Borderlands 2 and Dishonored both receiving five each. 

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 7th at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas during the 2013 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit (#DICE2013). The AIAS, in collaboration with media partner Variety, will live stream the Awards on Machinima in its entirety at 7:30pm PT / 10:30pm ET. 

"The D.I.C.E. Awards are VERY important to me,” said Hardwick. “I have been playing video games since there were video games. I hope there is some type of Dovahkiin Shout that will make sure I don't mess this up. I will find one! If not, I'll just look like a psychotic, screaming a**hole leading up to the Awards."

Following is a partial list of nominees; the complete list of Awards categories, finalists, and game maker credits is available here.

Game of the Year

• Publisher: 2k Games
• Developer: Gearbox Software

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC 
• Developer: thatgamecompany

• Publisher: Telltale Games
• Developer: Telltale Games

• Publisher: 2k Games
• Developer: Firaxis Games

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC 
• Developer: thatgamecompany

• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks 
• Developer: Arkane Studios

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC 
• Developer: Giant Sparrow

• Publisher: Telltale Games
• Developer: Telltale Games

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
• Developer: thatgamecompany

• Publisher: Nintendo of America Inc.
• Developer: Nintendo

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
• Developer: Queasy Games

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC
• Developer: Giant Sparrow

• Publisher: Telltale Games
• Developer: Telltale Games

Action Game of the Year

• Publisher: 2k Games
• Developer: Gearbox Software

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft

• Publisher: Microsoft Studios
• Developer: 343 Industries

• Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
• Developer: IO Interactive A/S

• Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
• Developer: United Front Games

Adventure Game of the Year

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft

• Publisher: THQ 
• Developer: Vigil Games

• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
• Developer: Arkane Studios

• Publisher: Nintendo of America Inc.
• Developer: Nintendo

• Publisher: Telltale Games
• Developer: Telltale Games

Mobile Game of the Year

• Publisher: Big Fish
• Developer: Big Fish

• Publisher: Robot Entertainment
• Developer: Robot Entertainment

• Publisher: Zynga
• Developer: Phosphor Games Studio

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Pastagames, Ubisoft Montpellier

Click here to read the full release.

To purchase tickets to the Awards show, click the registration button above or email Kelby May at Kelby@interactive.org.

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New Speakers Added to 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Line-Up

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) today confirmed a new round of speakers for the 2013 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, which will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, February 5-8, 2013. 

Recently confirmed speakers for the 2013 D.I.C.E Summit include:

• Warren Spector, veteran electronic game designer/producer at Junction Point Studios, a division of Disney Interactive.  Spector will speak on “Hey, You kids! Get Outta My Yard! or The Graying of Gaming,” discussing the impact of aging on gamers, developers, and the medium. He will examine how the graying of gaming affects game content, player commitment, design philosophy, gaming platforms, mainstream media interactions and, the future!
• Petri Järvilehto, Executive Vice President of Games at Rovio, will speak on “The Age of the Mobile Blockbuster: Launching Angry Birds Star Wars.” He will present how Rovio is transforming the industry with blockbuster simultaneous launches that synchronize gaming, consumer goods, and animation to create expansive entertainment experiences.
• Mark Stern, president of SyFy, and Nick Beliaeff, vice president of production at Trion Worlds, Inc., will co-present on “Building True Transmedia: Making of Defiance, a living world across mediums.”  This session will give the audience a peek into how two entertainment channels joined to build this interactive world, which progresses over time.
• Victor Kislyi, CEO and founder of Wargaming.net, and behind the blockbuster World of Tanks, the Massive Assault series, as well as the highly-anticipated World of Warplanes and World of Warships action MMOs.  Victor will present on “The Evolution of Free-To-Play: From Tanks To Beyond.”  He will explore how “free-to-play” has taken the gaming industry by storm and how it’s becoming more and more apparent that an evolution of the business model is necessary in order to truly adapt to the needs of gamers and consumers.

Click here to read the full release.
Click here to see our full list of speakers. 

Hit List with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker Warren Spector, Junction Point Studios

The AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well.
 
Today’s Hit List features veteran electronic game designer/producer Warren Spector, Junction Point Studios. At his forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit session Warren will be presenting on “Hey, You kids! Get Outta My Yard! or The Graying of Gaming,” This talk will be a personal look backwards and forwards that will offer something for kids and adults, boys and girls, men and women, whatever their relationship may be with games as pastime, as art or as business. Take a moment to find out what has influenced Warren.
 
Click here to read Warren’s Hit List. 
Click here to read the Hit Lists from other 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit speakers.

Hit List with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker

Amir Rao, Supergiant Games

The AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well. 

Today’s Hit List features Amir Rao, Studio Director of Supergiant Games. At his forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit session Amir will be presenting on “Multiplatformism,” which covers the design tenets that emerged in translating Bastion from controller to keyboard to touch. The talk will explore Superigant Games’ ethos behind picking platforms, while considering if the future of elegant design is truly interface agnostic. Take a moment to find out what has influenced Amir.

Click here to read Amir’s Hit List. 
Click here to read the Hit Lists from other 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit speakers.

Pioneer Award Recipients Announced, Infocom Co-Founders Dave Lebling and Marc Blank
 

The AIAS will honor Infocom co-founders Dave Lebling and Marc Blank with its 2013 AIAS Pioneer Award.  As innovators, storytellers, game designers and programmers, Lebling and Blank have inspired a generation of gamers and game designers over a broad spectrum of games and genres with their contributions to interactive fiction and text-based adventure games such as the Zork and Enchanter series. 

