No matter how much gamers dislike him, none can deny the fact that former SCE CEO Ken Kutaragi had in fact introduced 3D gaming with the PlayStation brand way back in the 90s. Dubbed the “Father of PlayStation,” he will receive the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award at next year’s DICE Summit, the academy announced today.

The ceremony will be held on February 7, 2008 and will mark the second time a lifetime achievement award has been granted by the academy, with the first going to former Nintendo executives Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln.

Kutaragi is now retired from his previous role as director, chairman and group CEO of SCEI. He now serves as honorary chairman and senior technology adviser to Sony CEO Howard Stringer.