D.I.C.E. speakers announced

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has announced the line-up of speakers and sponsors for its upcoming D.I.C.E. Summit.

Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello, making his first D.I.C.E. appearance, will share his views on current challenges game creators face today as one of the conferences keynotes.

Microsoft Game Studios head and corporate vice president Shane Kim will participate in a live interview session with questions from leading members of the media and Summit attendees.

Other speakers include Anita Frazier, representing the NPD research group, Lorne Lanning, president of Oddworld Inhabitants, and Yannis Mallat, CEO of Ubisoft's Montreal Studios.

Additional speakers will be announced over the next few weeks.

The Academy promises that discussion topics will be relevant to the current state of the videogame industry, developing trends and key issues facing top video game designers, developers, publishers and business leaders.

This year's sponsors include Bioware/Pandemic, Day One Studios, Dell Computer, Electronic Arts, GameRecruiter, Insomniac Games, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, Philips amBx, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Stormfront Studios, and Ubisoft.

The event will take place in Las Vegas at the Red Rock Resort on February 6-8, 2008.