Ziff Davis Cancels DigitalLife 08 Amid 'Poor Economic Conditions'

Publishing group Ziff Davis Media, the parent company of 1UP.com and EGM, is canceling New York-held consumer-focused technology and game show DigitalLife 2008, originally due to take place September 25th-28th at the Jacob Javits Center. Organizers of the show are citing "poor economic conditions" for the change, according to an email from DigitalLife vice president Paul O'Reilly posted by CNET. O'Reilly claims that the slowed economy created a different and difficult dynamic for the expo's committee: "We weren't confident that we could present a show experience that was consistent with the successes of prior years." The CNET article on the event's cancelling notes in particular: "Until the cancellation, the beleaguered Ziff Davis' apparent strategy was to put more of a focus on gaming for the 2008 edition." Debuting in 2004, the annual New York City show presents a wide array of consumer electronics through interactive and hands-on exhibits, including game publishers and peripheral companies. inviting the public to attend. DigitalLife set an attendance record last year with over 54,700 press members, analysts, VIPs and consumers at the expo - including a number of exhibiting video game publishers, plus a Guitar Hero III competition and a $100,000 pro/am gaming tournament. Says O'Reilly: "Hopefully, a bigger and stronger DigitalLife will return in 2009. We will make additional announcements about the future of the show when details are available."