ESA head added to D.I.C.E.

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) continues to add heavy hitters from around the industry to the program for the 2008 D.I.C.E. Summit (Design, Innovate, Communicate and Entertain).

Today the AIAS announced the latest additions to the event roster, and the parade of high rollers set to march through Las Vegas' Red Rock Resort February 6-8 continues. Among the newly announced speakers today are Entertainment Software Association president Michael Gallagher, and NanaOn-Sha president Matsuya Matsuura, best known as the producer of PaRappa the Rapper and other music-based games. Other speakers added to the D.I.C.E. list include Blizzard Entertainment president and cofounder Mike Morhaime, LucasArts president Jim Ward, and Nokia's Dr. Mark Ollila, who directs the company's next-gen gaming strategy.

In October the organizers announced an initial lineup of speakers including EA CEO John Riccitiello, Microsoft Game Studios head Shane Kim, and Ubisoft Montreal Studios CEO Yannis Mallat. That was followed with the announcement last month that Ken Kutaragi would receive the organization's annual lifetime achievement award.