Infinium Labs to become Phantom Entertainment?

Developer of Phantom gaming service and Lapboard peripheral to change name pending stockholder approval; former CEO sues company.

Infinium Labs has endured no small amount of criticism for its choice of "Phantom" as the name of its yet-to-materialize gaming console. Originally announced in 2002, the Phantom has been subject to endless delays, false starts, numerous changes to Infinium Labs' executive roster, and even a scandal or two.

But now the company has told investors that it plans to change its name...to Phantom Entertainment, Inc. Infinium has called a special stockholders' meeting for July 13 in Tampa, Florida, where the company hopes they will vote in favor of the name change. In the SEC filing detailing the meeting, the company gave the following reasoning for the switch:

"The Board of Directors believes that the name change would be in the best interests of the Company because the new name better reflects the long-term growth strategy of the Company."

The filing also mentions another development in the Infinium Labs saga, a lawsuit brought against the company by its former CEO Kevin Bachus. According to the filing, Bachus sued the company in March for almost $51,000 in "unpaid wages and accrued and unpaid personal time off." Infinium Labs said it "plans to defend itself vigorously in this matter."

104 Comments

  • CraigD

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 3:17 pm PT

    You're welcome DT, They're making steps in progress.

    And Another thing:

    Infinium Labs Takes First Step in Global Strategy
    SEATTLE, June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Infinium Labs, Inc., (BB:IFLB), designer and developer of the Phantom(R) Lapboard, today announced a sales agreement with Westex Europe NV to serve the E-commerce, retail and OEM industrial markets throughout Europe.
    Westex Europe NV, a sales organization for high-technology products and solutions, will play a key role in the sales, marketing and distribution of the Phantom Lapboard, a wireless combination keyboard/mouse peripheral designed to enhance video game play on PCs. Westex Europe will target original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), value-added resellers (VARS), systems builders and E-commerce retailers in Europe.
    "We think the Phantom Lapboard is a great offering for our customers," said Dirk Baerts, Westex Europe's Managing Director. "We're confident that our strong presence in the European marketplace combined with the Phantom Lapboard's potential customization as a wireless keyboard/mouse peripheral will penetrate our consumer markets with great success."
    "The Phantom Lapboard wireless keyboard/mouse peripheral can be distributed as a stand-alone product or incorporated directly into third party technologies. We believe that our Lapboard can be customized to meet the exacting demands of diverse markets," said Greg Koler, Infinium Labs' President and CEO. "The end goal is to make the Phantom Lapboard a must-have peripheral."
    The Phantom Lapboard is an innovative peripheral that enables players to control games designed for keyboard and mouse usage with as much agility as they are used to in the office, from the comfort of the couch or easy chair. The Lapboard rotates for left- and right-handed users and also inclines on a 30-degree angle with a hard surface below for the Phantom Mouse. The device is wireless and provides USB and headphone/microphone ports. The Phantom Lapboard interchangeable key-face technology is designed for game-specific and business software applications.
    About Westex Europe NV
    Mentioned Last Change
    IFLB
    0.014 0.0015dollars or (12.00%)

    Westex focuses on introducing high-tech start-ups in Europe and helps build distribution channels to enable rapid entry to consumer markets. Westex establishes distribution channels for consumer products in each European country. The company's extensive experience in IT and game peripherals distribution, retail sales channels and (OEM) Original Equipment Manufacturers, helps establish a close match between consumer products and sales channels. Westex Europe BV provides services for gaming companies such as Zboard(TM) and MonsterGecko. Westex NV has helped companies such as Centrum Communications (now a 3com company), Gravis, Storm Technologies and Xircom Inc. (now an Intel company) get to market in Europe. For more information, please visit http://www.westexeurope.com .
    About Infinium Labs
    Infinium Labs (BB:IFLB) is the designer and manufacturer of the Phantom Lapboard. The Company is in development of The Phantom Game Service, anticipated to be the first end-to-end, on-demand game service for delivery to the living room. Delivered over broadband, the Phantom Game Service is designed to offer casual and avid gamers a broad library of titles, available anytime, day or night. For more information, please visit http://www.phantom.net .

