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story category RIP: Phantom Broadband Console
Company blew through $62.7 million in 3 years
(old news - 08:01AM Thursday Feb 23 2006)
tags: hardware · gaming · trouble
We'd followed it this far, so we might as well print the eulogy: the broadband Phantom game service, two time winner of a Wired vaporware award, is indefinitely on hold, reports Gamespot. The company's books are open, and outline how the company lost $62.7 million in three years, broke agreements with developers, and even owe their landlord money (without a single product on the market to show for it). Who could have predicted that a wealthy kid with a history of failure would ultimately - fail?

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Forums » RIP: Phantom Broadband Console
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qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX


1 edit

No RIP Here

Rest In Peace????? I don't think so, not after the way they tried to sue [H]ardOCP out of business. F*** and feed 'em fish heads. Personally I'd like to see the Management treated to a good old-fashioned recipe for con-men. Think tar, feathers, and riding them out of town on a rail. It just proves there's a sucker (investor) born every minute.
--
Anyone who thinks evolution is a "theory" and not a "fact" should remember these three little words: Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
Plldwnyrpnts

join:2003-04-19
Chicago, IL

Re: No RIP Here

I'm really surprized [H]ardOCP didn't have a bigger "HA HA" type posting on the front page. My guess would be their letting it die it's slow death (and avoiding more trouble.) Or maybe their just saving it for the official Phantom death.

SychoSly
Love To Hate You
Premium
join:2004-01-22
Park Ridge, IL
·Comcast

said by qdemn7 See Profile :

Rest In Peace????? I don't think so, not after the way they tried to sue [H]ardOCP out of business. F*** and feed 'em fish heads. Personally I'd like to see the Management treated to a good old-fashioned recipe for con-men. Think tar, feathers, and riding them out of town on a rail. It just proves there's a sucker (investor) born every minute.
Rest in Pieces!
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your sig is stupid

@rr.com

thumbs down from:
schnuggles See Profile

Your sig is really showing an example of ADAPTATION, not evolution.

You should look into the differences.

wmcbrine
Touched by His Noodly Appendage

join:2002-12-30
Laurel, MD

Re: No RIP Here

There is no difference, except in the minds of creationists. Evolution IS adaptation.

james

join:2001-02-26
antarctica

Re: No RIP Here

I feel Adaptation is when an organism changes its behavior or somehow develops something that helps it in its environment so it can survive better.
Evolution is almost the same, except the change is spread across generations; the original organism does not change from birth, but it IS slightly different from its parent organism(s).

anonymous coward

@24.22.x.x

Re: No RIP Here

That's exactly right.

Bacteria don't live very long, and antibiotic resistant bacteria are an example of evolution, not of adaptation.

P.S. DINOSAURS ARE REAL.

qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX

said by your sig is stupid :

Your sig is really showing an example of ADAPTATION, not evolution.

You should look into the differences.
Uh-huh, and you should have the balls to register before calling someone out.
--
Anyone who thinks evolution is a "theory" and not a "fact" should remember these three little words: Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
Roop

join:2003-11-15
Ottawa, ON

Re: No RIP Here

oh stfu with this registration bs. it doesn't f***** matter. just repond the comment.
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

Re: No RIP Here

said by Roop See Profile :

oh stfu with this registration bs. it doesn't f***** matter. just repond the comment.
I agree - If registration mattered, they would make it mandatory here.. Best post all day!
smcallah

join:2004-08-05
Home

Just because he's anonymous doesn't mean he doesn't have the right to call you out.

And besides, you're anonymous too, or is your last name Qdemn7, or is that your first name?

He's actually less anonymous than you, since you can see part of his hostname, and know he's possibly in the Charlotte area on RoadRunner.

