The Elder Scrolls mastermind will be opening the annual DICE summit on February 8th with a talk entitled "Why We Create, Why We Play."

Howard's talk will explore "game development and the player experience," according to a press release from the DICE organizers at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. The convention, which hosts industry professionals from all over the globe, is one of the video game industry's main events for publishers, developers, designers, artists, and every other discipline to get together and talk about the challenges and opportunities facing the industry as a whole.

Howard, whose profile (and games) has exploded in fame since his Elder Scrolls series crossed over to the console world in 2002 with Morrowind, is one of the most successful and respected designers in the video game industry. His latest project, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, has won numerous Game of the Year awards and shipped over 10 million copies worldwide.

"The 2012 DICE summit will kick off with one of the most distinguished creative minds of our time with Todd Howard as our Opening Keynote speaker," said AIAS president Martin Rae via press release. "Todd’s many contributions to the industry have greatly advanced our understanding of player interaction and engagement."

Check back to gameinformer.com for our all-inclusive DICE coverage, including the 15th annual Interactive Achievement Awards, starting with the summit's February 8th opening.