The Pioneer Award is reserved for individuals whose career-spanning work has helped shape and define the interactive entertainment industry with the creation of a technological approach or the birth of a new genre. The 2013 Pioneer Award will be presented by Steve Meretzky, vice president of game design at Playdom, during the 16th D.I.C.E. Awards on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 at The Joint in the Hard Rock Resort and Casino Las Vegas.  

Click here to read/play Wired.com's exclusive, custom-built text adventure on our honorees.  Watch out for the grues!
Click here to read the full press release.

Hit List with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker David Cage, Quantic Dream
 

The AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well.

 
Today’s Hit List features David Cage, CEO of Quantic Dream and producer of Heavy Rain. David is currently working on the much-anticipated project, BEYOND, starring Ellen Page. He will be presenting on “The Peter Pan Syndrome: The Industry that Refused to Grow Up,” where he will be discussing his vision for content in the future, and why he believes it is the key to expanding our market and finally becoming a mature industry. Take a moment to find out what has influenced David and some information on his session topic at the forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit.
 
Click here to read David’s Hit List. 
Click here to read the Hit Lists from our previously confirmed speakers.

2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Unveils New Speakers 

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) today announced a new slate of confirmed speakers for the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit. The lineup features industry leaders and development visionaries from who are shaping the future of interactive entertainment. Speakers at the annual D.I.C.E. Summit have historically set the tone for what’s to come in the interactive entertainment industry, and the 2013 lineup continues that legacy. New confirmed speakers include:

• David Cage, CEO of Quantic Dream and producer of Heavy Rain, 2010's most awarded video game (worldwide). David is currently working on the much-anticipated project, BEYOND, starring Ellen Page. He will be presenting on “The Peter Pan Syndrome: The Industry that Refused to Grow Up,” where he will be discussing his vision for content in the future, and why he believes it is the key to expanding our market and finally becoming a mature industry.
• Leading mobile and casual game producer Matt Lee Johnston, previously PopCap’s senior producer on the Peggle series, Plants vs. Zombies (XBLA), Plants vs. Zombies 2, and 2008's Bejeweled 2 + Blitz for iOS. Matt will lead an über panel on mobile trends: “Secret Sauce -- Innovating Disruption on the Mobile Frontier.”  Joining him on the panel will be:
  • Phil Larsen, CMO of Halfbrick Games (Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride)
  • David Edery, CEO of Spry Fox (Triple Town, Steambirds)
  • Julian Farrior, CEO of Backflip Studios (Dragonvale, Paper Toss)
  • Greg Harper, GM North America at Supercell (Clash of Clans, Hay Day)
• Microsoft Game Studios/343 Industries’ Executive Producer Kiki Wolfkill and Franchise Development Director Frank O’Connor will co-present on “Changing the Universe - Three for Three.” This session will explore the trials, tribulations, and opportunities in building and rebuilding a cultural phenomenon, expanding a beloved universe into live action and transmedia storytelling, all while creating a AAA-game studio from scratch.
• Amir Rao, studio director for Supergiant Games, the team behind the AIAS award-winning downloadable game Bastion. Amir will be presenting on “Multiplatformism,” and will explore Supergiant Games’ ethos behind selecting platforms, while also considering whether the future of elegant design is truly interface agnostic.
• Xavier Poix, managing director of Ubisoft France (Paris, Montpellier, Annecy), producer of this year’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier, and responsible for four of Ubisoft’s six Wii U launch titles, including Rayman Legends. Xavier will be presenting on “Developing the Future: Leveraging New Technology to Change the Way We Play,” which explores emerging trends that could change our perspective of gaming in the near future.
• David Ting, GM of eSports at IGN Entertainment, where he launched the company’s popular, new competitive gaming league, the IGN Pro League (IPL), in order to help legitimize video gaming as a profession. He will be presenting on “eSports: The Next Big Spectator Sport” - why and how eSports is becoming the next major Internet phenomenon that will create a new generation of sports celebrities.

Click here to read the full press release.
Click here for the previously confirmed speakers.

Hit List with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker Xavier Poix

Every two weeks, the AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well. 

Today’s Hit List features Xavier Poix, managing director of Ubisoft France (Paris, Montpellier, Annecy). Take a moment to find out what has influenced Xavier and some information on his session topic at the forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit. 

Click here to read Xavier’s Hit List.
Click here to read the Hit Lists from our previously confirmed speakers.

2013 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT AND AWARDS SHOW PARTNERS ANNOUNCED
 

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) today announced a multi-year, exclusive partnership with Penske Media Corporation (PMC), a leading digital media and publishing company, to co-produce the annual D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit and Awards program. Through the partnership, AIAS will also collaborate with PMC’s entertainment publication Variety on video game industry-related content. Additionally, AIAS and PMC revealed one of the top entertainment networks on YouTube, Machinima, has signed on to live stream the 16^th annual D.I.C.E. Awards show. The D.I.C.E. Summit and Awards program, which draws the brightest and most influential interactive entertainment industry leaders, takes place Feb. 5 – 8, 2012, at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas. 

With brands across the web, television, mobile and social channels, PMC brings extensive expertise gained from blending traditional entertainment brands, emerging lifestyle brands, and breakout awards shows with new interactive technologies and programming.  In the new partnership, PMC will work hand-in-hand with the Academy to enhance the D.I.C.E. Awards show experience to better reflect and celebrate the interactive industry’s tremendous growth, and expansion onto new platforms. PMC will also stream D.I.C.E. Summit sessions live, and share exclusive AIAS content throughout the year via their extensive YouTube network.  Kicking off with the upcoming D.I.C.E. Summit, AIAS also will work with PMC’s Variety to expand its coverage of the video games business in order to spotlight the growing influence and importance of the art and craft of the interactive industry. PMC brands - Variety, Deadline, TVLine, MovieLine, BGR and Hollywood Life – reach over 113 million monthly unique US visitors and are ranked number 43 on Comscore (as of September 2012). 

