So what is the Downside?

This is a story for you underdog fans. Infinium Labs, a just about unknown, venture-capital-funded company, virtually stepped within the ring with juggernauts Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo with a video game system it had developed. Was this just hype, or did the Phantom really have an opportunity at being the next large factor? Sound acquainted? That pretty much describes a desktop Pc with a broadband connection. And at its coronary heart, that is what the Phantom is: a Windows Computer (this web page lists the product specs). It has constructed-in S-video, RCA, and part video ports, so it may possibly hook up to your Television directly, similar to an X-Field or DVD player. It includes a sound card that helps Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. It uses a proprietary encryption scheme to store data on the arduous drive. It doesn't have a CD-ROM drive. Additionally, the Phantom is programmed to make use of Infinium Lab's digital non-public video games network (VPGN).

In the following section, we'll see what this feature is all about. Like an ordinary VPN, it acts as a direct, private route from computer to pc, through the Web -- in this case, from a Phantom console to the Infinium Labs sport server (see How VPNs Work for more info). The VPGN makes it simple for the console to get specific games from Infinium Labs, and extra importantly, it makes it simple for Infinium Labs to regulate who will get what video games. Even with these modifications, the Phantom is not earth-shattering from a pure hardware expertise standpoint. Infinium's major innovation is taking what's special about a gaming Laptop -- the broad variety of games, the ability to download games and recreation previews and the power to simply upgrade the equipment -- with what's special a couple of console -- the ability to play games using a big-display screen Television, excessive-end sound system and custom controller. As we'll see in the following section, Infinium Labs has used this marriage of console and Computer to place collectively a plan for a creative new gaming enterprise.

As we saw within the final section, the Phantom does not have a CD-ROM drive like an ordinary Computer or recreation console, and it would not have normal access to the Web both -- it really works via a specialized VPN. In different words, the only option to get a sport into the machine is to download it directly from Infinium Labs over a broadband connection. This and the system's propriety information encryption are the essential items of Infinium Labs' enterprise model. To grasp this system, as an instance you determine to get a Phantom. You'll order the Phantom console online or purchase it in a retailer. Infinium has introduced they may give the console hardware away free to individuals who signal a two-12 months contract for entry to the Phantom VPGN. You'll hook the console up to your broadband connection. Infinium Labs would arrange an account for you and provide you with entry to the VPGN. You'll pay $29.95 a month for the VPGN access.

Once you set up the console, you get a library of "free" games. To buy more video games, you'd entry the VPGN and see what's available for obtain. These games would be Laptop-based mostly games and doable ports of video games for X-Box and different consoles. Using the VPGN service, you'll also be capable to preview games, rent video games, enter tournaments. When you bought a game, you'd obtain it to the Phantom's hard drive. The Infinium Lab system would keep monitor of what you owe. You'd also have the power to block sure varieties of video games, to maintain children from enjoying games with excessive violence or different adult content. You'll get entry to prompt messaging, audio and video conferencing, boards and information. Infinium hopes to additionally offer Web looking, using Mozilla as an alternative of Internet Explorer. Infinium Labs' hope is that this program provides sufficient to gamers and game builders to be a hit.

The store just does not have room to place any more on the shelves. And since it's expensive to print discs, bundle discs and Memory Wave focus enhancer ship discs to bodily shops, solely relatively large game firms can afford to get a variety of games to shops anyway. There are a variety of recreation developers on the market who may produce thousands of video games for a particular console or a Computer, if they may get past the distribution hurdle. When you are taking the bodily disc out of the picture (as a result of the gamer downloads the game), there isn't a competition for shelf house, so it is simple to develop choice. Computer owners take pleasure in these identical advantages -- they can obtain video games they won't discover anyplace else. Lower value: Again, as a result of you're taking manufacturing and distribution prices out of the picture, you reduce down considerably on the sport distributor's bills. This implies, probably, Phantom games could value lower than comparable X-Box, GameCube or PlayStation 2 games.