    Newz that's not fit to print.

  • Dragon-Town

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 10:02 pm PT

    CraigD thanks for the interesting information.

    Whether or not you think that anything is going to come out, I at least think that it's interesting to read the "official story" I'd be interested in knowing what happens at the shareholders meeting.

    I am not a fanboy, nor am I a hater of this product, I signed up for their e-mail newslettter back in '02 and have been watching it off and on ever since. Never decided whether or not I'd buy it because I never had enough information to even consider it.

    That being said, this is pretty funny:
    http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/01/30

    On a side note it seems to me that anyone who leaves Microsofts Game Studios and XBOX division seem to fall flat after leaving M$:

    Shamus Blackley I remember hearing how the XBOX "prophet" was going to found a video game studio designed at making the best XBOX games ever. That went nowhere and did nothing.
    Ed Fries left Microsoft Game Studios and even though I expected to see his name pop up again, I haven't.
    And then Kevin Bachus if nothing else is out a considerable sum of money and has damaged his professional credibility. Wow what a string of face plants.

    I hope J. Allard's abscence from E3 this year isn't a harbinger of the latest in this string of high profile failures.

  • CraigD

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 7:10 pm PT

    Phantom online store opening August 15 2006.

    Phantom(R) Lapboard Online Store Will Launch August 15
    Tuesday June 6, 8:00 am ET Touchwood Selected for eCommerce Redesign of Phantom.net Website

    "Touchwood's expertise in implementing eCommerce support for consumers, resellers and partners is a perfect match for the marketing and sales launch of the Phantom Lapboard," said Greg Koler, President and CEO of Infinium Labs.

    "Our entire staff is excited about this opportunity to support the interactive marketing and sales launch of the Phantom Lapboard," said Kelly White, Managing Partner of Touchwood, Inc. "Touchwood will deliver a progressive design style to suit the image of the new Phantom Lapboard and we will deliver a total eCommerce architecture for online shopping, secured payment gateways, fulfillment and processing. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060606/nytu073.html?.v=51

  • CraigD

    Posted May 31, 2006 7:43 pm PT

    OK, Check out this latest announcement:

    May 31, 2006
    Infinium Labs Provides Trading Update
    Somewhat troubled hardware and peripheral firm Infinium Labs, which recently announced its plans to change the company name to Phantom Entertainment, has officially released a trading update revealing its upcoming plans for the Phantom Lapboard mouse/keyboard peripheral and the Phantom Gaming Service itself.

    According to Infinium, the company is moving forward with Itron Technology to manufacture the Phantom Lapboard, a combination keyboard/mouse peripheral designed to enhance video game play on PCs. Infinium will evaluate prototypes in June and July and "plans to proceed with manufacturing production in September to meet its October shipping date."

    The company is nearing agreements with worldwide companies to handle the logistics, warehousing/distribution, customer relations management and fulfillment services to support the marketing of the Phantom Lapboard in the U.S. and European markets.

    In addition, Infinium announced that it is "moving forward in development of the Phantom Game Service, anticipated to be the first end-to-end, on-demand game service for delivery to the living room", and "is engaged in discussions to license the Phantom Game Service technology to well-established manufacturers of PCs and digital home entertainment centers", but no date is specified for the hardware's launch.

    "We are on a fast pace crossing over the threshold of manufacturing and marketing our first product, the Phantom Lapboard," noted Greg Koler, Infinium Labs' President and CEO. "Everything is on schedule for first arrivals of the Phantom Lapboard this October in the US market."
    POSTED: 6.35am PST, 05/31/06 - Simon Carless
    http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9525

    It appears something may be happening at Phantom Entertainment...

  • Owt_Ytrof

    Posted May 30, 2006 1:03 pm PT

    I'm not sure what's sadder: that we're still getting "news" about the Phantom, or that some people still seem to think it's an actual product that will be available for purchase someday.

