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The Phantom is a controversial video game console that is under development by Infinium Labs. The device is planned to be capable of playing current and future PC games, giving the system a massive initial game library and making it easier for developers to produce games for the system. The system also uses a direct-download content delivery service instead of the discs and cartridges used by most game consoles.
The Phantom has caused quite a bit of controversy in both the gaming and business worlds due to the constant pushing back of its release date and a number of financial scandals involving Infinium Labs. Infinium Labs has lost more than $62,700,000 since its creation in its efforts to create the Phantom Console. As of February 21, 2006, the Phantom has been delayed indefinitely until Infinium Labs obtains more funding.
On May 16 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Infinium Labs founder and former CEO Timothy Roberts of running a pump and dump scheme in promoting The Phantom console in 2004.
History
Announcement
In 2002, the startup company Infinium Labs issued a press release to all news outlets stating that they would soon release a "revolutionary new gaming platform" that would offer an on-demand video game service, delivering games via an online subscription.The press release contained no specific information, but did include a computer-generated prototype design. Due to the excessive use of buzzwords and a suspicious lack of details, the product was derided almost from the start by news sites such as IGN and Slashdot and the popular comic strip Penny Arcade. It also received the first place in "Vaporwares 2004" in Wired News.
Rise and fall of the console
The Phantom was first seen in action at the May 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E³) as a working prototype. Infinium Labs claimed it would go on sale that November for the holiday season, however the company still had not developed the online delivery software, licensed games or found any retailers. The company missed all those deadlines, while at the same time sending thousands of faxes claiming the system would be ready and launched in January 2005.When that deadline passed, Infinium predicted the system's release to around March 2005. That date passed and Infinium Labs did not appear at the 2005 E³. There were hints from Kevin Bachus, former Infinium CEO, that the Phantom would be released around the same time as the Xbox 360 in Fall 2005, but that date was also missed.
On February 21 2006 it was reported that The Phantom video game console has been delayed indefinitely "pending further funding".
The keyboard
On January 3 2006, Infinium Labs has announced that the "Phantom Lapboard" component of the console, which is a keyboard and mouse designed to be held on the lap (for use, for example, seated on a couch in front of a television), is due to be released onto online retailers by the second quarter of 2006. On April 19 2006, Infinium Labs announced that the keyboard would not be released in time for Q2 2006, but that the device, manufactured by Itron Technology, would be released in North America and Europe "no later than October" of 2006.
System specifications
At the 2004 E3, Infinium Labs released several new details regarding The Phantom's proposed hardware and functions.
Gaming service
Infinium Labs announced at 2004's E3 that the Phantom would use a direct-download content delivery service. By connecting the system to a broadband Internet connection, Phantom owners would be able to purchase games through the system's interface and have the game downloaded directly onto the unit's hard drive. Also, a subscription plan would be available. With the subscription (available in two-year contracts), people could pay a $29.95 monthly fee, allowing them to get the actual Phantom unit for free and to download a selected number of games for free each month.Hardware
As of May 2004, these are The Phantom's proposed hardware specifications:- CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2500+
- Video card: nVIDIA GeForce FX 5700 Ultra, with 128MB RAM
- RAM: 256MB
- Hard drive: 80GB "content cache"
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio
- Control: Custom game pad and keyboard-mouse combination unit called a "lapboard".
- '''Wireless modules will be used to support a wireless lapboard and game pad.
References
External links
- The Phantom's Official Site
- Phantom: Rewound - Editorial feature with a history of The Phantom.
- Video Interview of Kevin Bachus by Marketwatch
- HardOCP's 'Behind the Infinium Phantom Console' article
- Penny Arcade strips ridiculing the Phantom:
- Slashdot article referencing Gamespot; Console delayed again
Vaporware game consoles | Seventh-generation video game consoles
"The Phantom (game system)"