Star Wars director J.J. Abrams, Valve’s Gabe Newell to speak at DICE 2013 keynote

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The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has announced their keynote speakers for the 2013 DICE Summit and it’s a coupling of mega proportions.

Fresh off his coronation as the director of Star Wars Episode VII, J.J. Abrams will join Valve’s Gabe Newell to talk about the best way to tell a story in their talk entitled, “Storytelling Across Platforms: Who Benefits Most, the Audience or the Player?”

Gabe Newell will have a big role at this year’s DICE Summit as he’ll be honored as the Hall of Fame inductee at the 2013 DICE Awards as well as leading his own solo talk on February 7, “A View on Next Steps.” Newell will discuss the future of Steam, their Big Picture initiative, and the company’s other plans.

“From TV to film and now award-winning mobile apps, there’s no question that J.J. has his finger on the pulse of the entertainment industry, and we’re thrilled to welcome him and our 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, Gabe Newell , to the DICE stage,” said Martin Rae , president, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. “J.J. thoughtfully weaves together suspense, action, emotion, and fun into every one of his projects – elements every game developer aspires to capture as well. Each year, the DICE Summit sets the tone for the year ahead in games and adding J.J. and Gabe’s shared insights is a natural fit as we see all forms of entertainment converge.”

The DICE Summit begins on February 5 in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Abrams and Newell will take the stage for their monumental talk the next night.

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John Scalzo is Warp Zoned's Editor-In-Chief and resident retro gaming expert. You can email him at john AT warpzoned DOT com.