“PMC has a compelling grasp of traditional and new media industries that will help elevate the D.I.C.E Summit and Awards show to the next level to celebrate the best our industry has to offer – from console to PC to mobile games. With their recent acquisition of Variety, we’re thrilled to work with them to expand coverage of the video games business,” said Martin Rae, President, Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. “And now with Machinima on board to support our awards show with their creative staff, original programming, and network of YouTube affiliates and directors, this will be an exciting year for AIAS and our members.”  

“We’ve been eager to expand our entertainment coverage to the gaming industry, but waited for the right opportunity to enter this ascending marketplace—forging a long-term partnership with the AIAS for the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit and Awards is the perfect way for PMC to make such an entrance, and we’re thrilled with the opportunity,” said Jay Penske, PMC Founder, Chairman, and CEO. “Since our founding in 2004, we’ve watched video games become a multi-billion dollar industry and a hugely influential contributor to the entertainment industry as a whole. Through all of our branded channels and media platforms, including our premier entertainment trade Variety, we’ll be providing the coverage and attention that the gaming industry has deserved for years–as such an incredibly important part of the entertainment ecosystem.”   

“The D.I.C.E. Awards are a huge staple among the gaming community, and Machinima is proud to be the exclusive online destination for the show,” said Allen DeBevoise, Chairman, Co-Founder, and CEO of Machinima. “Our network of content creators, combined with our millions of viewers, are a perfect match for the established D.I.C.E. brand and event.” 

Machinima, which boasts 253 million visitors each month (as of October 2012), and 2.3 billion video views per month, will deploy dozens of YouTube broadcasters to cover the D.I.C.E Awards show on February 7, 2013, (at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas) with engaging interactive content, exclusive features and retrospectives with The Road to D.I.C.E., as well as interviews with industry luminaries to excite the millions of video game fans who tune into their original online shows each week. 

To register for the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit and the 16^th D.I.C.E. Awards, please click here.
To read the full press release, please click here.

Hit List with 2013 D.I.C.E. Speaker Jesse Schell

Every two weeks, the AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well. 

Today’s Hit List features Jesse Schell, CEO of Schell Games. Take a moment to find out what has influenced Jesse and some information on his session topic at the forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit, a follow-up to his landmark 2010 D.I.C.E. session where he described a future where games and life become indistinguishable.  

Click here to read our Hit List Q&A with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker, Jesse Schell. 

Click here to read AIAS president Martin Rae on his Q&A with Joystiq introducing the series. 

Gabe Newell Revealed as 17^TH Hall of Fame Inductee;
Headlines Thursday 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce that Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve Corporation, will be the 17th inductee into the AIAS Hall of Fame, and will be taking the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit stage as its Thursday conference keynote.  Gabe’s leadership in founding and managing Valve, creator of Source^TM game engine, Steam, and award-winning game franchises like Half-Life®, Counter Strike^TM, Left 4 Dead^TM, Portal^TM, and Team Fortress^TM have done much to push the interactive entertainment industry forward.

The AIAS Hall of Fame honor is bestowed on game creators who have been instrumental in the development of highly influential games and moving a particular genre forward. These individuals demonstrate the highest level of creativity and innovation, resulting in significant product influence on a scale that expands the scope of the industry. The 2013 Hall of Fame Award will be presented to Gabe Newell by Mike Capps, president, Epic Games, at the 16th D.I.C.E. Awards on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas. Past AIAS Hall of Fame recipients include: Tim Sweeney (2012), Dr. Greg Zeschuk (2011), Dr. Ray Muzyka (2011), Mark Cerny (2010), and Bruce Shelley (2009).  

Click here for the official release.

For Gabe’s bio, visit our speaker page.

For a list of previous Hall of Fame recipients, click here.

D.I.C.E. Summit Early Registration Rates Extended 

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce that our early registration rates for the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit have been extended to Friday, November 16^th midnight PST.  Make sure to lock in your early registration rate before it goes up to regular registration rates! 
 
If you have any questions about your D.I.C.E. Summit registration, please contact Kelby May at Kelby@interactive.org. 

Academy Connect Launches for D.I.C.E. Attendees

It is vital that the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has an accelerated way to connect, communicate and collaborate with other members in the global game community. To do so, we are introducing a unique, private online community called Academy Connect, created exclusively for the Academy’s 22,000+ members. The introNetworks technology is the same social networking tool used by other world class organizations like TEDx, NASA and McCann WorldGroup to bring together people and their ideas.  
 
Five Reasons to Join:

• Private Peer-to-Peer Networking with Other Members
• Intelligent Matchmaking Tools
• Unique Groups and Forums
• Easy-to-Use and Intuitive System
• Accelerated Access to the Global Game Community

 
Take Five Minutes to Sign-Up:

• D.I.C.E. attendees please reach out to John Wie at john@interactive.org to obtain your log-in ID
• Once you sign-in, click on ‘Academy Connect’ on the left-hand side  
• Accept the terms and conditions for Academy Connect
• Complete your profile
• Explore, network and connect with other Academy members! 

See you on Academy Connect! 

Hit List with 2013 D.I.C.E. Speaker Jenova Chen

Every two weeks, the AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well.

 
Today’s Hit List features Jenova Chen, President & Creative Director for thatgamecompany. Take a moment to find out what has influenced Jenova’s games and some information on his session topic at the forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit. 
 
