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Satoru Iwata confirmed for GDC keynote

Iwata

GDC organisers have just confirmed that Nintendo president Satoru Iwata will keynote this year's event.

This'll be Iwata's second keynote in recent years, having also given a speech in 2009.

His presentation will be titled, "Video Games Turn 25: A Historical Perspective and Vision for the Future."

"We are honored and pleased to welcome Mr. Iwata back to the keynote stage for our 25th conference," said GDC head Megan Scavio.

"Nintendo continues to innovate and captivate developers and gamers alike, and we're looking forward to their unique insights into both the history and future of the game business."

Since taking over as Nintendo president in 2002, Iwata has keynoted GDC three times - in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

His last keynote served as an announcement platform for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for DS.

Based on comments from Think Services last year, though, don't expect any big reveals.

Last year, Scavio said in a GamesIndustry.biz interview that GDC was "not about making news, it’s not about announcing things – it’s about making better games, and I kind of want to… not really turn them into icons, but I want to recognise the talent of the developers out there."

Instead, announcements from the Big Three last year were kept off-site from the Moscone Center, with Sony electing to hold a Move blow-out away from the event proper.

Announcements from GDC in recent years include LittleBigPlanet and PlayStation Home reveals in 2007 by then-Sony Worldwide Studios boss Phil Harrsion, and Gears of War 2 during then-MS VP John Schappert's keynote.

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