(25 May 2006 3:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The Association of Electronic Interactive Marketers (AEIM) has announced that The Sims creator Will Wright will be honoured with its first-ever Hall of Fame Award.

As a recipient of the award, Wright will also make a speech at the inaugural MI6 Conference and Awards Show on 27 and 28 June 2006.

The award recognizes Wright's career of creative achievements, which include SimCity released in 1989 and credited as one of the most influential computer games ever made. Following on its success, Wright designed numerous other "Sim" games and earned the reputation as a designer of "software toys"-games. In 2000, The Sims was released, surpassing all previous sales records and became the best-selling computer game of all time.

Following such success it was no doubt that Wright was named one of the most important people in gaming, technology and entertainment by Entertainment Weekly, Time, PC Gamer and GameSpy.

"Will Wright has had a revolutionary impact on the electronic games industry," said MI6 and AEIM president & CEO Jim Chabin. "As our industry and millions of fans worldwide anxiously await what promises to be a spectacular experience with his newest creation, 'Spore,' our board felt that now was an excellent time to acknowledge this person's impact on all of us."

The AEIM is a new non-profit, professional trade organization designed to support the video game industry's marketers and related professionals.

MI6 speakers and participants include a list of gaming and entertainment industry executives involved in participating in professional development seminars, educational workshops and keynote sessions. Companies onboard include Microsoft, G4, Xbox, Activision, THQ, Electronic Arts, MTV Networks/Spike TV, Midway Games and ABC Entertainment, among others.