To read our Hit List Q&A with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker, Jenova Chen.
To read AIAS president Martin Rae on his Q&A with Joystiq introducing the series.

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2013 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT EARLY REGISTRATION OPEN 

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is pleased to announce that early registration is now open for the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit!  The 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit will be held February 5-8, 2013 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.  The 16^th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards will be held at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel on the evening of February 7, 2013. To register for the D.I.C.E. Summit, please click here.

HIT LIST PARTNERSHIP WITH JOYSTIQ 

Every two weeks, the AIAS is honored to partner with Joystiq to post a new feature examining the tastes and influences of video game industry luminaries – what inspires them in the realm of literature, film, music and videogames? What app can they not live without at this moment? And what key elements fortify their game room, living room or den? We are fascinated by what inspires our favorite creative minds and we are sure others will be as well.

We are going to start off our Hit List with some of the D.I.C.E. Summit speakers that have been announced today – Gearbox Software’s Randy Pitchford, thatgamecompany’s Jenova Chen and Schell Games’ Jesse Schell.  Many other great game makers will follow in the coming weeks. We are sure that many of their answers will surprise you, and perhaps even inspire you to go out and check out some of their recommendations. 

To read AIAS president Martin Rae on his Q&A with Joystiq introducing the series.

To read our Hit List Q&A with 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit speaker, Randy Pitchford.

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THE 16^TH Annual D.I.C.E. AWARDS

Design. Innovate. Communicate. Entertain. These are the core tenets that power the D.I.C.E. Summit – the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences annual gathering of the best and brightest minds in interactive entertainment and home to our annual Interactive Achievement Awards program.

For 16 years, the Academy has been celebrating the BEST in interactive entertainment. Each year, the Academy and the global game community gather together to celebrate the artistic achievements that continue to push the scope of our medium. As a result, the peer-driven, annual awards have become one of the highest honors to bestow upon a video game and the many talented game makers.  Over the past several years, our members and many supporters independently began referring to our awards program simply as the D.I.C.E. Awards – a nickname celebrating the shared history and principles embodied in the D.I.C.E. Summit moniker.  We began to think that this nickname, coined by our community, served as the best and boldest way to represent our awards. It truly encapsulates what we are all about – the celebration of the amazing innovative and creative forces within the video game and interactive entertainment industry.

Welcome to the 16^th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards!

Click here to read our exclusive announcement with VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi.

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FIRST SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

The D.I.C.E. Summit speaker program is renowned for jump starting the key industry conversations that resonate throughout the year, and impact the trends directly affecting the industry. The first speakers exemplify the types of industry luminaries who will enlighten, inspire and challenge the attendees.

• Randy Pitchford, co-founder, owner and President of Gearbox Software, and the individual who spearheaded the award winning, best-selling original franchises Brothers in Arms and Borderlands. 
• Jenova Chen, creative director and co-founder of thatgamecompany, and the visionary designer of the award-winning games Flow, Flower, and most recently the critically received Journey
• Jesse Schell, CEO of Shell Games, and Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Entertainment Technology at Carnegie Mellon University, who will be presenting for the first time a follow-up to his provocative 2010 D.I.C.E. Session talk: Design Outside The Box

2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Format Changes

The 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit gets underway on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, with a full day of networking events for attendees. New activities this year include a 5K run and whiskey, beer and wine tastings, which join the annual golf, go-kart and poker tournaments.

A new all-conference keynote will kick off each day with a discussion that touches on all of the four pillars of the D.I.C.E. moniker. The rest of each day will offer attendees four separate experiences, each defined by one of those pillars, led by a track keynote at the start of each segment. Concluding each conference track will be a special networking event where attendees will have an opportunity to mingle with attendees and speakers in that section. 

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The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Announces Speaking Sessions, Feature Into the Pixel Art Exhibit at PAX East

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce its debut at PAX East 2012, a three-day game festival for tabletop, videogame, and PC gamers. The AIAS brings to the PAX East Naga Theatre some of the most recognizable and passionate game makers of our time from the prestigious D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit to interact with fans and reflect on the past, present and future of games. 

Additionally, many PAX East attendees will have a first glimpse at the seventeen pieces from the 2011 Into the Pixel art exhibit.  The Into the Pixel exhibit will be displayed in the South East Lobby on level one of the convention center.

Presented by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the two sessions will be live streamed via Twitch.tv:

• Best of the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit: Friday, April 6^th, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
  Richard Hilleman, chief creative director, Electronic Arts, will present his session titled: “Games as a Language” and will share how a Hippy, a Chinese World Champion, a New Hampshire Engineer, and two Nobel Prize winners invented the modern video games business, by accident. 

• Epic Games: Past, Present and Future: Saturday April 7^th, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
  Fans of the Gears of Wars franchise will have a chance to get personal with Epic Games Design Director, Cliff Bleszinski and President, Mike Capps.  Listen as they answer 10 questions from their biggest fans on topics relating to design, inspirations and the secrets to staying around for 20 years! Following the 10 questions, Martin Rae, President, AIAS, will get even more in-depth with these two on the past, present and future of this EPIC studio.

View the official release here.

Check out the PAX East Schedule here.

Seamus Blackley And Arcade Era Icons Revealed As D.I.C.E. Summit Thursday Keynote 

Video games took the stage for the first time 30 years ago on January 18, 1982 in a TIME Magazine cover titled “GRONK! FLASH! ZAP! Video Games Are Blitzing the World.” This story brought to light the golden age of the arcade era, signaling a burgeoning industry was coming of age. 