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs:
·Packet8

said by qdemn7 See Profile :

Rest In Peace????? I don't think so, not after the way they tried to sue [H]ardOCP out of business. F*** and feed 'em fish heads. Personally I'd like to see the Management treated to a good old-fashioned recipe for con-men. Think tar, feathers, and riding them out of town on a rail. It just proves there's a sucker (investor) born every minute.
I'm lost why did they try and Sue [H]?
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qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX

Re: No RIP Here

said by Subaru See Profile :

said by qdemn7 See Profile :

Rest In Peace????? I don't think so, not after the way they tried to sue [H]ardOCP out of business. F*** and feed 'em fish heads. Personally I'd like to see the Management treated to a good old-fashioned recipe for con-men. Think tar, feathers, and riding them out of town on a rail. It just proves there's a sucker (investor) born every minute.
I'm lost why did they try and Sue [H]?
Because of this article: »www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTEy
--
Anyone who thinks evolution is a "theory" and not a "fact" should remember these three little words: Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs:
·Packet8

Re: No RIP Here

said by qdemn7 See Profile :

said by Subaru See Profile :

said by qdemn7 See Profile :

Rest In Peace????? I don't think so, not after the way they tried to sue [H]ardOCP out of business. F*** and feed 'em fish heads. Personally I'd like to see the Management treated to a good old-fashioned recipe for con-men. Think tar, feathers, and riding them out of town on a rail. It just proves there's a sucker (investor) born every minute.
I'm lost why did they try and Sue [H]?
Because of this article: »www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTEy
lol I knew this this thing was crap from the start.
--
It's NOT Ni-kon It's NE-KON!

"Life is like a dogsled team. If you aren't the lead dog, the scenery never changes"

technick
Premium
join:2000-12-16
Loganville, GA

Only 62.7 Million

Honestly management should be responsible for every cent that they blew through and repay the investors...
smcallah

join:2004-08-05
Home

Re: Only 62.7 Million

Unless management stole the money, I don't think so.

Investors know the risks of investing.

If everyone could invest, and be guaranteed that their initial investment would be paid back in full on failure, no company would want investors.

And conversely, if a company makes billions off of your million dollar investment, can the company ask if they can only give you back your million, so they can keep all the profits for themselves? I mean, if you're going to ask for all your money back during a failure, why can't they just give you your original investment back during success?

Nightshade
sic semper tyrannis
Premium
join:2002-05-26
Salem, OR


1 edit
Yeah they should be but at the same time the laws regarding protecting venture capital and investment interests are almost non-existent and even then there is never a full recovery of the capital the investor invested in the company.

The primary reason on the minuscule investment capital laws has to do with our capitalistic society and economy that we live under.

I am going to play my favorite game, devil's advocate here by saying yes they should be responsible for burning 62.7 million in two years but at the same time thinking if I could burn that much money in the same amount of time.

ScottJr

join:2001-10-10
Charles Town, WV
·FrontierNet Intern..

Marketing?

From the article:
"Tactics we intend to utilize are one-to-one and online/viral techniques to identify, communicate and drive hardcore gamers (who are the most likely early adopters) to the Phantom Internet website."

So they are going to try to talk in message boards to make sales? And what does "viral techniques" mean?

Seems like it is time to shut the doors for good.

Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Sarasota, FL
clubs:

Sorry for the employees

I feel nothing for the management, but I do feel a little sorry for the poor saps who went to work for them...betting their future on the hype they'd been fed. Sarasota isn't exactly a hot bed for tech work, some of these guys relocated there just for Phantom. (yeah, I know a couple of them) Granted though, I think anyone working on the inside should have seen the light the first day on the job.
--
AMD X2 4800+ @2700Mhz/ MSI K8N Neo 4 Platinum SLI/ 2x 1024Mb Corsair XMS PC4000/ WD 74Gb Raptor/ PNY 7800GTs SLI/ Antec 550 True Control/Custom water cooler
hurfy
Premium
join:2002-08-06
Spokane, WA

Re: Sorry for the employees

I would seem like the fact that you aren't actually producing anything should be a clue however....

That and any startup that pays 25k a month in rent...i pay half that for 20 ppl in office and warehouse space for many semis worth of stuff! That is just some guy getting an office to match his ego.

I just don't get where people like this find all that free money.

the_buz

join:2004-02-15
Yorba Linda, CA

Vapoware.

I thought this console died years ago? It was doomed from the beginning.
jmuskratt

join:2000-11-21
New Orleans, LA

Vaporware?

More importantly, what happened to the Vaporware list for 2005?!

tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One

Re: Vaporware?

said by jmuskratt See Profile :

More importantly, what happened to the Vaporware list for 2005?!
You can find it here:
»www.wired.com/news/technology/0,···_index_1

Just came out a couple of weeks ago. Phantom only made #2...