  • Link1515

    Posted May 30, 2006 10:44 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • santiagochile

    Posted May 30, 2006 10:39 am PT

    I can't wait for the DS lite. Only 12 days. The new, brighter screens should make it easier to play with sunlight, and the case should make it harder to scratch. I'm also pumped about the battery life and the longer stylus. Go Nintendo!

  • EddyG0RD0

    Posted May 30, 2006 4:04 am PT

    as the name says: phantom

  • soulknight63133

    Posted May 30, 2006 3:34 am PT

    Instead of the govnment going after game developers and game rating systems, they should be spending their time going after people who form "front" companies like this. Listening..Senators?

  • CraigD

    Posted May 29, 2006 3:45 pm PT

    I'm planning on going to the shareholder's meeting on July 13.

  • Ima_Grey

    Posted May 29, 2006 2:51 pm PT

    Oh just give it up already!!! Do they really think that changing the name of the company is going to change the fact that this console will never come out.

    And even if the impossible would happen, and it would somehow come out, how would they suppose to be able to compete against giants like Sony, Micorsoft and Nintendo??

  • Charlie2688

    Posted May 29, 2006 11:37 am PT

    If you stop to think for a moment the "phantom" is a really good name and its name fits its purpose! well like a phantom (or ghost) it is invincible and it is object of myths and legends it is said to exist but very few people have seen it....in conclusion it IS a good name the fits EXACLTY what it was named after...lol

    If they had named it “ghost” that WOULD have been the most hilarious thing EVER due to the EXTREME irony…lol

  • ZEELIX

    Posted May 29, 2006 7:02 am PT

    i hope everyone here has a university degree. i mean thers probably some old rich guy that went to harvard and is investing in the phantom. like wtf?? i think this proves my study that being a gamer makes you smarter.
    phantoms nw name " " thats all it is. please!!!! gamespot. just let this topic die.

  • sabru8

    Posted May 28, 2006 4:45 pm PT

    w/e

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted May 28, 2006 2:41 pm PT

    I wouldnt be worried about long-term growth, I would be worried about short-term growth. Unless this box comes out in 2006 with the ability to cause orgasms its doomed!

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted May 28, 2006 2:37 pm PT

    I'll be filthy stinking rich before this console comes out.

  • mamodoking

    Posted May 28, 2006 10:03 am PT

    This is NOT going to be a flop people. For something to "FLOP' it has to come out. This is nothing more than a scheme to rip of investers.

  • omegajek

    Posted May 27, 2006 5:05 pm PT

    Some don't quit

  • CraigD

    Posted May 27, 2006 4:49 pm PT

    Nah, I've waited a while for this to come out. So I'm voting yes on all of the measures at the meeting ;-D

  • Quadster

    Posted May 27, 2006 2:42 pm PT

    methinks the phantom should just remain the ghoul it's turning out to be and stay in the graveyard where it's safe..away from us mortals

  • Hellraiser3899

    Posted May 27, 2006 11:19 am PT

    Anyone care?... no? didn't think so

  • mpeg3s

    Posted May 27, 2006 10:50 am PT

    Wow, with Gizmondo & Phanton you can see you the US corperate culture has now become slezzed.

    I don't believe the HYPE and won't invest a dime in ANY corp now days.

    Corps lie, cheat, and steal like your local thiefs!

  • Hellisunreal

    Posted May 27, 2006 10:23 am PT

    what the hell is wrong wit these guyz

  • bobreturns

    Posted May 27, 2006 10:22 am PT

    i had never head of this until last time there was something about it in the news

    this will be a flop

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted May 27, 2006 10:19 am PT

    Well, at least there's some news on it. I haven't seen anything about it since last year's E3.

    The Phantom's like the Chinese Democracy of video game consoles; I wouldn't be surprised if Axl Rose endorses this.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted May 27, 2006 10:14 am PT

    This Phantom joke has ran a bit long. Why won't it just die already?!