This week a TIME Magazine feature story reveals Seamus Blackley’s new venture, Innovative Leisure, Hot Tub Time Machine.  Seamus brings together a group of arcade era heroes to create social games in collaboration with talented, young designers.  Bringing with him to the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit are Rich Adam (Missile Command), Ed Logg (Asteroids, Centipede and this year’s AIAS Pioneer Award recipient), Ed Rotberg (Battlezone), Owen Rubin (Major Havoc).  

The AIAS is thrilled to stage Innovative Leisure’s first appearance during “The New Arcade” panel, which serves as the Thursday Keynote (February 9) during the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit conference.  “The New Arcade” keynote will feature Seamus Blackley as a moderator for a panel featuring these four icons. They will discuss how the games industry has evolved the past 30 years from a coin-op industry to its current manifestations – and in some ways comes full circle – in the casual, social era. 

View their bios here.

View the VentureBeat story here.

2012 D.I.C.E. Summit Announces Two Final Sessions

 

The AIAS is pleased to announce additional confirmed speakers for the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit. The final two events will include a solo session from one of the most innovative and forward thinking marketers today and a panel comprised of three of the great minds in the industry:

• “Staying Around, Playing Around” with Mike Capps, Epic Games, Ted Price, Insomniac Games & Frank Pearce, Blizzard Entertainment on Thursday February 9, 2012  from 4:15 to 5pm. In this session, Mike, Ted and Frank will discuss what it takes to survive for 20+ years in the game industry while maintaining growth and original content. Join in as they take us from creative to administrative and interpersonal levels of collaboration. 
•  “Check Raise 360” with Alex Lieu, Chief Creative Office at 42 Entertainment on Friday February 10, 2012  from 10:30-11am. In this session, Alex will explain his unique approach to entertainment and how we can harness the elements converging upon the multi-platform world we live in today. By creating real-world connections, we can bring users to a new level of interaction and participation.  

View the full list of speakers and the final schedule here.

View the official press release here.

Check out the speaker bios here.

2012 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT ANNOUNCES “HOT TOPICS” SESSIONS;
NEW SPEAKERS REVEALED

Kicking off the conference on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 prior to the Wednesday Keynote Opener, will be the “Hot Topics” sessions co-moderated by Adam Sessler, host of G4’s X-Play and Perrin Kaplan, Zebra Partners.  The three debates will feature:

• “Is the Publishing Model Broken?”: Michael Pachter, Wedbush Morgan and Jesse Divnich, EEDAR
• “Mobile vs. Console”: Perrin Kaplan, Zebra Partners and Gabriel Leydon, Addmired, Inc.
• “Game Journalism”: Adam Sessler, host of G4’s X-Play and Jamin Warren, Kill Screen Magazine

Additional speakers added to the 2012 line-up include:

• Sefton Hill, Co-founder and Game Director, Rocksteady Games who led the creative direction of the highly acclaimed Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Asylum.  His session topic is titled, “Escaping the Asylum”
• TJ Galda, Senior CG Supervisor, Electronic Arts leads art production and has worked on two Academy Award nominated films, Over the Hedge, Kung Fu Panda, Fantastic Four, and many more.  His session topic will cover “Nonlinear Story Telling: Crafting a New Genre”

View official press release here.

Read speaker bios here.

15^th Interactive Achievement Awards Finalists Revealed + GameSpot Media Partnership 

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 15^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs).  More than a hundred titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy’s Peer Panels. These panels, one for each award category, are comprised of the game industry’s most experienced and talented men and women who are experts in their chosen fields.  Thank you to our peer panelists for volunteering your time and energy!

Additionally, the AIAS is proud to reveal its exclusive partnership with GameSpot for the 15^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs) and the D.I.C.E. Summit. GameSpot will provide live streaming video of the awards ceremony, as well as exclusive online content from the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit sessions that take place throughout the week.
View the 15^th IAA official release.

View the GameSpot media partnership official release.

View the complete list of finalists here.

BETHESDA’S TODD HOWARD ANNOUNCED AS D.I.C.E. SUMMIT 2012 WEDNESDAY OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER

The AIAS is pleased to announce that Todd Howard, Game Director and Executive Producer at Bethesda Game Studios, will be opening the 2012 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate and Entertain) Summit at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas as its Wednesday keynote speaker on February 8, 2012. Howard will discuss game development and the player experience, in the keynote session titled “Why We Create, Why We Play.” 

View the official press release here.

Read Todd’s bio.

MORE SPEAKERS REVEALED FOR THE 2012 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT

The Academy confirms additional speakers for the D.I.C.E. Summit:

• David Jaffe, game director/designer/co-founder at Eat Sleep Play, best known as the lead designer, co-writer, and game director of the original God of War and for co-creating and directing the Twisted Metal series
• Seamus Blackley, former head of Creative Artists Agency’s games division and father of the Xbox
• Dr. Delores M. Etter, Texas Instruments Distinguished Chair and executive director, Caruth Institute for Engineering Education Southern Methodist University will be discussing the importance of innovation
• Anita Frazier, entertainment industry analyst, The NPD Group, will be providing data and information on “Consumer spending and behavior on video games content in the U.S. and Europe

Click here for more information.

2012 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker Spotlight Q&A

The Academy is pleased to present another 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker Spotlight Q&A.  Read about Tomonobu Itagaki’s session topic he is preparing for the D.I.C.E. Summit and the artistic cornerstones that have influenced him.  Additionally, find out what American film motivated him to continue designing games when he was thinking about quitting.  

Click here to read the interviews. 

