Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision Blizard, will be opening the 2010 D.I.C.E. Summit Sessions with an opening keynote. Bobby is known for giving press very interesting quotes, so this keynote could be a fun one to watch.

D.I.C.E. takes place Thursday, February 18,2010 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. The theme of Mr. Kotick’s talk is how creative talent drives the video game industry.

“Bobby Kotick has believed in the power of interactive entertainment his entire career,” said Joseph Olin, president of the Academy. “The growth of Activision Blizzard, from bankruptcy to an industry leader is attributable to his unwavering drive to develop a studio model that fosters creativity to deliver great games. Activision Blizzard is home to some of the most talented developers in our industry and we are thrilled to have Bobby’s insight on how great games are built upon great talent.”

The speakers for the annual D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit have been announced. The Summit is set for Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, February 17-19,2010.

“Our program for 2010 is fast becoming the most prolific line-up we’ve ever produced,” said Joseph Olin, president of the Academy. “From the industry’s most gifted minds behind some of the greatest entertainment properties, to leading edge thinkers steeped in the nature of creativity, there will be alot to talk about at this year’s Summit.”

Here is a sampling of the speakers:
• Dr Susana Martinez-Conde and Dr. Stephen L. Macknik, Laboratory Directors at The Barrow Institute , whose research and outreach on the neuroscience of illusions have been written up in hundreds of media stories including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired, as well as being on NPR and were recently filmed for the Discovery Channel.
• Ken Doroshow, Senior Council, Electronic Software Association , former Senior VP, Litigation and Legal Affairs, Recording Industry Association of America, and senior counsel to the United States Department of Justice
• Matias Myllrinne, President of Remedy Entertainment , known for their work on “Max Payne” Remedy’s “Alan Wake” is the new psychological action thriller coming to Xbox in Spring 2010
• Steve Perlman, Founder, President and CEO, OnLive , an entrepreneur and inventor devoted to pioneering Internet, entertainment, multimedia, consumer electronics and communications technologies and services
• Professor Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University , who teaches Entertainment Technology, specializing in Game Design, formerly Director of the Walt Disney Imagineering VR Studio

The D.I.C.E. Summit is known for the annual Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony and that will be on February 18 this year. Jay Mohr will be hosting for the fifth year and the Independent Film Channel will be streaming the awards.

Registration for the summit is open and all details are here.

Indie Game Challenge

The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences have announced the launch of the Indie Game Challenge. The challenge will be offering winners almost $300,000 in prizes and scholarships.

Professional and non-professional teams are asked to submit a game beta and game pitch videos between July 14 and October 1, 2009. Up to 12 finalists will be chosen and announced in January and then up to five members of each finalist team will be flown to D.I.C.E. Summit.

“Our entire industry is dependent on the cultivation of new, cutting edge game developers who continue to stretch the boundaries and imaginations of gamers,” said Mike Hogan, senior vice president of marketing, GameStop Corp. “By joining forces with The Guildhall at SMU and AIAS we hope to stimulate a new generation of game developers and reward them with cash awards and scholarships. Perhaps the most important aspect of the Challenge for competitors is the potentially life-changing opportunity to meet face-to-face with professionals who have helped make the gaming industry the success it is today.”

All the details are at IndieGameChallenge.com. Let us know if any of you are working on this challenge and if we can help in any way!