Pirates of the Caribbean Director Gore Verbinski to Deliver Keynote Address at the 2008 D.I.C.E. Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALABASAS, Calif. - January 3, 2008 - The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences ® (AIAS) announced today that Gore Verbinski, director of the action film series and box office hit, Pirates of the Caribbean, will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit ® 2008. The high-level interactive entertainment industry event will be held in Las Vegas, at the upscale Red Rock Resort, February 6-8, 2008.

The power-packed three-day event will officially kick off with Verbinski's insight and perspective on how some of the foundations of successful filmmaking can be used to expand the ways that videogames entertain consumers.

"As the collision between film, gaming, Internet and animation occurs, we're witnessing the birth of new forms of narrative. Sharing ideas and experiences at the point of impact is the only way to ensure that the new opportunities remain fluid. With initial success, the arteries harden. The business model forces the creative landscape into a narrowing perspective where we tend to create followers instead of innovators. I'm interested in developing a collaboration that will widen that field of view," said Gore Verbinski.

Verbinski will be accompanied at the D.I.C.E. Summit 2008 by some of the most celebrated and creative minds in the video game industry. The conference has attracted a dynamic line-up of high-profile industry leaders to discuss topics relevant to the current state of the video game industry, developing trends, and key issues facing publishers and business leaders. The current speaker roster includes, among others:

"Gore Verbinski is a great example of today's breed of entertainment creator," said Joseph Olin, president, Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. "His talent and experience as a filmmaker are directly relevant to videogame makers as they continue to push the boundaries of how they can engage and captivate the growing number of people who play games. We look forward to having Gore share his perspective on crafting films for a wide range of audiences and how these lessons can be applied to interactive forms of entertainment."

As one of the most notable and inventive filmmakers in Hollywood, punk rocker-turned-director Verbinski is recognized for the record-setting, multi-billion-dollar box office success of the Pirates of the Caribbean series: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest, and At World's End. The second Pirates of the Caribbean feature film marked his biggest success to date - grossing more than $1 billion at the international box office.

Beginning his career at Palomar Pictures, Verbinski directed music videos for bands such as Bad Religion, 24-7 Spyz, and Monster Magnet. During this period, Verbinski played lead guitar for two punk bands: The Little Kings and The Daredevils.

Verbinski's career path took a different direction as he moved from music videos to commercials, where he worked for blockbuster brands including Nike, Coca-Cola, Canon, Skittles, and United Airlines. A highlight during his tenure in commercial development was the award-winning Budweiser frogs croaking the brand name. Verbinski's commercial efforts were recognized and rewarded with four CLIO Awards and a Cannes Advertising Silver Lion Award. Spanning over a decade, Verbinski's feature film career also includes: Mouse Hunt, The Ring, The Mexican and The Weatherman.

The D.I.C.E. Summit 2008 will also play host to the 11th annual Interactive Achievement Awards ® ceremony, where industry leaders and members pay tribute and recognition to the individuals and products that contribute to the growth of the interactive entertainment software business. Favored comedian and proud game enthusiast, Jay Mohr, returns for his third year to host the award festivities.

The Interactive Achievement Awards can now be viewed live via webcast on GameSpot ( www.gamespot.com). For the first time, game enthusiasts from anywhere in the world can view the Interactive Achievement Awards as they are presented to the men and women behind the most popular video games of the year.

Online registration for the D.I.C.E. Summit 2008 is open now. Please visit www.dicesummit.org for more information and to register to attend the interactive entertainment industry event of the year.

About the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts. The Academy's mission is to promote and advance common interests in the worldwide interactive entertainment community, to recognize outstanding achievements in the interactive arts and sciences, and to conduct an annual awards show (Interactive Achievement Awards) to enhance awareness of the interactive art form. The Academy also strives to provide a voice for individuals in the interactive entertainment community. In 2002 the Academy created the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, a yearly conference dedicated to exploring the creative process and artistic expressions as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment. The Academy has over 10,000 members, with the board comprised of senior executives from major videogame companies including Bioware/Pandemic, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft. More information on AIAS and the D.I.C.E. Summit can be found at http://www.interactive.org and http://www.dicesummit.org.

CONTACT:

Wendy Zaas / Angelina Duran

Rogers & Cowan

310-854-8148 / 310-854-8168

wzaas@rogersandcowan.com

aduran@rogersandcowan.com

Geri Gordon Miller

Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences

818-876-0826 x202

geri@interactive.org