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Phantom Console a Hoax?

We examine the evidence on Infinium Labs

Since we broke the Phantom games console story several months back, speculation has been rife regarding the manufacturer's claims, their credibility, and their ability to put this console on the shelves.

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Whilst the name of the product itself (Phantom – defined as "Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality" or "Fictitious; nonexistent". Source: dictionary.com) does suggest a hoax, most journalists have been convinced into admitting that they believe this product may have some substance.

Punters on website message boards, and the more cynical press, remain sceptical. Overclocking portal HardOCP had a reader, who works in the same building as the Infinium Labs offices, go over and take a look. Several photos later and it appears the office is a 100ft x 100ft room with a desk and two phones.

Steve, a HardOCP editor, talked to Tim Roberts (the CEO of Infinium Labs) as he told comic/weblog site Penny Arcade:

I talked to the Tim Roberts guy on the phone when he returned my call ( 22 days after I left a message ) and when I asked him about all this...he HUNG UP ON ME. I asked him if he was looking for investors, he said "We are actively recruiting investors". I asked him if they had any consoles on hand, he said "We have several hundred prototype models here in the office". So then I asked him where the prototypes were made, he said "right here in our facility". Then I told him I had seen his 100ft x 100ft office space conveniently[sp] located next to Missing Link Art Gallery in the strip mall ( located at 5380 Gulf of Mexico Dr. Longboat Key, Fl 34228 ) and he went NUTS!!! "WHO THE F*** IS THIS!?!?! BLAH BLAH I'LL SUE YOU". (Our censoring)

A Penny Arcade reader also points out that he can't find any records of Infinium Labs registering any trademarks for their "revolutionary" product.

Several people have noted that it may be a PR stunt by the company behind Infinium Lab's website and promotional video. 2Advanced, a California based design studio, are well known and well regarded in the industry. Their name is plastered on the website's splash page.

I spoke to Tim Roberts when the story first broke, and showed him the sceptical feedback we were getting on the news. He told me about his previous experience in setting up Savvis Communications Inc. and several other internet based companies. He also reassured me with the credentials of the company's "Advisory Board".

Also suggesting it's not a hoax is several journalists who say they have seen working prototypes, and an apparent $25m (£15.9m, 23m Euros) in venture capital Infinium Labs have received.

If this is a PR stunt, hoax, or both then its worked. 5 million visits to the company's website shows the reach this product and company has had. However, we have to question what exactly are they pushing if it's not a console?

1. lol

   a Sunday, 24 August 2003, 18:26:44

2. seems pretty real to me, but somebody should contact intel and nvidia to see if they bought stuff from them.

   locopuyo.com Sunday, 24 August 2003, 23:50:49

3. It took me 2 minutes to go and check the US trademark/patent site and find the Phantom trademarks.

   Isn't investigative journalism grand?

   Um......... Monday, 25 August 2003, 10:04:53

4. Ok - so the PA reader is incorrect in saying there are no trademarks.

   Jason Monday, 25 August 2003, 11:14:44

5. isn't there another invention of anew console?

   ultraskool Monday, 25 August 2003, 20:32:19

6. ok what is the phantom console!? i never heard of it in my life?! can someone explain!?

   what? Monday, 25 August 2003, 22:44:40

7. Well.. the guy running the show does have experience in starting up what are eventually huge businesses.

   You have to speculate to accumulate.

   Jason Tuesday, 26 August 2003, 09:03:56

8. umm.... ok...

   !!rEgALiS!! Wednesday, 27 August 2003, 01:21:18

9. well if it's a scam , i would venture to say that they must

   now have been approached by real investors. And probably discovered that to build an up to par gaming pc and putting it in a nice box , could be done very cheaply. Will decide to launch this "phantom" and make a buck of it , because it would sell.

   fried bean Thursday, 28 August 2003, 02:02:18

10. I love stories like this. You say, "several journalists... say they have seen working prototypes." What journalists? What publications do they write for? Where can I go read the accounts for myself? Have YOU read anything from these phantom reporters?

    Or are you just repeating what someone else said, who was just repeating what someone else said, who in turn was quoting you.... get the picture?

    DJ Dr. Evil Thursday, 28 August 2003, 07:50:48

11. And since when is 'Penny Arcade Reader' a good source of information?

    Erm.. Sunday, 31 August 2003, 20:47:55

12. Didn't Who's We create the webpage? Why would 2advanced hire Who's We to create it?

    Canji Tuesday, 2 September 2003, 18:14:46

13. I see 2advanced's logo on the Phantom & Infinium Labs sites.

    Maybe 2advanced were too busy and outsourced it?

