AIAS Confirms Yair Landau Keynote For 2007 D.I.C.E.

Officials from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) have announced that Yair Landau, vice chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and president of Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, will deliver the keynote address at the 2007 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit. The event is scheduled to take place from February 7 - 9, 2007 at the Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino in Las Vegas. Held annually, this executive-oriented entertainment industry conference brings together the top video game designers and developers from around the world and business leaders from all the major publishers to discuss the state of the industry, its trends and the future. Program organizers note that Landau will address entertainment's changing nature and how he guides the creative process in the production of games, visual effects, animation and all-CG animated movies. The executive is also expected to discuss how these opportunities share talent, technology and the audience, while demonstrating how the dynamics of production and the creative process is hardly homogenized. Landau's presentation on February 7 will be followed by the popular Opening Night Party, which will host a number of notable individuals from within the gaming industry. The conference will also include a line-up of speakers and new “power-hour” sessions with three speakers each giving condensed 20-minute presentations about the challenges and opportunities facing the video game business. Other speakers currently confirmed for the event include Valve's Gabe Newell with his presentation titled “Half Life and the Struggle for Survival”; Ubisoft publishing vice president Jay Cohen, who will discuss “The Hidden Riches In Game Advertising”; Ritual Entertainment's ( SiN Episodes) Steve Nix with a presentation titled “Studio Survival, One Level at a Time”; and Monolith Productions CEO Samantha Ryan and her presentation titled “Navigating Development Studio Rapids,” among others. In addition to the event's speakers, the D.I.C.E. Summit 2007 will also again play host to the Interactive Achievement Awards at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, which will be hosted for the second year by comedian and 'Ghost Whisperer' co-star Jay Mohr. For more information regarding the summit, including how to register, please visit the official website.