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING CEO ERIC HIRSHBERG ANNOUNCED AS 2012 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT FRIDAY KEYNOTE

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) today announced that Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc., will be its Friday keynote speaker at the 2012 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate and Entertain) Summit at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas on Friday, February 10, 2012.

Hirshberg became Chief Executive Officer of Activision Publishing, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard in September 2010, where he oversees the company’s operational management including its studio, product development functions and consumer marketing activities.  Prior to joining Activision, Hirshberg served as co-chief executive officer and chief creative officer at Deutsch LA.  During his 13 years leading the company, he was responsible for building the Deutsch LA office into one of the most prominent and respected creative firms in the country with a reputation for creating noteworthy multimedia creative campaigns that have delivered great marketplace results, and were often adopted into popular culture. 

View the official press release here.

AIAS INDUCTS EPIC GAMES’ TIM SWEENEY TO ITS HALL OF FAME; CONFIRMED TO SPEAK AT THE 2012 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced that Tim Sweeney, founder and chief executive officer of Epic Games, will be the 16^th inductee into the AIAS Hall of Fame, and will be taking the stage for the first time at the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit.  Tim is respected throughout the industry for his technological innovations, advancing many of today’s highly successful PC, console and mobile games. Tim’s development of the Unreal Engine and award-winning franchises such as the “Gears of War” and “Unreal Tournament” series have been catalysts in the evolution of gaming.

The AIAS Hall of Fame is bestowed on game creators who have been instrumental in the development of highly influential games and moving a particular genre forward. These individuals demonstrate the highest level of creativity and innovation, resulting in significant product influence on a scale that expands the scope of the industry. The 2012 Hall of Fame Award will be presented by Epic Games Vice President Mark Rein at the 15^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. The Awards will be hosted by actor, comedian and game enthusiast, Jay Mohr.

More information on Tim at Kotaku’s exclusive interview. 

View the official press release here.

Read Tim’s bio.

2012 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker Spotlight Q&A

The Academy is pleased to present our 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit Speaker Spotlight Q&A.  Learn about the topic Richard Hilleman is preparing for D.I.C.E. and what he’s up to during his free time.  Also be sure to check out one of the nation’s most acclaimed songwriter, composer, and arranger – Glen Ballard – and read about what inspires him.  

Click here to read the interviews. 

FIRST SET OF SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2012 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT

To kick off early registration, the Academy is proud to reveal several of its speakers for the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit:

• Tomonobu Itagaki, co-founder and CTO, Valhalla Games Studios Co., Ltd., world-renowned game designer who created the game franchises “Dead or Alive” the next gen “Ninja Gaiden” and the forthcoming “Devil’s Third” to be published by THQ, will be speaking on “What We Talk About When We Talk About Games”
• Richard Hilleman, Chief Creative Director, Electronic Arts, will be speaking on “Games as Language”
• Glen Ballard, president, Augury, Six-Time Grammy® Award winner and Oscar-nominated producer/songwriter and arranger will be speaking on “Greater Than The Sum: The Miracle of Collaboration”
• Isaac C. Gilmore, managing partner, 3SJ Tactical Solutions, previously a non-commissioned officer in the United States Navy where he was a member of SEAL Team 7

Click here for more information. 

2012 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT SWEEPSTAKES

Take part in the D.I.C.E Summit Sweepstakes. It’s easy!  Be one of the first 150 registrants to be automatically entered into the REGISTER EARLY D.I.C.E. DRAWING or invite a new attendee and be automatically entered into the REFER A FRIEND D.I.C.E. SWEEPSTAKES and you can win some great prizes!

 REGISTER EARLY D.I.C.E. DRAWING - NOW CLOSED

Available only to the FIRST 150 eligible registrants (paid in full at the advertised price) for the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit and you can win one of FIVE PRIZES:  (1) a Regular room upgrade to a Signature Suite for up to a three (3) night stay at the Red Rock Resort or (2) one of four (4) pairs of tickets to the Interactive Achievement Awards VIP Party! 

REFER A FRIEND D.I.C.E. SWEEPSTAKES

For all returning D.I.C.E. Summit alumni, refer a NEW, first time D.I.C.E. Summit registrant and have the chance to win one of FOUR PRIZES:  (1) a Regular room upgrade to a Signature Suite for up to a three (3) night stay at the Red Rock Resort or (2) one (1) ticket to attend one of the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit special event activities – poker, go-karting or golf!

Referred first time registrants will also receive an introductory 30% discount off the full, advertised rate for their D.I.C.E. Summit pass (pending confirmation of the referrer’s registration). First time registrants need to contact Event Director, Lindsey Weinstein directly (lindsey@interactive.org) to receive their 30% discount on the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit Pass.

View the Official Rules here.

IAA Highlights Show + Select D.I.C.E. Summit Sessions Available on Xbox LIVE

The AIAS is pleased to announce that highlights from its 14^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards and select sessions from the 10^th Annual D.I.C.E. Summit are available beginning Thursday, March 31, 2011 for download on Xbox LIVE  free of charge. 

The IAA Show highlights will feature the Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction and other select categories.  Bing Gordon and his Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech, “The Golden Age of Gaming,” will also be shown in its entirety. 

The select D.I.C.E. Summit sessions will include:

• Richard Garriott, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Portalarium, and his session titled, “Achieving the Impossible – Creating Games and Gateways to Space!”
• John Stevenson, filmmaker and director of Kung Fu Panda, speaking on passion and pursuing his dreams as an animator in his session titled, “Monsters, Muppets and Movies”
• Dr. Dave Gallo, Director at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, speaks on “Exploring the Ocean Deep in 3D: To the Titanic and Beyond”

2012 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT EARLY REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is pleased to announce that early bird registration for the D.I.C.E. Summit is now open! D.I.C.E (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) is the preeminent interactive entertainment conference bringing together top video game designers, developers and business leaders from around the world to discuss the state of the industry, its trends and the future.

