A newly formed US technology company, Infinium Labs Corporation, today announced that they will develop and market a new games console that they claim will outperform the Xbox, Sony Playstation 2, and GameCube.
The product (called 'Phantom', at the moment) will be geared towards hardcore gamers and PC users, and will be the first always-on broadband console. This next generation game console provides a robust, fault tolerant delivery system that supports games on demand, game rentals, game demos, seamless upgrades and patch management. The official spiel claims.
Here’s some more lofty aspirations of the Phantom:
Fastest console on the market
Broadest selection of preloaded games
Cross Platform capabilities
State of the art design and architecture
Advanced accessories and wireless capabilities
Online connectivity for multi player gaming
Seamless upgrades and patch management
A multi tiered subscription service that meets the needs of casual, moderate and hard-core game players
Demo games before purchasing or subscribing
Games on demand
Game Rentals
Rumour has it, that the broadband potential of this console will allow gamers to instantly purchase and acquire new games through the system, whilst an intuitive design will mean that the console is easy for kids to use, as well as gaming veterans.
Online gaming will also be key, along with subscription-based games, and Infinium claim that you’ll be able to compete in tournaments against players from all over the globe.
Infinium continue introducing the ‘Phantom’, claiming that there are currently 32,679 retail game titles available and 418 shareware game titles not including; adult, casino, sequels and new releases of the past 6 months. A lofty claim indeed. Moreover, all these titles will be distributed electronically.
The Phantom gaming Console is apparently the first to offer a bundled 2.4 GHz wireless controller along with the ability to add-on additional wireless controls, racing steering wheels, joysticks, keyboard and mouse.
Prototypes of the console will be available in March this year, whilst Infinium Labs plan to officially launch the product in the US come November. More news on this as we get it.
By Luke Guttridge
Comments
Whoa! Big news!
Whens it out over here?!?!?!
I'm guessing next year if it gets off the ground - this is very, very ambitious
this is the stupidest business idea i have ever heard. if MS is already losing billions and not expected to make $ anytime soon how are these guys EVER going to make cash? they'll probably run out of dough before this thing ever sees the light of the day. besides, how are they ever going to get ANYONE develop stuff for this?
the guys sitting behind this have a fundamentally flawed appreciation of the games market. unless, of course, this is all an elaborate hoax...it wouldn't be the first!
I bet it outsells Xbox in Japan
it's not even out yet...and it's already dead.
lol, prob will. I wonder what the technical specs will be like, I don't think it will be able to compete, in terms of graphics, with the PS3 or X-box 02.
Where's the DVD drive? Looks like only on-line content.
Well if thats the case, I'll not be buying one!
This thing can supposedly already play games on other systems...Then, why would they need to get developers? CHING!
I'm gonna give it a try...
gosh, another console? no way! This late release smells of Dreamcast. Out too late, the next gens will blow it away.
do u think it will play wrestling games like wwe coz if its always online u could have online royal rumbles
Well, most failed consoles have their fair share of bad games so yes, I would say that it will have wrestling titles. That is, if anyone develops for it other than the company itself.
Hi guys, we have our reservations about this one too, though the press release and company website seem genuine enough - we are however seeking further clarification as we speak.
What are the system specs??? Are the graphics going to be vastly superior over the Xbox, and what third party support do you have??
Thank you
Sounds like I heard this before and now i'm hearing it again. It take brains .luck popularity ,games in this business. Just look at the under power Playstation 2. Us gmers need better games not more systems!"
Ok, I have just spoken a contact we now have at the company Infinium Labs. From what I have heard, this is NOT, repeat, NOT a hoax.
We have another contact now, and are expecting an interview and more details very soon.
I think this is a great concept. The only thing that discourages me is that there are not more people on here pushing for a company to come in that is obviously being built by hard core gamers to compete head to head with the buerocratic goliths that have disappointed us for years.