  • the_junk

    Posted May 27, 2006 9:50 am PT

    this thing had better be pretty dang fricken good if it hopes to sell even one system with the big three out there. ha. i laugh at them

  • LordAndrew

    Posted May 27, 2006 9:26 am PT

    You mean "Phantom Entertainment". XD

  • Magna01

    Posted May 27, 2006 8:03 am PT

    all infinium labs wanna do is rip off other people

  • princeofgames90

    Posted May 27, 2006 7:46 am PT

    What i never even heard of this company and what did they say consol that a joke does he think that he will compet with the big three

  • captainalpha1

    Posted May 27, 2006 6:12 am PT

    This think is gonna stink.

  • cyprus646

    Posted May 27, 2006 4:36 am PT

    I dont get it how can u be in buisness for 4 years and only show screen shots of the "console" they dont have any tech demos or kits does anyone else find that strange ??

  • chrisdojo

    Posted May 27, 2006 3:45 am PT

    lol.

  • kingofps3

    Posted May 27, 2006 12:34 am PT

    They are definitely heading the wrong way on the wrong road to the wrong place all for the wrong reason to make a lot of blood money but where they are wrong is that they are only going to lose money on a already flopped console thing.

  • mraj21

    Posted May 26, 2006 11:37 pm PT

    sounds a bit fishy....They have nothing!!! Probaly a front or something.

  • bunty_007

    Posted May 26, 2006 11:12 pm PT

  • theKSMM

    Posted May 26, 2006 10:58 pm PT

    You fanboys of the Big Three always come up with this crap whenever some good news about the Phantom materializes. This thing has a huge game library, a full keyboard, and it will blow XBOX Live! Arcade out of the water. XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3 graphics will be old and stale by the time the Phantom arrives with 2048p HD resolutions.

    So while you guys wave your arms around to play your new gen games or debate about which is truly high-def, I'll be saving my pennies for a console that will blow yours out of the water...I just don't know when.

    That's right...I'm a Phantom fanboy.

  • abdu4

    Posted May 26, 2006 10:04 pm PT

    Wow good luck with your new product

  • ultrazone

    Posted May 26, 2006 9:34 pm PT

    ya know, this thing is never coming out, its just a way to legally rob stockholders. chances are, the console may not really exist anymore. probably a dozen or so people are actually working on the damn console if it does.

  • LinkErdrich

    Posted May 26, 2006 8:44 pm PT

    I wonder if they're actually closer to releasing a product. Not likely, but I still wonder.

  • Proudy

    Posted May 26, 2006 8:10 pm PT

    This is the same guy whom claims to invented striped paint.

  • Marmotas

    Posted May 26, 2006 6:17 pm PT

    they whant to become a Phantom... im sure they do! XD , after all the fraudulent contracts they have, Tax evasion, etc! of course they whant to dissapear!
    i agree with a couple posters, they should merge with Ngage and have Duke Nukem Forever as a launch title.... im sure that if they do that they will disappear without trace!... FOREVER! XD... so freaking funny this anouncement... i dont know WTF are they thinking or WTF the investors have in their heads XD.... hell.... im going to be laughing for a year every time i remember this S°°° XDXDXD....

  • comthitnuong

    Posted May 26, 2006 6:17 pm PT

    is the phantom even coming out?

  • ryanthegreat232

    Posted May 26, 2006 5:55 pm PT

    This just in, anohter name change is in the works...Enron 2.0

  • axia_777

    Posted May 26, 2006 5:10 pm PT

    hahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fools....

  • mark_unix

    Posted May 26, 2006 4:52 pm PT

    nobody in the industry takes them seriously, everyone knows they are a company based on fraud and tax evasion.

  • imautobot

    Posted May 26, 2006 4:32 pm PT

    This console seemed like a cool concept until they couldn't give any solid specs, and the actual price never materialized. I seem to recall them offering free units with 2 year contracts. I hope no one bought into that prematurely because they will NEVER see that money again. The Phantom will never be anything BUT a Phantom. And I'd bet on it.

  • alberto2045

    Posted May 26, 2006 4:23 pm PT

    where is the infinium lab and not to be mean or anything what is it???

  • NeoJedi

    Posted May 26, 2006 4:23 pm PT

    The Phantom is a obsolete machine already.

  • neoand12

    Posted May 26, 2006 4:22 pm PT

    that would have been a great system

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