    Jason Wednesday, 3 September 2003, 17:45:21

14. I've known Tim Roberts for many years and the guy has no fear. He's had his share of failures, but he learns from them and keeps moving forward.

    He isn't afraid to take on Microsoft or Sony and the guy has vision.

    I was a landscaper when I met him 6 years ago and now I'm helping Infinium slay the dragons of the gaming industry.

    Laugh now, but trust me when I say this is going to be BIG

    FatRobS Thursday, 18 September 2003, 16:44:17

16. Here are photos of the Phantom.

    http://www.angelfire.com/alt2/nanospeck/

    Nanospeck Friday, 19 September 2003, 02:10:57

17. Idiots..

    Justin Friday, 19 September 2003, 10:05:26

18. Wow, Phantom uses a Logitech Wingman rumble USB for a controler. How nice.

    React Friday, 19 September 2003, 10:13:0

19. I'm sure you all have read yet another article dealing with this same topic...

    www.hardocp.com

    If not then you might want to do it now.

    Agonistes

    Agonistes Saturday, 20 September 2003, 10:36:21

20. http://www.outwar.com/page.php?x=1609590

    see my site, it is about phantom Friday, 3 October 2003, 11:20:59

21. How much will coast Phantom in Europe.

    When I will see Phantom in Europe, let´s talk about the games. I can put Pc games on Phantom?

    Psychedelic Friday, 10 October 2003, 04:06:6

22. bite me

    anon Sunday, 12 October 2003, 15:38:27

23. Roberts is a crook.

    Call The St. Louis Business Journal -- they'll set you straight. He is a flim-flam artist who has screwed many people ... Ask him about a guy named Andrew Gladney, or Rob Shambro, or ask him what his twin brother Peter was doing in prison. Roberts moved to Florida because there were/are people in St. Louis who would like to take his head off ...and that ain't no phantom threat....keep asking around, better yet, ask him yourself ....contact him via www.timr.tv

    The TRuth Tuesday, 14 October 2003, 17:58:57

24. buy our album

    justin hawkins Wednesday, 15 October 2003, 17:31:2

25. I heard the phantom console could play any video game from another console. Is this true?

    Bryan Saturday, 18 October 2003, 16:26:51

26. Wow, the Phantom in that picture looks really cool. My roommate has one just like that. He can hook it up to the TV and play Quake 3, or UT2k3. Hell, he can even play games like Final Fantasy 9 on it! An always-on broadband connection. A sweet wireless mouse and keyboard (from Logitech even.) He gets a P4, a cutting-edge video card, fast memory (and lots of it,) a hard drive, and plenty of games. Because, just like the Phantom Gaming Console, it is a regular PC. Oh, and I forgot: My roommate's computer ACTUALLY EXISTS! He has it! Right there, on his desk! It's not sitting in a large, empty office building. It's not sitting in the living room of one lucky "investor." Right now, it's being used to watch anime, which my roommate can do because he has a DVD drive. Unlike /some/ glowing computers I've seen....

    Nuuuukie Friday, 24 October 2003, 22:07:6

27. Yes, because the patent office is completely impossible to fake out. Good thing they're watching out for consumers and not letting people patent virtually anything they feel like! Whew. Load off my mind.

    Hey, is Santa Claus real, too, in your world? Oh, and is he on the advisory board for Mister Roberts? Hey, maybe we should all move to Mister Roberts' Neighborhood!

    buttermonkey Sunday, 26 October 2003, 20:25:0

28. Given the angle/context of these photos and the brightness of the logo on the third one, these are just excellently photoshopped renderings. Maybe if I saw a whole roll of these... or if I saw the any of the cables reflect as cleanly on that table as the system, I'd be more impressed. I manipulate photos for a living. Why is this scam still not completely exposed? Do you think they would create an amazing website/video promotion and not put in the time to create some photos?

    Best case scenario, its just a computer.

    Also: someone ask id software or Epic or any publisher if they've published anything for the phantom.

    Tomasz Monday, 27 October 2003, 12:34:16

29. I personally don't think this is a hoax, it would be extremely hard to pull off, and would be in deep with a lot of people once they buy one and find out. Can someone explain to me, I don't understand what you mean, how is it a hoax?

