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Infinium Labs Phantom Unveiled In August
Jerek Dain writes "GameSpy.com has an article about the Phantom console from Infinium Labs with some new information. Apparently it will make its big debut (complete with proof of its existence) at the Ultimate Gamers Expo in August. But from the sound of things, can it really compete with gamers' PCs?" Of course, our previous story on the Phantom mentioned prototypes would be available in March, but we suppose delays never hurt anyone, as long as a product has good support and decent game quality when it does ship?
we have seen this kind of thing before haven't we? Anyone remember Atari Jaguar? Ugh! There is no room for a fourth console in this market.
Here.
Until I see some evidence that somebody has actually *seen* or *touched* this wonder console that does everything, it's pretty much my take, too.
Chris Mattern
They said there were at E3 but they do not appear in the exhibitors list
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... if indeed this isn't the most appropriately named console ever.
Why do I M2 everything negatively?
Amazingly enough the folks from infinuim were at E3 but not as Exhibitors. They did a couple of press demos however they did not bring any prototypes with them. In the words of one of the people who talked to them, infinium is "clueless".
we don't scream that about this product?
the whole concept looked like some ceo's wet dream that was inspired by mixed usage of cocaine and hemp.
yeah, the pennyarcade strip about it pretty much sums it up: 'woah'.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
The fact is that consoles are one of those things where if you can shave a few bucks off the thing, you do it. And the console companies are going to want to move to a subscription model for that matter as well. Even the software developers will be in favor of this model as well. Anything that saves them pressing and packaging costs they'll be in favor of.
The model will be that you buy the console for cheap, discounted if you pre-pay for N months of coverage with the associated online service. I tend to think there will be a variety of subscription models from 'pay as you play' to 'all you can play'.
The software companies will deal with the console manufacturers and their servers to get their software loaded on a system. They can do things like bug fixes and other sorts of updates seamlessly. Even if a title flops, there's a greater chance for the problems with the game to be fixed and a new version uploaded.
Oh yes. Piracy becomes a lot harder. Software companies will love that. Region enforcement is an interesting issue, though in theory the servers can determine the incoming IP address and place the region its coming from.
The consoles will be cheaper and more reliable because there's no moving parts in them. That means a lot in the console business where even ten bucks in the hardware costs can add up.
The big downside is that once the servers are shut down, the box becomes junk. Of course the companies might find a way to turn PCs into servers once they're no longer interested in running their own. The software companies selling the games will be interested in that to make a second round of profits. First you rent the game and then when the console is dead, sell the game a last time to the enthusiasts.
I don't believe you.
I think there *is* room for a 'fourth' console.
Its just that it had better Seriously Kick Ass if it wants to compete.
Frankly, looking at the existing stock, I can think of at least 10 ways a new 'under the radar' console could compete.
Come on. Does *nobody* remember the actual lessons of MSX? eh?
Okay, I'll give you a hint:
a) There will *always* be a 'dying' console in the console war. Work on the *games*, not the 'marketing'.
Here's another:
b) He who has the most software, wins.
Anyone wanting to build a new console to compete with PS2/XBOX/GC need only keep in mind those two rules, and then get to work.
Complacency is fine, but you wait until someone comes up with a console which breaks some rules. It could, and might, happen.
; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
Generally, and I say this about lots of computer industry things lately, I think its a case of 'us computer geeks' ignoring the fact that the computer market, and tech in general, is *HUGE*.
There are, as yet, completely untapped *millions* of consumers for products/devices like these - game consoles first, microwave ovens next, etc. - and as current generations grow families, the market is growing faster than we are keeping pace with it.
Its a fact often overlooked by computer geeks, but the plain truth of the matter is that there are a *lot* of places yet for computer technology to get to. Thus, the markets are growing.
Maybe not so much in the good ol' USofA, though, bless its War-lovin' heart... Duh, manufacturing is a *huuuuuuuge* industry, and theres a reason why its going oversees! Its easier to ship final product to local masses!
; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
then we will call it the Phantom Menace.
"As for the hardware itself, Phantom will use mostly standard PC parts", says the article. Well, we all know what that means: big and expensive! It's all very well if you're Microsoft and can afford to sell a console at a loss after wasting money putting unnecessarily general-purpose components into it. But some startup reckons they can do it? Ludicrous. There may or may not be room for a 4th console in the market, but there's never been room for a "console" built out of standard PC components, produced by a company with no reputation to lure developers and no billions in the bank to buy into the market.