Three guesses as to what made #1 AGAIN. (Hint: it's taking "Forever." )
--
Copyright infringement is illegal. Murder is illegal. Therefore, file sharing is murder.
jmuskratt

join:2000-11-21
New Orleans, LA

Re: Vaporware?

Thanks, I've been checking the Wired site for weeks (and recently too) and never found it.
jmuskratt

join:2000-11-21
New Orleans, LA

Re: Vaporware?

From the winner's website about why it's taking so long...

"While this question constantly comes up from concerned fans, the fact is that the game is not taking as long as it may seem. As stated by several 3D Realms employees numerous times, quality games simply take time."

It's not really taking 9 years, it just seems that way.

kamm

join:2001-02-14
Brooklyn, NY

I'm in the wrong business...

...as a chief IT person - I should start my own vaporware-maker company and burn through $60M within 4-5 years... it'd be much more funnier to spend time to figure out the next lie for the investors than actually work as I do.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus

join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net


3 edits

Re: I'm in the wrong business...

The question I have is what off shore bank did much of this
60 plus million blow to. With The Bahamas just a short flight away one wonders. You don't suppose we will see a corporate office open on one of these islands.

As for viral techniques plant a virus in you computer to make it contact the Phantom Internet site, would work better then scamming people into thinking they are going to get an Ipod for their efforts.
--
Low voltage Tech's are wimps, Real tech's use 45 pound filament transformers, plate voltages no less then 2400 volts with at least 10 amp's lighting 8877 triodes...BPL I'm coming to get you.

TKJunkMail
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Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast

Re: I'm in the wrong business...

said by Transmaster See Profile :

The question I have is what off shore bank did much of this
60 plus million blow to. With The Bahamas just a short flight away one wonders. You don't suppose we will see corporate office open on one of these islands.
I'm not saying this outfit is one of them, but a lot of these types of companies are nothing but money laundering fronts for organized crime. They use them to wash their illegal funds and turn them into money that can go to banks and then be transferred out of the country. They have no intention of ever making a product.
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furlonium
Computer Over? Virus equals Very Yes?

join:2002-05-08
Bethlehem, PA

Re: I'm in the wrong business...

said by TKJunkMail See Profile :

said by Transmaster See Profile :

The question I have is what off shore bank did much of this
60 plus million blow to. With The Bahamas just a short flight away one wonders. You don't suppose we will see corporate office open on one of these islands.
I'm not saying this outfit is one of them, but a lot of these types of companies are nothing but money laundering fronts for organized crime. They use them to wash their illegal funds and turn them into money that can go to banks and then be transferred out of the country. They have no intention of ever making a product.
I was thinking the same damn thing.

qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX

Re: I'm in the wrong business...

said by furlonium See Profile :

said by TKJunkMail See Profile :

said by Transmaster See Profile :

The question I have is what off shore bank did much of this
60 plus million blow to. With The Bahamas just a short flight away one wonders. You don't suppose we will see corporate office open on one of these islands.
I'm not saying this outfit is one of them, but a lot of these types of companies are nothing but money laundering fronts for organized crime. They use them to wash their illegal funds and turn them into money that can go to banks and then be transferred out of the country. They have no intention of ever making a product.
I was thinking the same damn thing.
Just one more reason why drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed the same as alcohol.
--
Anyone who thinks evolution is a "theory" and not a "fact" should remember these three little words: Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
Primis1

join:2005-06-13
Coldwater, MI

Re: I'm in the wrong business...

Where exactly did anyone ever say anything about drugs?

qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX

Re: I'm in the wrong business...

said by Primis1 See Profile :

Where exactly did anyone ever say anything about drugs?
Point taken. But when I think organized crime, I think drugs.
--
Anyone who thinks evolution is a "theory" and not a "fact" should remember these three little words: Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
it wasn't "exactly" said, but was meant in context.. it's not difficult to see, really.

biggbrother
Premium
join:2001-11-07
Providence, RI

This might possibly be one of the biggest scams in the history of venture capital. If I were these burned investors, I would be knocking down the doors of the SEC, FTC, and Department of Justice so these scam artists can be investigated.

How the hell do you burn through nearly $70 Million in funding and have nothing to show for it, and are being evicted? And all that money on advertising!!?? What were they advertising? I have never seen an ad for one of their products.

