Phantom Console a Hoax?

News - 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.

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".

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?