Take advantage of the early registration rate and register today. This event sells out every year. D.I.C.E. takes place at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, February 8-10, 2012.

FINAL DICE 2011 SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

• Travis Boatman, Vice President Worldwide Studios of EA Mobile and EA Casual Entertainment Label esponsible for overseeing the studio production of next generation mobile titles across many platforms
• Anita Frazier, entertainment industry analyst at the NPD Group.  Her experience with toys and video games at the retail, manufacturer, and licensing levels totals 14 years
• Dr. David Gallo is an oceanographer at the Wood Hole Institute where he works to push the bounds of oceanic discovery
• Bill Budge is the 2011 AIAS Pioneer Award recipient and developer of the famous Raster Blaster and Pinball Construction Set

Please go here for a full list of our speakers.

Please go here for the full event schedule.

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DICE 2011 KEYNOTE PANEL ANNOUNCED

AIAS Hall of Fame Recipients Mike Morhaime, Bruce Shelley, Mark Cerny, Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk to Take the Stage

The AIAS is pleased to announce today that their distinguished Hall of Famers’ from the past four years – Mike Morhaime (2008 Hall of Fame), Bruce Shelley (2009 Hall of Fame), Mark Cerny (2010 Hall of Fame), Dr. Ray Muzyka (2011 Hall of Fame) and Dr. Greg Zeschuk (2011 Hall of Fame) - will participate in the keynote panel for the 2011 D.I.C.E. Summit. These five video game luminaries will be conducting a lively discussion, debate and predict the next frontier of interactive entertainment.  The keynote panel will be moderated by Seth Schiesel, long time video games journalist for The New York Times.

You can view more information on the news here.

Make sure that you register for the D.I.C.E. Summit before the extended registration deadline, midnight (PST) on Monday, January 31^st!  You don’t want to miss this fantastic panel of video game industry luminaries.

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BILL BUDGE NAMED AS 2^ND AIAS PIONEER AWARD RECIPIENT

The Pioneer Award recognizes the contributions made by the men and women who helped to create the interactive entertainment industry. Budge has been an innovator in the video game space for more than 30 years and is recognized for a number of advancements in software engineering technologies that have helped pave the way for past and present generations of game designers everywhere.

The Pioneer Award will be presented by Don Daglow, president and creative director, Daglow Entertainment, at the 14^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, during the 2011 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, and Entertain) Summit on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. The awards will be hosted by actor, comedian and game enthusiast Jay Mohr.

For more information please visit our press page.

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AIAS + GameStop + The Guildhall at SMU Announce the 12 Finalists for the 2^nd Indie Game Challenge

The Indie Game Challenge finalists, which includes six non-professional and six professional teams, are eligible for more than $350,000 in prize monies and scholarships. Winners will be announced February 11^th at the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. Hosting the IGC awards ceremony for the second year in a row is Adam Sessler, Editor-in-Chief of Game Content for the G4 Network and Host of G4’s “X-Play.”

The 12 finalists include:

Non-Professional Category (Team/game)

• Hazard - Hazard: The Journey of Life
• One Man Down  - Solace
• Team Height Advantage - Subsonic
• Team Hermes - Inertia
• Toxic Games - Q.U.B.E.
• ZZZ Games - Symon

Professional Category (Team/game)

• Bad Pilcrow - Vanessa Saint-Pierre Delacroix And Her Nightmare
• Nemesys Games - Fortix 2
• Playdead - LIMBO
• Pocketwatch Games - Monaco
• Spaces of Play - Spirits
• SpikySnail Games - Confetti Carnival

For more information on the Indie Game Challenge, please view the press release.

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AIAS ANNOUNCES ITS 14^TH INTERACTIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS NOMINEES

Book Your Ticket Before D.I.C.E. SUMMIT REGISTRATION CLOSES JANUARY 27^TH!

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) today announced the finalists for the 14^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs).

Red Dead Redemption, ENSLAVED: Odyssey to the West, God of War III, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Heavy Rain, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Mass Effect 2, Dance Central, LIMBO and Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty received multiple nods for IAAs.

The awards ceremony will take place during the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit 2011 on Thursday, February 10^th at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, hosted by comedian, actor and proud game enthusiast, Jay Mohr, returning for his sixth year as host.  This year’s IAAs will be broadcasted on G4 with a one-hour special and will air on Saturday, February 12^th at 4pm ET / PT . This media partnership will also include a live same-day webcast of the IAAs in its entirety on G4tv.com/DICE at 7:30pm PT / 10:30pm ET. 

You can view a full list of the nominees here.

You can view the release announcement on our press page.

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AIAS NAMES BING GORDON AS ITS FIFTH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT AND WILL OPEN DICE SUMMIT ON FEBRUARY 11

The AIAS has announced that Bing Gordon, currently partner at Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, will be the fifth AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.  The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes contributions of individuals to the interactive entertainment industry outside of game makers. 

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented by Don Mattrick, President of Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft, at the 14^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, at the 2011 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.  He is also confirmed to take the stage and speaking to the D.I.C.E. 2011 audience on Friday, February 11th. 

Previous AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award inductees include Doug Lowenstein, Howard Lincoln, Minoru Arakawa and Ken Kutaragi. 

You can find more information on the press release.