The guys who run this company are laughing all the way to the bank.

qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX

Re: I'm in the wrong business...

said by biggbrother See Profile :

The guys who run this company are laughing all the way to the Cayman Islands.
Fixed it for you.
--
Anyone who thinks evolution is a "theory" and not a "fact" should remember these three little words: Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

viperpa33s
Why Me?
Premium
join:2002-12-20
Bradenton, FL
·Bright House

Dead Horse

As we can see, there are dumb investors out there. This so called company took everyone for a ride. 63 million and 3 years later, they still have not gotten a product off the ground. Now they are asking more people to invest in a dead horse.

If it was such a fantastic product, they could of partnered with another tech company to share in investment and marketing costs.
GhostDoggy

join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA

Future Enron Employees?

You have to wonder if the feds will step in and haul these donkeys off.

TScheisskopf
World News Trust

join:2005-02-13
Belvidere, NJ
·Sprint Broadband D..

I think I am having an attack of the vapours.

I worked for a tech startup and got screwed, blued and tattooed. Reading the "prediction" now has me on the floor with an attack of deja vu. This guys reads so much like the putative "CEO" of Infinium it is scary.

Of course, the sociopathic bozo I worked for wasn't even able to raise money, inspite of a stellar cast and good designs in the hopper, not to mention a marketing strategy that would have worked.

Make no mistake about it, too: Guys like this are Malignant Narcissistic Sociopaths. After it was done and I was financially eviscerated, I consulted with the guy who wrote the book on the disorder, Dr. Sam Vaknin, a veritable fount of insight on guys like this. He described guys like this to a "T".

What amazes me is that these clowns can play Vulture Capitalists like a snake charmer.

qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX

Re: I think I am having an attack of the vapours.

said by TScheisskopf See Profile :

Narcissistic Sociopaths. After it was done and I was financially eviscerated, I consulted with the guy who wrote the book on the disorder, Dr. Sam Vaknin, a veritable fount of insight on guys like this. He described guys like this to a "T".
What's the book?
--
Anyone who thinks evolution is a "theory" and not a "fact" should remember these three little words: Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

norvergance

@safeway.com

norvergence

ah... this reminds me of the wonders of NORVERGENCE and the fun that was with the anon poster shills. good times!
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

Re: norvergence

LOL - norvergence.. what a joke. I called that one at first sight! That was a joke of a business model, money looser, and pure scam. I just couldn't figure that one out at all.

One of my customers went to that from an "invitation" - I told them to stay away to only be told "no no no, it's a good deal"... Yea.. 4 unlimited use business lines, T-1 internet, and 5 cell phones with complete unlimited use or $190 a month? ::slapping head::

They never got all their services, only the cell phones came and the telephones were switched to a new company, but the system router and T-1 never ever came. I guess they couldn't smooz the ILECs enough to pull it off. From what I knew, not many people ever did get the router box or the T-1s...

spatula_city

join:2001-05-09
Fullerton, CA
clubs:

Phantom box at CES 2005

I went to CES last year and I remember seeing the Phantom box in a small booth.
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

Re: Phantom box at CES 2005

Maybe there IS something in a name.

Incredulous1

@comcast.net

This makes no sense

What I don't understand about the whole debacle is how these 'tards were able to amass nearly $70 million to blow through from investors when the company and the concept of the product was something that any 12yr old video game jockey could have told you was a joke from the start? At no time did they ever have a viable concept for a product. From the very beginning the idea for a console where you don't OWN your games and pay for a monthly SUBSCRIPTION was something that any gamer, even casual ones, would have told you to go shove up your ass from the beginning. The idea never had a chance, not even if someone came out with the product today and it could take both the XBox360 and PS2's milk money and leave then crying would it have a chance in hell of succeeding. It was so painfully flawed from the start it was difficult to conceive how ANY investor would have put a dime into their ideas.

It was like watching any 'show' you'd see on MTV... All you can think is "Some idiot got PAID to make this crap?"

Bender_2k

join:2003-01-12
clubs:
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Rogers Hi-Speed


1 edit

Keyboard ain't bad...

While I wasn't a fan of the Phantom, I wouldn't mind see'ing they're concepts for a mouse/keyboard tray one day going on sale.
Forums » RIP: Phantom Broadband Console


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