The poor economic conditions have created a very different and difficult dynamic for us this year, and we weren't confident that we could present a show experience that was consistent with the successes of prior years.

He goes on to say they're optimistic the show can return in 2009, but we're not doing anything drastic like holding our breath.

Bad economy kills this year's DigitalLife Expo [Cnet]

Ziff Davis' DigitalLife show is all over, but the awards were just announced today. Among the dozen award winners were two gaming standouts: Guitar Hero III in the Game category and HP Blackbird 002 in the Gaming Hardware category.

Hit the jump for the short break down of why the PC Magazine editors, led by Editor-in-Chief, Lance Ulanoff, picked these two as the top in gaming.

CATEGORY: Game
Winner: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Company: Activision, www.activision.com
The latest version of this interactive music game features a slew of new songs and an update on the guitar hardware. Any skeptics were quieted after visiting the boisterous GH booth at DigitalLife and witnessing aspiring rockers of all ages jamming out with a smile.

CATEGORY: Gaming Hardware
Winner: HP Blackbird 002
Company: Hewlett-Packard, www.hp.com
The first foray into the gaming market since acquiring Voodoo, HP hit the ground running with the Blackbird. This top-of-the-line system will make any gamer drool with dual nVidia graphics cards, 2GB of RAM, liquid cooling, and a super-cool black case design with a bottom platform stand for ventilation. The chassis is tool-free and highly customizable with lots of spare bays for expansion

Destructoid's Robert Summa and a buddy killed a Wii at the DigitalLife extravaganza in New York City. The Xbox 360 and the PLAYSTATION 3 may freeze, and that's that. But, when the Wii freezes, it sets off air raid sirens! Brian Ashcraft

It Cannot Move and Is Pissed as Hell [Destructoid]

The final English version of Final Fantasy XII will be playable at Digital Life in New York City next month. The Playstation 2 title is set to hit stores on Oct. 31, but if you make it to the DL you can check it out there.

"Square Enix is thrilled to be partnering with DigitalLife to debut the market-ready version of FINAL FANTASY XII," said Daishiro Okada, President and COO of Square Enix, Inc. "DigitalLife's gaming pavilion is a great venue to introduce FINAL FANTASY XII, especially since it appeals to casual gamers in addition to our core fans. FINAL FANTASY XII Day is the perfect way to celebrate this remarkable game, and we are extremely honored to have a declaration from New York City."

Hit the jump for the full press release and details about the game, which hit Japan back in March. Brian Crecente

FINAL FANTASY XII KICKS OFF AT DIGITAL LIFE WITH CELEBRATION IN TIMES SQUARE

New York to Declare October 11, 2006 to be FINAL FANTASY XII Day


Los Angeles, Calif. (September 13, 2006) - Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in North America, today announced that the complete version of FINAL FANTASY XII, the next installment in the award-winning franchise that has sold more than 68 million units worldwide, will be playable at DigitalLife 2006. Additionally, New York has declared October 11, 2006 FINAL FANTASY XII Day in a special commemoration in Times Square. FINAL FANTASY XII is available exclusively for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and will be in stores October 31, 2006.

"Square Enix is thrilled to be partnering with DigitalLife to debut the market-ready version of FINAL FANTASY XII," said Daishiro Okada, President and COO of Square Enix, Inc. "DigitalLife's gaming pavilion is a great venue to introduce FINAL FANTASY XII, especially since it appeals to casual gamers in addition to our core fans. FINAL FANTASY XII Day is the perfect way to celebrate this remarkable game, and we are extremely honored to have a declaration from New York City."

Square Enix will showcase FINAL FANTASY XII at DigitalLife (booth #1422) where attendees will be the first to get their hands on the complete version of the game. Eager players will be able to journey through the immense world of Ivalice and discover the magic that led to more than 2.4 million units sold to date since its release on March 16, 2006 in Japan. DigitalLife 2006 will take place at the Javits Center in New York City and will run from October 12 through 15, 2006. More information about DigitalLife can be found at www.digitallife.com.

FINAL FANTASY XII Day will be celebrated in Times Square on October 11, 2006. This prestigious honor highlights the impact that FINAL FANTASY XII has had on gaming and the digital entertainment community as a whole. Square Enix has called out to all FINAL FANTASY fans to unite in celebrating this esteemed occasion. In addition, a costume contest has been announced in which the winners will join Square Enix on FINAL FANTASY XII Day. Information about the contest will go live today at 11:00AM Pacific Standard Time on www.square-enix.com/na.

About FINAL FANTASY XII

Story
As war looms on the horizon, the mighty Archadian Empire begins a campaign to subjugate its neighbors. The small kingdom of Dalmasca shares their fate, and it is here that our tale begins.

Two years after the fall of Dalmasca, the citizens are without guidance and direction. In the capital city of Rabanastre, the denizens gather and await the introduction of Archadia's new consul. To Vaan, a young man living on the streets of Rabanastre, the Empire is a hated enemy who took the life of his brother, the only family he had left. In an effort to exact revenge, Vaan hatches a plot to break into the palace and steal from the occupying imperials. There, he gets more than he bargained for as he runs into Princess Ashe, the sole surviving heir to the Dalmascan throne. Together, the two will embark on an incredible journey through Ivalice, tracing the mysteries behind the Archadian Empire's invasion. The choices they make will determine the very fate of the world.

Features
- Completely new voiced cut-scenes added for the North American release
- Newly implemented 16:9 functionality in the North American version allows for wide screen display
- Gorgeous CG cinematics and cut-scenes in Dolby Pro Logic II combined with real-time graphics rivaling those of next-gen titles
- Shocking plot twists take players on an unforgettable journey
- Active Dimension Battle (ADB) system, enables players to move seamlessly between exploration and combat
- Highly customizable Gambit system allows complete control over character AI during battles
- License board gives the player the ability to customize each character's skills and abilities

FINAL FANTASY XII will be available at North American retailers at a suggested retail price of $49.99 (USD). The Collector's Edition, offered exclusively at GameStop and EB Games stores as well as through the e-commerce sites GameStop.com and EBgames.com, will be available at a suggested retail price of $59.99 (USD).

FINAL FANTASY XII has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about the ESRB, please visit: www.esrb.org. For the latest updates on FINAL FANTASY XII, visit: www.finalfantasyxii.com.

To celebrate the Halloween launch of FFXII in America, New York City (yes, New York fuckin' City) has declared October 11th as "Final Fantasy XII Gamer's Day." Playable English versions will be on display at New York's DigitalLife's Gaming Pavilion. Taking a page from the Japanese PR handbook, there will also be hosting a costume contest. Cosplaying at a FF event? Didn't see that one coming. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [College Gamer]

Wanna go to the Digital Life consumer technology expo but don't feel like buying tickets? No problem, Gamertag Radio has a promotion code up on their site that will get you in for free. Just hop on to this link for the code and then over to Digital Life to get the tickets. Don't forget this will likely be your first chance to get your hands on a real live Xbox 360 with a game in it. The event runs from Oct. 14 through the 16 at the Javist Convention Center in New York City.

Get Free Tickets to Digital Life! [Gamertag Radio]

A three-day consumer event by Ziff Davis in New York City will have a playable Xbox 360 console on the convention floor, according to the official site for Digital Life. The site doesn t offer a lot of details, just that you can test drive the exciting new Xbox 360 before it hits stores." Tickets for the mid-October event are a measely $15 at the door, but expect a painfully long line to play next-gen games.

Digital Life Gaming [Official Site]