    RotKiller Sunday, 23 November 2003, 04:16:19

30. [B]BIG[/B] went bankrupt...

    slay Monday, 1 December 2003, 00:26:4

32. What do you think about this ??

    http://www.phantomgaming.net/gallery/

    mangandini Friday, 5 December 2003, 23:04:42

33. My friend works on that site

    jimbo Tuesday, 16 December 2003, 18:44:39

34. Im one of the beta testers for the Phantom (my username on the Phantom forum is otterboy2000)

    Steven Tuesday, 16 December 2003, 18:45:57

35. wow.. a beta tester? so you dont actually do anything since they havent sent out units....

    opus13 Wednesday, 24 December 2003, 15:00:13

36. Its called wating for the system, its not like they pick me and the next day I have the system. We gotta wait for a while

    Steven Monday, 19 January 2004, 18:26:13

37. Maybe Steven (above) could tell us which venting pattern is the 'real' one? Surely he has at least recieved a shoebox painted to look similar to the photos in the month since his post about being a beta tester..

    -tuna indeed.

    duder Wednesday, 21 January 2004, 11:29:39

38. Hey I just wanted to say Infinium does have the trademarks registered. Also I talked to Tim before I became a tester and asked him about all that he never went crazy on me are you sure that HardOCP editor isn't telling stories.

    Carl Phantom Beta Tester Monday, 9 February 2004, 20:44:32

39. Take a look at this website...

    http://www.merit.edu/mail.archives/nanog/1997-02/msg00331.html

    Ratawn Wednesday, 11 February 2004, 00:54:51

40. If you could, take a look at this website

    http://www.merit.edu/mail.archives/nanog/1997-02/msg00331.html

    Try the websites listed on this page

    Ratawn Wednesday, 11 February 2004, 00:58:45

41. note the size of the 'console' in the first and last images... that child must be 2'7", or the phantom's size must be variable, or change with the seasons.

    bigcatpants Wednesday, 25 February 2004, 03:39:0

42. Hmm I'm not to sure on the company, the owner is a bit sketchy.

    Michael Thursday, 22 April 2004, 08:30:39

43. Has anyone noticed who's gonna be on stand 746 South Hall, next E3? :-)

    Karancho Wednesday, 5 May 2004, 17:05:37

44. FatRobS is that you Shambro? Another crook on the board.

    Abyss Thursday, 6 May 2004, 01:58:25

45. Hey Tim, tell us about that domestic abuse case filed in Florida between you and your wife.

    TMR Thursday, 6 May 2004, 02:04:28

46. Funny how 2Advanced use that Metroid game in the video. They could have at leats used a game that wasn't a Nintendo exclusive.

    Abyss Friday, 7 May 2004, 01:16:59

48. The Phantom will crush the competion Bahbahbah!!

    infuiem labs Friday, 2 July 2004, 20:43:24

49. errm ive seen a video from e3 with the phantom console playing ut2004 hmmm also why would someone make that up and get everyones hopes up it aint exactly a 100% fool proof marketing scheme is it lmao i think it is real and my uncle is in the console industry as well he has told me he knows people who know the guys in infinium labs so i know its real lol beleive what u like

    Perry Monday, 12 July 2004, 08:30:41

50. also i have a friend who worked on the 2advanced website she is a flash programmer i think she is involved with their projects etc, i can find out more information from her as well

    Perry Monday, 12 July 2004, 08:33:14

51. I was at E3 in 2004 and saw the phantom prototype working, but there is no way I will spend the kind of money they were perposing that the system will cost for the consumer.

    They stated that the console will be $1500.00 and that comes with the mouse keyboard and 5 games on the 40gig HDD.

    The you will half to pay a monthly fee for the service and also purchase the new games, it is not worth it, and not only that look and the specs! my computer right now is more powerful and I can upgrade you can't upgrade the phantom! So I will just keep my computer and purchase my games the way I have always done it!

    No thanks Phantom Hoax or not! No sale here!

    Feel free to email me with your comment at advance@comcast.net

    DarkNe$$ Tuesday, 25 January 2005, 23:36:49

52. it looks cool i;l buy it if it has good games and graphics

    caboose Tuesday, 3 May 2005, 18:51:5

53. I think that this is a bogus company just trying to hustle dollars from people and masquerading it as "Venture capital". A machine with PC like specs won't take this long to materialise and games will be easily ported over or re-done. Another scampish attempt to fool people.

    Shazad Monday, 2 January 2006, 23:41:1

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