Phantom Console - What are your thoughts?

[Unknown Soldier]

A Joke or for Real?

Well most of you must of heard of this console before. But what do you think?

Infinium Labs have finally unveiled their Phantom console. The Phantom games console comes with a 100GB hard drive, 256MB DDR RAM, the latest iteration of nVidia's video card and runs on the Windows XP kernel! With the Phantom SDK, you can port Xbox and PC games over extremely easy, they provide the SDK at no cost.

More Info:

If you have a need for blazing fast processor speed, cinematic graphics, and Dolby Digital™ Surround Sound, then experience the Phantom Game Console™ for a true high performance gaming environment. The Phantom™ provides access to more games of every genre than any competing product. Phantom’s breath-taking speed, graphic realism and Dolby Digital™ 7.1 Surround Sound put it in a class of its own . . . the must-have high performance game console.

Phantomâ„¢ is the next-generation game console that supports PC games, games on-demand, game rentals, game demos and seamless upgrades. It is the fastest game console on the market and includes a broad selection of pre-loaded games. Phantomâ„¢ offers gamers a more exciting and compelling gaming experience than any other game console or PC on the market. Phantomâ„¢ is an always on broadband device, which allows gamers a wealth of options, from wireless connectivity to massive multiplayer capability . . . to allowing gamers to demo and experience games before purchasing or subscribing.

http://www.phantom.net/

 

[BRiT]

Oh, it most certainly is real, but that doesn't stop it from being a joke of a product.

 

[gkar1]

Its arguably the most powerful mainstream system to date. Hard to say how it will fare against the likes of PS2, Xbox and GC. All of these already have their marketshare and fanbase. They certainly got the specs side covered though.

Perhaps they'll liken it to a next generation xbox. If they succesfully port the existing Xbox software library, and pc games work seamlessly and on demand as they claim, i can only see good things happening to them.

 

[incurable]

A Joke or for Real?

[...]

http://www.phantom.net/

Joke.

 

[sonix666]

It seems normal these days to copy the PC product strategy of Bitboys.

 

[Joe DeFuria]

Oh, it most certainly is real, but that doesn't stop it from being a joke of a product.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Blade]

It might be the next Dreamcast-type system.

Hardcore fanbase, excellent hardware and game library.. but limited mainstream appeal for whatever reason.

 

[Ante P]

Or as Steve of HardOCP put it:

"This is just my opinion, but anyone can see this product is a cut down PC, except it can’t play DVDs or CDs and you will have to pay a monthly subscription for the service to play a bunch of shareware titles off the internet. No developers have announced a single solitary game for this machine at this point either. With the Xbox and PS2 at $179 and the GameCube soon to be $99…I have no idea who in the world would buy a $400 console that requires a monthly fee to operate. For that price, you can buy ALL THREE of the other consoles (that come bundled w/games too). "

 

[duncan36]

Its one of those things that looks good on paper, but which has absolutely no hope of catching on. I can see the product disccussions meetings in my mind:

'People are paying $2500 for an Alienware pc to play games! We'll put out a PC clone for $400 and make a fortune!'.

 

[Megadrive1988]

Anyone know what Nvidia GPU is used in the Phantom's video card,
Nv30 or Nv35?


Anyway, this thing doesn't have a prayer at breaking out. it's not even going to do as well, or be around as long as, the SNK NeoGeo which cost
$400 or $650 depending on which bundle you bought. the Phantom is not even its own format really, as it's just a PC in a case. even the Xbox is its own propriatery format.

Phantom is a similar idea to the commodore CDTV, or CD-32. as those machines were basicly an Amiga500 and A1200/AGA in a box, for use with television.

Phantom will go the way of the CDTV, CD-I and LaserActive. it wont even do as well as NeoGeo or 3DO. even those consoles had games developed specifically for them, and excusive games ready at or before launch, unlike Phantom (so far)

 

[DeathKnight]

The video for it off of their website is pretty slick, but the product itself is a joke.

 

[bdmosky]

I'm to lazy to look at the webpage to see if this is listed, but does anyone know if you sign a contract when you purchase this machine, because for the price it sounds like a hell of a deal for PC hardware. Who cares if it bombs as a console, I'd make it a cheap, fast PC for $400.

 

[KimB]

I doubt it would be modular. That is, I bet most of the components would be soldered-in, making it rather challenging to take pieces out for use in a real PC.

 

[o.d.]

Actually they are saying it is an 'UPGRADEDABLE' console....

you can get cpu speeds 'up to' 3 ghz and get the 'latest' iteration of the nvidia geforce card....

Maybe the pieces aren't stuck in the machine?

BTW, doesn't this go counter to the CONSOLE idea?

 

[KimB]

Actually they are saying it is an 'UPGRADEDABLE' console....

Look at the optional components.

They list RAM as one, and do not list the video card as optional.

In particular, here is the entire statement about the CPU:

"Up to 3.0 GHz processor with 256MB DDR RAM"

This means that either the RAM, the CPU, or both are upgradeable. It doesn't necessarily mean the CPU is.

But still, it doesn't seem to me this would be cost-effective. So many of the components are likely to be "nailed-down." Just look at the pictures of the back of the case.

 

[Megadrive1988]

interesting.

well the only way I see it being upgrade-able is, if it is in fact just a PC in a console shell. which would support the idea that Phantom is not a format really, just a PC for the living room, like Gateway's Destination livingroom PCs.

 

[bdmosky]

I doubt it would be modular. That is, I bet most of the components would be soldered-in, making it rather challenging to take pieces out for use in a real PC.

Does it really matter? I'm sure any security will be hacked in no time and it could easily be formatted and made into a real PC. Only thing I see it lacking from the picture is a DVI or even Analog connection for a monitor, but it could still make a nice living room PC. I've always wanted a small form factor PC to link to my stereo and TV in the living room. I could wirelessly link it to my network and this machine may become almost perfect for the job if the price is right and no contract required.

 

[KimB]

True, and I suppose it will probably be very easy to hack. So, if you just want to use it as sort of a set-top box, I suppose it could be very useful.

I guess I just tend to think of modularity as defining a PC...I suppose that's not what everybody needs.

 

[Pete]

As usual, PA shows and says it best. Read Tycho's news post for the spicy gossip that seems to shoot down this entire idea.

 

[cthellis42]

My thoughts...? I think thinking about it hurts my head. -_-