Phantom Game Service Goes Software Only

Although there has been no official press announcement, an update to the website of Phantom Entertainment (previously Infinium Labs) has revealed that the long-delayed Phantom Games Service has now become a software only games on-demand service. As originally conceived, the Phantom was a customized games-specific PC console designed to use a direct download content delivery service instead of removable media. Amidst considerable criticism of the company itself and notable financial turmoil, the Phantom was repeatedly delayed, despite being demonstrated as recently as a June 2005 edition of the G4 program Attack of the Show. A recent update to Phantom Entertainment’s website, though, indicates that “The Phantom Game Service was originally engineered to run on a Windows XP embedded operating system on a Phantom Game Receiver managed by Phantom content servers over the Internet.” The site now suggests that: “The Company intends to modify the Phantom Game Service software to run as client software on personal computers operating Windows XP and Windows XP Media center operating systems.” In its original form, The Phantom had support from publishers including Codemasters, Dreamcatcher Interactive, Eidos, GarageGames, Interplay, O-3 Entertainment, Vivendi and Atari. It is unclear whether any of these companies are still supporting the service - recent SEC filings have shown debts still outstanding to the majority of them from previous Infinium financial difficulties. Despite the website update, no further information is given on the release date of the Phantom Lapboard device, which was originally promised to be released “no later than October 2006”.