Infinium May Have Content Partners

eToychest writes "In a move that indicates the video game industry is embracing digital distribution as a vehicle to expand the market, more than 20 game publishers have signed on to supply titles for the Phantom Game Service." Their previously reported financial status is undoubtedly still an issue, though.

Comments

Who do they have in PR?

[cephyn]

I mean honestly...who in the world can say "Phantom Game Service" with a straight face? Are they really that oblivious to the obvious pun?

And furthermore

[cephyn]

Did anyone else read that as "Infinium may have Content Partners" as in "Infinium may have happy, satisfied partners" --- and subsequently chuckle?

what return will there be?

[spir0]

what return will the investors get? considering so much money has been spent on building a shell for a PC, how many subscribers will be needed over how long a period before the investors start seeing a return back? let alone when the company will start actually turning a profit.

After all that's been said and done, even if the Phantom DOES eventuate and some games DO start to come out, there is no way in hell I would consider getting one. The company just seems too flaky and dishonest.

Are you going to give them your credit card details?

Are you going to pay for a one year subscription in advance only to have the realise their folly 3 months through and close up shop?

For the record, I buy pretty much every game console that comes out, regardless of how much the company suck. Yes, I even have an Xbox and I thoroughly enjoy it.

But I'm way too paranoid to buy anything from Infinium Labs or whatever they may change their name to in the future to avoid bad press.

Re:Details?

[superpulpsicle]

Woh buddy hold up. This is Phantom we are talking about. I was thinking more or less games like "Ascii Susan". Who ever said anything about the hardware being good enough to run pac man.

Console gamers.

[BrookHarty]

Anyone play Q3A on a console? Exactly, it begs for a keyboard and mouse. Now, at 640x480, I think most games would run just fine on a pc->console conversion.

I don't know why everyone keeps dissing on Infinium, it takes time to get a startup going, and lots of money. They keep working at it, getting content providers, getting the prototype working, games working on it, problems solved, closer to launch.

And still, you give them no credit. These guys are not SCO or Microsoft, we shouldnt be treating this startup like criminals.

I personally think its a great idea, bringing the PC into the living room. Same thing Microsoft is trying to do with its home PC boxes.
When you get a PC in the living room, the choices are endless on what you can do, all types of entertainment media and communications.

Just imagine if people told Linus, stop it, Minix is all we need.

We are a society that builds on other peoples work, even if they fail, our society grows on experience. Glad there are people still trying after the whole dotbomb days. Make it or not, this is a interesting idea.

Re:Console gamers.

[Cyno01]

Uh, people have issues with Infinium because they've files lawsuits against people saying pretty much what every comment to this story has said. They seem to want to offer all the advantages of a hacked X-box w/ a hard drive, but you still have to pay for games. Not sure if thats a niche that needs to be filled.

Phantom console, phantom service?

[thirty2bit]

I still have reservations paying a monthly charge to 'rent games' regardless of how many publishers or titles they have signed on. And I own seven Porche GT3's, each a different color. But only on the Internet.

If Microsoft nixes the Xbox (are they still losing money on hardware / Xbox overall?) tomorrow, I can still drop discs in and play them next week. If I lose my broadband or (gasp!) move to an area without high-speed internet, I can still use my Xbox. My Xbox can't be remotely hacked, DOS'd, and won't need monthly security patches.

It's not time for a "on demand" content model yet.

The new obligatory Joke?

[Thedalek]

Is it now required that at every mention of Infinium Labs, someone has to make the DNF Joke? Who thinks it's still funny?

Get your details

[MachDelta]

Out of curiosity, I visited all of the publishers websites to look for interesting or recognizable (to me) game titles. Here's what I found (not sure if its all accurate but it should be close):

21-6 Productions - crap
BraveTree - crap
Chronic Logic - Pontifex 1 & 2 (if anyone remembers that neat little demo)
Codemasters - Operation Flashpoint 1 & 2, IGI 2, Colin McRae Rally, TOCA, Dragon Empires,
Dreamcatcher Interactive - Painkiller
eGames - Raptor, Demonstar (loved those old shooters!), otherwise crap
Eidos - Thief, Dues Ex, Hitman, Legacy of Kain, Tomb Raider, Commandos, Blood Omen; series'
Enlight Interactive - X2: The Threat, Seven Kingdoms 1 & 2, Warlords Battlecry 3
Framework Studios - Crap
GamerBlitz - Crap
Gameware Development - Creatures
GarageGames - Crap, other than the Torque engine licenses
Global Software Publishing - Crap (educational/kids games)
Interplay - Fallout, Freespace... oh hell, does it matter? Aren't these guys bankrupt anyways? Their website doesn't even fucking work, who cares!
Kuma Reality Games - Some AA wannabe called Kumawar
Legacy Interactive - Crap
Max Gaming - Crap (Moon Tycoon anyone?)
O-3 Entertainment - Crap (GTA wannabe)
Riverdeep (aka Broderbund) - Crap (educational)
Skunk Studios - Crap
Vivendi Universal Games - AvP 2, Bard's Tale, CS:Z, Crash Bandicoot, Half-Life series, LOTR, NOLF 1 & 2, Simspons Hit n Run, SWAT 3 & 4, Diablo series, DAoC, Warcraft 3, Starcraft, Middle-Earth Online, WoW, Ghost Master, Empire Earth series, Ground Control series, Homeworld 2
Atari Inc - Civilization series, Driver series, Deer Hunter series (groan), Independence War, RollerCoaster Tycoon, Unreal Tournament series, Enter the Matrix, Wheel of Time, Unreal 2, Moo3, NWN series, Mechwarrior 3

So the only 'real' publishers they have are Atari (kinda), VUG, and Eidos. Add Interplay if they aren't actually dead yet (again? still? whatever). Codemasters, Enlight, and Dreamcatcher might be capable of publishing something decent too, I suppose.

All things considered though, it isn't a very impressive lineup. Their three big names are heavily into other consoles - I suspect their involvment here is just a continuation of their diversification strategy. So the chances of Phantom having a big hit/exclusive (Halo, Mario, etc) are pretty much nil. I mean, unless the Phantom intends to corner the market on educational software, i'm guessing this little ghosty is gonna get pounded into a very, very small niche by the competition.
But we'll see. I intend to sit back and watch the fireworks, whatever they may be. :)