Phantom Ph@!*!d!

August 17th, 2006, 17:04 Posted By: wraggster

Online gaming hardware heads to the grave, with software-only service in its place

If prizes were awarded for living up to a name to almost disastrous effect, then the rarely-seen Phantom Games Service from Phantom Entertainment would almost certainly be basking in a big, pot of gold right now. As it stands, it's currently contemplating another troublesome episode in the longest-running tragi-comedy since Shakespeare last waved a quilted pen.

According to its official site (formerly Infinium Labs), original plans to release the Phantom service as a PC console unit that would sit sweetly under your telly and download gaming content directly have now been scrapped. In its place will now be an online games service that will "run as client software on personal computers operating Windows XP and Windows XP Media center operating systems".

The sceptics will already be raising their eyebrows over this one. After all, isn't this service vaguely similar to other online gaming services already available on home computers, and not the revolutionary set-up originally proposed?

It will be interesting to see whether the Phantom will ever see the light of day in its new state, and if it does, whether its reported original support from publishers such as Eidos and Codemasters will still be in full force. One thing's for certain though - you can apparently still pre-order its smart, wireless Phantom Lapboard peripheral from the website...

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