Sega MegaDrive 4 life
I must say this is probably something that has potential. We all have our doubts. However, think about it, there are actually companies out there that want to develop something that we all want. So let's give em the benefit of the doubt until proven. Why not contact these guys and give them our input? They may actually want to give us what we want. Just my two cents.
I'd be very interested to hear a corporate report on 'Infinium'. Who is their CEO? Their Head of Technology? (or equivalent.) IF this is NOT a hoax...then Infinium are doomed. I haven't seen such a weak proposal in gaming...ever. (LOOK at that controller!! LOOK at it! NO WAY!) I can't wait for the next move... (32,679 games...deary me!)
LOL, oh but if it is real I bet £10 on it dying on its arse, ooo around next week.
What does preloaded games mean? when is it coming out? who is developing for it? what are its specs"? why has it decided to come out at a time like this, in such a huge console war already?
And how come no other sites have any enough on this NEW system.
You know, I needed a good laugh today. And another thing, how come I never heard of "Infinium" before? This is the biggest load of BS I've heard since American Idol.
32,000+ retail games? What the hell? They can say they are the most powerful and have the most games, but what i care about is GOOD games. Forget this.
Uh oh, looks like this thing is ready to fail worse than the Jaguar. If it sells more than one thousand units I will be shocked to death. For a console they expect to do so well you'd expect them to be working on it for more than a year, not to show game demos and the like. It may be powerful, but those 30,000+ games COULD NOT take advantage of the hardware... not when the thing is announced a year before release. No way in Hell. Unless this company is made of 100,000 superhuman freaks, which, for a company that is brand new, there is no way.
There was already supposed to be a fourth console by now, but that company went bankrupt or something, according to my old Gamepro.
I could excuse the crappy 3Ds max pics, and the proud spec boasting, but I simply do not believe the number of games....unless it is PC compatible and this figure counts every PC game ever released. To put this boast in perspective, the PS2 has around 1500 games, the Xbox and Gamecube about 2-300 apiece. And they claim to have 30K+ games? Cobblers...
This isn't big, i wouldn't buy this system. Playstation 3 comes out in 2005 and this system comes out November 2003 which is almost 2004 (by like 2 months). Why waste your money on something thats only going to be good to have for one year. When Playstation 3 comes out it's going to be the best thing to have for at least fou years. Also the specs for Playstation 3 are WAY BETTER than this system. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS!!!
this will suck, just 2 or 3 years late, there is know way they'll catch up to the ps2.
32000 games this most be a pc
emulator . only the pc have that
many games
Seeing is believing. I have to say I am doubting it at the moment. XBOX is a superior system to PS2 and yet PS2 still beats it out in sales.
this thing...its un-admireable...looks like a pile...and a 2.4 ghz controller to go with it....wtf you gonna do wtih a 2.4 ghz controller?! you best be able to order food, change channels on tv's and do other things for that big of a controller.and for the record...nice x-box controller rip-off.
To the guy that asked where does the controller go? Don't be stupid, It uses infrared technology! I.e, no wires and no controller ports...
where does the disc drive come out because you can tell it is a hoax by the way it is designed it is almost similar to the XBox.
Read the story s-l-o-w-l-y again matey. There is no DVD/CD drive, all game content is has to be downloaded.
Well i did read it alright
Kaden maybe thats because thats an artists impression and it hasnt been designed yet.Read the report you fool
Kaden see the part where it says that its an artists impression does that not tell you that it hasnt been designed yet?
Play nicely children... don't make me delete any more comments
Okay smart-ass, where's the I-R port then? Or is it magic? Or perhaps Bluetooth?!??! WOW! I was simply pointing out the shoddy quality of the 3Ds Max image. I dunno, some people....
if the console is real what games are coming out on it
what do you think of the consol
Theres no details to date about the games.
Quite cool that they don't give _any_ specifications on the hardware. Nevertheless, they state that it's window based and will have up to 50.000 games ready for the users. It's probably a PC.
Idiots, all of you. I can't believe you actually think its real! Its a fake. For one thing, the images are renders, not photographs. The controllers are exaclty like the X-box controllers, there are no system specs that outline the hardware and the actaul shape of the console is unfeasible for manufacturing.
WAKE UP !
tell me more
i would like to be the frist to try out the phantom I think this will put more on Xbox and ps2. i was wonder will it be sold in the US?
Why does the fact that because the pictures are rendered that it means it's fake? Looks like an X-box controller? So if it was a replicant of a PS2 joypad, would that also make it fake? Give it time people, we will find out if it's real or fake soon enough...
WHO MADE IT
Even if you lot think that it is a X-box controller rip-off, at least it won't be the size of one...
it won't because it is fake
Hands up who thinks this is fake...
Is it unlikely that the made the sellingbox first.
WHO does that?
I think i just save some money for it. If it's ever comming out. I will bye it immidiatelly if the controler is wireless!
um...guys its a pc lite. The reason there are so many games is because its a pc. Think about it, take a pc slap a slick frontend on it and everyone gets the games through their portal website type thing. The game companies register their pc games with infinium, make sure the run smoothy on the spec, and give infinium a percentage of the sales. I mean you can pretty much play pc games on an xbox. A current pc graphics computer PUNISH the xbox and ps2. This is the first company to try it. We will see more.
Don't see it happening.. what games are they going to have on it? what kind of deals have they made with developers? Downloading games from the net?? I don't think so.. and who said consoles had to look some like black-box from a b52 bomber??
I bet it doesn't play any of the wonderful adventure games I made years ago when they could still be sold in stores. Before you people started playing nothing but Quake and Warcraft, killing the variety of software avaliable.
Sweet!
I'm gonna wait for Xbox Next...
This is too late on the scene...
The controller doesn't go anywhere. It's wireless.
maybe this is like the game machine at the local pub?
On the tech side it's absolutely fabolous if this console delivers all of its claims. Just imagine the possibilities and what it could do to the world of webservices. Reality check-let it just come out and we'll see!!
:)
Vikas
Love peace and rock n roll :)
How can you compair Sega back then to Sony now?
HOAX HOAX HOAX
tell me about the game consol
how do you play dvd
has it got a hard drive
I wish this was real...
I wish i had one. how much??
Well, I would be willing to bet it may work.... Maybe. If it's based off broadband and everything is downloaded while you play, and if it goes like microsoft did and base it on pc components, then you have a compatable system that can play all the pc games. Transfer each level/stage/area/etc while your playing the one before.... in theory I think it's possible. Will people buy it though? I have no clue. I hope it does come out just to see what it's like
not IR, RF! 2.4ghz, or so they claim.
BS tho. This console does not exist.
You could pirate it by diverting the broadband streaming files to a hard drive. Some programming and perhaps decompiling knowledge would be needed, but it could still be done.
I agree with you. Even though I rent more than I buy, the games I buy I cherish. I like the ability of ownership. When they own the content they have complete control over how / when its used. If they decide to pull a game, and it was one of my favorites, I have no control over that. Its sorta Big Brother (the Orwell one, not the tv show) to think that the sysadmin is always poking around on my game console, watching what I do and how I play. Screw this concept, I like being disconnected.
These guys are making a huge mistake trying to bring this thing out in one of the strongest, most competitive video game markets there has ever been. Not only that, but there was NO mention of developers who have signed on. No developers, no games. No games, no one buying the system. I don't think this thing has a shot. They should partner with MS or Sony to make the next big thing, Xbox2 or PS3, because at least they are ambitious and moving towards the online world, which Sony and Nintendo seem to want to pretend doesn't exist.
This is definetly a hoax...anyone that know even just a little tiny bit on the current console market situation will know to stay away from any idea of this kind. Years ago 3DO pulled off a similar semi-hoax (remember the M) and sold the technology to Panasonic for $100MM who apparently has it sit somewhere in its warehouses for future viewing in a future Museum of Failed Human Thoughts
[feeds the lame troll with an attention cookie]
Yes, now everyone, including his dog and goldfish bowl are trying to get a piece of the action. By this time in couple years, I predict everyone will have the letters "next gen faster Mhz, buy now!" burned into their forehead and have to spend $20000 so they can play their favorite game for each of the 34 different high performance consoles out, then the market will spontaneously combust from everyone trying to outdo eachother with the next faster, better, higher performance consoles. Please tell me this a hoax, actually I think it is, cuz it just too dumb to be real. Look at the name, "Phantom", and the other obvious things and ludicrous claims.
It's just getting ridiculous now. Consoles are starting to get lame because now it's all about who has the best secret plans for the next faster console while selling their current "model" and who can make the next "better" game with the best graphics. It's getting to the point where everyone feels the need to make fun of each console and the general market by making stupid hoaxes like this one on supposedly "legit" news reporting sites, that makes you have to think twice now about whether the article you see is real or not. Utter BS and lameness. I just lost all respect for this and any other supposedly "legit" game news-sites that may be running this story. BTW, what other news sites are running this story? I haven't seen any but on this one. I'm not angry or pissed, I'm laughing at how much of a joke the person is that's behind this whole hoax. And if this story is "4 real", which it isn't, you'd have to be dumbest person on the face of this earth to form a new company to go up against the current console giants. You'd be in debt before you ever started.
Thank god for the PC monopoly so I don't have to put up with all this BS and lameness. *goes back to playing his snes emulator and Windows PC games*
[/feeds the lame troll with an attention cookie]
This is a lie. No such system exists. But nice try though. Try again in April...
Well, good job reading it.... Since it's a US technology corporation that is developing it, that gives reason to assume that it is based in the united states.... naturally that would lead to a North American release first. (can't forget canada!)
This actually looks real which either makes the people at Infinium Labs either the most ambitious people alive or the stupidest people alive. First of all, they come out of nowhere, with these unbelievable claims. All they're doing is creating rumors, most of which have a negative spin on them. That phrase about there being no such thing as bad press isn't true. Second, they're competing against established talent. Each of the consoles currently out there is backed by companies that handle more money than most of us will ever see in our lifetimes. Developing systems costs money: who is financially backing these people? The possibility of them having such a huge library of games is laughable. Even if they're using previously released games, they'd need to pay the companies that made these games in order to use them. Once again: where's the money? Finally, when going into business you really need to consider if your product is needed. I don't know about you, but I just don't have the financial capabilities to buy an entirely new system and games in addition to the games i currently get. I buy games for 2 systems and a PC, and i buy used whenever i can; i can still buy games only so often.
where do you slip the game in
cool baby
wow! look at that! i have some questions though. Firstly, correct me if I'm wrong, but a 2.4 Ghz controller would pick up interference from several sources. A wireless controller must have a varible frequency, or else it will pick up a signal from any other 2.0-3.0 ghz wireless device? Also, doing a quick total up in my head, that amount of games is sheer madness. If you take all of the console games ever produced, it may just reach that number. For a single system we must be talking plently of rehashes and reissues. Perhaps something along the lines of 20,000 copies of pong, each with a new level tagged on the end :D Although I'd like to see this work, I share some of the doubts of the others on this post. Frankly their 3D modelling sucks, I know this is an early design, but some more work could of gone into it [that 'interior' view is pointless, it is missing several major components], if you ar going to bother to inclue something in your release, make sure it has a basis, and not just make it up.... like me!
Good luck guys, You'll need it
Its just a souped up Sega CD and Atari Jaguar spliced together with a pretty paint job
I'll stay loyal to nintendo, it's got a decent console with the best games
what a bunch of fanboy cry babies. It's not even in production yet and you're already saying it sucks. What if this thing turns out to be an amazing ground breaking mechine? Could happen.... i guess. But come on, In an industry controlled by sony and m$, i think the new companies could use at least a shred of support. Who cares if the controller is 2.4Ghz or not? Who cares if it doesn't have a dvd/cd? Just give it a chance.
But.. i guess this always happens with every consol. I remember the days of "I'm not getting an xbox! No WAY! It's made by M$ and i hear all the games freeze and stuff. What a pile of junk!" I even remember when people hated gensis cause they only had sonic the hedgehog or something. But if this thing pulls a 3DO/Jaguar and disappears forever then so be it. But maybe some day all your friends will have one and you'll be the only kid without it, begging them to let you use it cause you thought your PS2 or XBOX was unbeatable.
3do ,m3,phillip's cd-i jaguar sega cd, sega32x sega neptune vertual boy and phantom ahh the posibilities are endless.
UM isn't it a bit strange that there is like the advert from the actual company itself, as represented by LUKE GETTRIDGE, and there's also a review of it by someone appearing to be an outsider of the company, giving his "opinion" of the company etc, also interestingly called LUKE GUTTRIDGE... Huh??!
wait a minute,where r these games that are suppose to be made.wats this electronic gaming thing,where u buy it electronicly.....im lost so lost.how big is this thing is it as big as that dreamcast that everyone seems to be forgeting about.....the one that had top games like shenmue and soul caliber.
Infinum labs does not exist
No austin, that, "playing different console games" is a huge lawsuit waiting to happen... And the "Infinium Labs" that appeared out of no where is full of it if they think they can compete with the GC PS2 and X Box's Third and First Party software!
GFDGG
fake.......its cheaply done and theycaught the guy who made that peise of crap
Well the way I see it, is that regardless of whether its true or not, if it is fake im sorry to say that I doubt it will make it very far. After all Lets face it, XBox even with the incredible money and backing it has (not to mention having specs that surpass the ps2 or gamecube) is lacking in sells, because of lack of Good Game Developers, Where as Sony is established well and Has plenty game developers backing it, The Phantom seems like a neat concept, but I'm sorry to say I doubt it will stick.
Do not misunderstand me, I'm not saying its impossible to break into the market, after all, every company has to get its start somewhere, but you have to consider that the Xbox didnt even manage to beat the pretty much inferior ps2 out for sales, not even close as a matter of fact, because what it comes down to in the end is not how much potential your system has but what you do with it. I wish the manufacturers of this system, (in the incident that it is real) all the luck in the world, but tread softly or else find yourself in the predicement that XBox is in, even with billions of dollars backing, it is losing money. If this system wants to be anything, it needs to get its hands on some innovative and good game designers, or even steal them from other companies if possible, Or else fall into the pile where the late Jaguar, 3DO, and current xbox reside.
Ive never seen such crap! It is already 14th march 2003 today when i saw this...and not 1 REAL screenshot of the console yet???And they expect to SELL it in 8months? Yeah Right! this (company)guy could have at least gotten someone who knows how to use Studio Max well enough to make decent pics of this 'thing'...Funny how there are also only pictures of the "front", "side" and "top" of the console-with no showing of any sort of tray for a cd/dvd...but there is no picture of the back of it where all the relevant cables and plugs etc would go...There isnt even ANY genuine specs on the damn thing like processor,hard drive,graphics etc. Come on! If you guys think this is for real...you are as pathetic as the pictures of this machine you rate so highly. One thing they should have done was on this site was allow people to order their very own shiny NEW console...then at least they/he could have made some cash off all you suckers out there that are so amazed by this load of crap!
How Much Will It Be $$$?
Bit early for April 1 Joke.
Tell us the prices if its real.
If it is real it will cost £200.00 more in England than the rest of the world, for a change.
Yo man this is the bomb man.
When it comes out I'll be the first one to buy it. I just can't believe my ear. Your saying this is better than the X-Box. Is it better than X-Box Live?
the phantom, in the future like all other games consoles will be outpowered. thats my opinion anyway.
This crap will not out power the systems like xbox all the phantom has is online whoopdido i am online 24-7 with xbox live!