Infinium Labs mysterious console - The - stepped further into the public eye over the weekend, as it was confirmed on Friday that the fledgling manufacturer Infinium Labs would launch a preview of the device last night: which they did.

Larger video: 1mb   HD

The video was created by 2Advanced Studio and promoted by Gigex, who'll lend their considerable promotional and distributional weight behind the console's unveiling.

Having watched the video I can also report that the Phantom is more than a little ambitious - claiming to be the most powerful system available, with the largest catalogue of titles, and offering support and games on a pay-per-play basis.

The new console will contain an Intel 3ghz CPU, an NVIDIA graphics card, over 100gb of hard-drive space (some of which will no doubt be taken up by the pre-loaded games we're promised), 256mb of RAM, networking/wireless network capabilities, and no CD/DVD drive. We're talking broadband only here folks.

Gamers will have the option of trialing games before purchasing them online, renting games, and a full service (chat, email, news, multiplayer, contests, etc) will comes as part of the custom-built interface, based on Windows XP Embedded. The system will also be fully upgradeable.

Indeed, perhaps the biggest issue now confronting the Phantom is its pricing, given that what we're talking about is basically a high-end with a content delivery system bolted-on. It may be on this front that it will either thrive or fail.

We urge you to watch this video, also available at Phantom.net, for further details on this interesting machine.

Update: We've a little more information now, taken from a Gigex interview. The system will apparently cost less than $399 to purchase, with subscription to the VPGN weighing in at around $9.95 per month. The system is set to launch in the first-quarter of 2004, with titles and other specifics being confirmed at this year's COMDEX (November 17-20, Las Vegas).

By Luke Guttridge

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  1. Luke 6 years ago Staff

    Well this is my primary concern too. The console's a great idea - but I fear Infinium lack the resources to suitably subsidise the system, allowing them to make the money back on games sales.

  2. Richard Unregistered 6 years ago

    This console is dead on arrival. When a company like Sega can't make it as a console manufacturer what chance do Infinuium have? It seems they took some marketing information about TiVo, added it with data about game sales and decided this would be the perfect answer. This is a fundamental misunderstanding about game players. I'd wish them good luck, but what they really need is a miracle.

  3. dkjaf Unregistered 5 years ago

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  4. Kmach Unregistered 5 years ago

    The Infinium Phantom sounds like a very interesting console. Be prepared for a lot of advertising throughout the menu's of this console. Infinium stated they will get rid of the ads as soon as sales increase. I highly doubt this will happen when the Xbox, PS2, and GC sell for a half of the cost. Looking at the current title lineup for the console, there really isn't not much to look forward to. Old pc titles make up the majority, many of it shareware or freeware on the internet. A couple good ports are coming like Mafia, Driver 3, and a promised exclusive FPS Halo clone, but I would not expect much more than that. Unfortunately the gamer will purchase a huge HD and Processor only to play outdated pc titles. For the gaming world's sake, I hope the console catches on, but with all the power and no games, I think it will last about as long as the N-Gage.