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THE AIAS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE G4 AS THEIR MEDIA PARTNER FOR THE 2011 INTERACTIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

G4 and AIAS announced today that the network will become the exclusive broadcast partner of the 14^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs). The IAAs will take place Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. 

G4’s one-hour IAAs special – hosted for the sixth year in a row by comedian, actor and spirited game enthusiast Jay Mohr – will air on Saturday, February 12^th at 4pm ET / PT . This media partnership will also include a live same-day webcast of the IAAs in its entirety on G4tv.com/DICE as well as exclusive online content of the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit sessions and the Indie Game Challenge that take place throughout the week.

For more information, please view the press release.

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2011 D.I.C.E. SUMMIT NEW SPEAKERS CONFIRMED; “HOT TOPICS” SESSIONS REVEALED

Make Sure to Register for D.I.C.E. 2011 Before It Sells Out

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is excited to announce NEW additional speakers and the confirmed line-up for the “Hot Topics” debate sessions for D.I.C.E. 2011.

Additional 2011 confirmed speakers include:

• Jade Raymond, Managing Director of Ubisoft Toronto where she worked as a producer on Assassin’s Creed and Assassin’s Creed II; before that she was the producer responsible for the wildly popular The Sims Online
• Richard Garriott, Co-founder and Creative Director at Portalarium and was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame in 2006
• Jane McGonigal, Director of Game Research and Development at the Institute for the Future , a world renowned game designer and futurist

Kicking off the conference on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 prior to the opening keynote, there will be a “Hot Topics” session moderated by G4-TV’s Adam Sessler.  The three debates will feature:

• Free Versus Pay: Min Kim, Nexon and Matt Johnston, Popcap
• Interface and Player Engagement: Dr. Richard Marks, Sony Computer Entertainment America’s Research and Development and Beverly Harrison, Intel
• Storytelling: Jesse Schell, Schell Games and Brian Reynolds, Zynga

Please see the press release for more details.  For more information on our speakers, please see the speakers page.

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ACADEMY OF INTERACTIVE ARTS AND SCIENCES WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES DR. RAY MUZYKA AND DR. GREG ZESCHUK; “THE DOCTORS” ALSO CONFIRMED TO SPEAK AT D.I.C.E. 2011

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced that Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk, co-founders of the legendary development studio  BioWare, will be the 14^th and 15^th inductees into the AIAS Hall of Fame, the first time that this honor has been provided to two individuals.  The AIAS Hall of Fame is bestowed on game creators whose efforts and contributions have expanded the scope and success of the interactive entertainment industry. 

The Hall of Fame Award will be presented by Mike Capps, President of Epic Games, at the 14^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards at the 2011 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas where “The Doctors” will also be taking the stage and speaking at the conference.

For information, please see the press release.

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EARLY REGISTRATION RATES CLOSE NOV. 11, FIRST SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED, INTERACTIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS SUBMISSIONS OPEN

Early Registration Rates End November 11^th

Take advantage of the $250 discount when you register before November 11^th for the D.I.C.E. Summit.

First Speakers Announced for D.I.C.E. Summit 2011

The 2011 D.I.C.E. will feature a line-up of industry leaders, decision makers and visionaries from the disciplines that are shaping the future of interactive entertainment.  Please visit theD.I.C.E. 2011 Speakers Page for more info:

• John Stevenson – filmmaker, co-director of Kung Fu Panda
• Kazunori Yamauchi - President, Polyphony Studios
• Mark Cerny – President, Cerny Games
• Jeremiah Slaczka  - Creative Director and CEO, 5^th Cell
• Joseph Tringali – General Manager and COO, 5^th Cell
• Keith Lee – CEO and co-founder, Booyah

Submissions Now Open for the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences proudly invites its members of the publishing and development communities to nominate titles for the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards beginning now through December 3, 2010. Award winners will be announced at the Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony on February 10, 2011, at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.

The Interactive Achievement Awards were broadcast last year on television and online through the Independent Film Channel (IFC), reaching more than 1 million viewers. This year, the awards will be part of a new, expanded media partnership that continues to showcase the artistic accomplishments of great game makers and great games. The Academy is thrilled to share its celebration of the best in interactive entertainment with both its members and their fans.

As part of its long standing partnership with the International Game Developers Association, the Academy also invites member companies of the IGDA to nominate titles for craft award consideration for the 14^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.

Rules and submission forms can be found on our website.

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2011 10^th Anniversary D.I.C.E. Summit Early Registration Now Open!

D.I.C.E. Summit Dates Announced for February 9-11, 2011

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences announces that Early Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2011 D.I.C.E. Summit (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain), the premier video games industry gathering. 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of D.I.C.E. to be held on Wednesday, February 9th through Friday, February 11th, 2011, with new special events and an impressive, soon-to-be-announced speaker line-up. Dates and special events to keep in mind this year:

• D.I.C.E. Summit Poker Tournament – Tuesday, February 8, 2011
• NEW: Inaugural Go-Karting Tournament – Wednesday, February 9, 2011
• D.I.C.E. Golf Tournament – Wednesday, February 9, 2011
• 14^th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards – Thursday, February 10, 2011
• Indie Game Challenge – Friday, February 11, 2011

The interactive entertainment industry has changed dramatically since the first Summit was held in 2002 – with much of this dynamic growth fueled by its speakers and attendees. Every iteration of D.I.C.E. has been characterized by great topics and memorable presentations - speakers addressing real issues like Mark Cerny’s production method, Jason Rubin’s “Tara Reid,” or Jesse Schell’s “Game-a-geddon.”

Register today to secure your place at what will be the most memorable Summit presented. We look forward to seeing you there in February 2011!

-Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences