Seriously, do people in the financial world do any kind of research before they jump into things? It appears that everyone's favorite vaporware producers, Phantom Entertainment, have found yet another patsy to pick up the tab for doing nothing but flushing cash down the toilet - here's a quote from a Phantom Entertainment press release I noticed the other night over at Yahoo Finance;

"The Company has closed a financing with John Fife, the managing partner of the Chicago Venture Partners, L.P. to help fund manufacturing and marketing of the Phantom® Wireless Lapboard and Phantom® Wireless Laser Mouse.

"I am excited about the opportunity to work with Phantom Entertainment and to be a financing resource to help the Company move forward with manufacturing the Phantom Wireless Lapboard," said John Fife, Managing Partner of Chicago Venture Partners. "I intend to consider additional infusions of capital to Phantom Entertainment as the company meets its manufacturing and revenue goals."

The Company is continuing to work closely with its contract manufacturer, Itron Technology Inc., to meet manufacturing production schedules for shipping Phantom Lapboards to Alienware for bundling with its PC Media Center, to distributors and to consumers.

The Company is continuing sales planning for distribution of the Phantom Wireless Lapboard and Phantom Wireless Laser Mouse through Global Marketing Partners' distribution channel with Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM - News), the world's largest technology distributor and a leading technology sales, marketing and logistics company." - Phantom Entertainment Press Release

The first thing that comes to my mind when I read the above statement is "How the hell did Alienware get themselves mixed up with these clowns?" I'm really not sure what I find funnier, that Phantom Entertainment isn't apparently even capable of creating a wireless PC keyboard or that they can somehow still find people willing to actually invest money in them. At some point, the check has to come right?... right?... Bueller?

For those of you just starting to play the home version of the Phantom Entertainment / Infinium Labs game, here are some links to our previous coverage of the situation - it's a lot of reading though, so be sure to grab a snack.

• INFINIUM LABS DELAYS PHANTOM LAPBOARD (4/20/06)
• THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE DO INDEED TURN... JUST VERY SLOWLY (05/16/06)
• THE SCAM THAT KEEPS ON SCAMMING (5/27/06)
• MORE ON THE INFINIUM NAME CHANGE (5/28/06)
• THERE REALLY MUST BE A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE (8/17/06)
• DL'06 – THE PHANTOM ENTERTAINMENT BOOTH - OR LACK THEREOF (10/15/06)

All this leads me to wonder ... should Phantom manage to somehow get the Lapboard to retail this spring, wouldn't it be great if they were to let us all in on their business plan by titling their ad campaign something like "Springtime for Phantom"?

Check out the latest press release from Phantom Entertainment here.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:34 AM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 13 December 2006 1:54 AM EST

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In his blog, Xbox Live Director of Programming, Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb, addressed the complaints surrounding the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset that have been springing up across the 'net since it's release. For those who aren't aware or haven't encountered the issue on Xbox Live, The major concerns (no pun intended - honest!) center around the headset not properly synchronizing with the console, issues regarding incompatibilities between the headset and older Xbox 360 wireless controllers as well as situations in which the headset's mic transmits a ton of interference over Live in the form of constant static that can be heard by those playing with the user.

While the Major didn't really give any indication of a timeframe regarding a fix, he did note that those experiencing the issues should call Microsoft's 1-800-4MY-XBOX customer support line to see about having the headset repaired or replaced. Certainly not an ideal situation, but at least it's something. It would also tell me that Microsoft may have found a issue with the headset's hardware, as I would assume many of the problems listed above would be replicated if the exact same version of the headset was sent out.

For more information, check out the Major's post at this link - and if you're having any issues with the wireless headset, be sure to call that support number - just don't expect to speak to anyone overly knowledgeable about the hardware - my experiences with 1-800-4MY-XBOX have pretty much been a waste of time in the past, unless you're looking to discuss a billing issue.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:33 AM EST

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Following in the footsteps of the command line version, MAME32 v.111, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.111 is also now available.

Check out the official MAME32 page here for more details and the download links.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:32 AM EST

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The latest version of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator is now available. Version 1.11 incorporates all of the changes made in the last series of interim updates, so if you were having problems with anything in v.110, the new version may be the answer to your problems..

The updated files can be found at the official MAME page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what's new in this update.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:32 AM EST

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That's the question. If you're Jon Robinson of IGN, it appears the answer you have to that question would be a resounding yes. In an article over at IGN (found by way of Kotaku) , Robinson seems to have information that would confirm that 2K Sports long-rumored Football Legends game is apparently a reality - and is slated for release some time in 2007.

"What I'm here to tell you (actually I broke the 2K Legends story back in 2005, but I'll tell you again) is that this year is going to be different.

Competition is coming back in 2007, and that means two things.

2K fans need to brush up on historical players (how can you play a game with legends if you can't tell Steve Young from Steve Bono?). And EA Sports is going to come out blazing with new features in Madden to try and hold off the throwback phenomenon Visual Concepts will finally announce sometime after the new year.

I have no idea what the 2K game will be called, look like, or feature beyond historical players, but I can tell you this, the surprising (I would even say shocking) sales numbers of Blitz: The League prove that the market is ready for some football outside of Madden." - Jon Robinson, IGN

Should this turn out to be true, and isn't just another false alarm coming from 2K Sports, I'd have to say that this news makes for one hell of a Christmas gift for sports gamers. Whether you're a fan of the 2K series of football games or a Madden fan, this means that true competition is returning to console football - and that means both sides are going to be trying their damndest to get your gaming dollars by putting out the best product they can - and that's always good for gamers.

So let's all hope that this isn't just another attempt by 2K Sports to "test the waters" and see how the public would react to the Legends concept, but that the game is already in development and just waiting for a chance to take EA's behemoth on. Thank you 2K, thank you.

Those looking for more details about this story should check out the original IGN article here, the Kotaku article here and the 2K Sports football message boards (which seem to be filled with additional links and interviews) here.

Posted by nylatenite at 2:15 AM EST

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If you take a look at this week's release list, the first thing you'll notice is that it's very short. Hopefully, the second thing you'll notice is that there are quite a few gems hidden in that small space. While the Wii gets the bulk of this week's goodies with Elebits, FarCry: Vengeance and Metal Slug Anthology and the PC gets Rainbow Six: Vegas, by far the happiest people out there have got to be the Gamecube owners who haven't upgraded to a Wii yet as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess finally makes it's debut on the system.

As one of those people, let me tell you I can't wait to get my hands on Twilight Princess on the 'Cube, especially since many of the comments I've heard regarding the Wii version stated that by design the game may actually play better on the Gamecube than it did on the Wii. It may be that Twilight Princess is going to be the last major release on the Gamecube, so enjoy it while you still can.

Here's what should be hitting store shelves this week;

• Chicken Little: Ace In Action - WII - 12/12/2006
  
• College Hoops 2K7 - PS2 - 12/12/2006
  
• Elebits - WII - 12/12/2006
  
• Far Cry: Vengance - WII - 12/12/2006
  
• Lionel Trains: On Track - DS - 12/12/2006
  
• Rayman: Raving Rabbids - PC - 12/12/2006
  
• Super Swing Golf - WII - 12/12/2006
  
• World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champs - WII - 12/12/2006
  
• Air Cargo Pilot - PC - 12/13/2006
  
• Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII - PS3 - 12/13/2006
  
• Blitz: Overtime - PSP - 12/13/2006
  
• Fly the Airbus A380 V2 - PC - 12/13/2006
  
• FullMetal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy - DS - 12/13/2006
  
• Model Train 3D - PC - 12/13/2006
  
• Rainbow Six: Vegas - PC - 12/13/2006
  
• Rapala Trophies - 360 - 12/13/2006
  
• Shrek Smash and Crash - PSP - 12/13/2006
  
• Star Trek: Legacy - 360 - 12/13/2006
  
• Star Wars: Lethal Alliance - DS - 12/13/2006
  
• Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby - PSP - 12/13/2006
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - GC - 12/13/2006
  
• World War II Online: Battleground Europe - PC - 12/13/2006
  
• Zatchbell: Mamodo Fury - GC - 12/13/2006
  
• Metal Slug Anthology - WII - 12/15/2006
  
• Alexey's Dwice - PC - 12/16/2006
  
• Football Mogul 2007 - PC - 12/16/2006
  
• Wizard's War Chest - PC - 12/16/2006
  

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

Posted by nylatenite at 12:36 AM EST

Updated: Monday, 11 December 2006 12:42 AM EST

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Well gang, the launch of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is now right around the corner and Capcom has released a great cinematic trailer via the Xbox Live Marketplace. While the trailer doesn't strike me as in-game footage, if Capcom can deliver the same type of huge battleground experience the trailer shows, I think they'll have a sure-fire smash hit on their hands. Since I know many of you either don't have Live or don't use it to download videos, I've attached a YouTubed version of the trailer. Check it out below or via this link;

Those of you looking for more information on Lost Planet should head over to the game's official site and check out the background information and webisodes of the games storyline. After hearing the soundtrack on the site, you too may decide that you really need to get the collector's edition of the game. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is scheduled for release exclusively for the Xbox 360 on January 13th, 2007.

Still no fixes for video in the archives, so use this link to check out the video. 

Posted by nylatenite at 2:51 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, 10 December 2006 2:55 PM EST

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ArsTechnica is reporting that Interlink Electronics has filed a patent infringement suit against Nintendo in regards to certain aspects of the Wii control scheme. According to Ars, the dispute arises from U.S. patent #6,850,221 which was granted to Interlink in 1997 covering the following;

"A device particularly for use with a computer comprises a housing for location at least partly between two fingers of a user's hand and an electronic circuit mounted on a board within the housing. The circuit includes a switch responsive to pressure selectively to open and close an electronic circuit, and conductive elements arranged on the board mounting the electronic circuit. A first control element is mounted with the housing and responsive to finger pressure such that pressure applied to the first control element causes the element to operate the switch. The first control element is movable with respect to a hinge such that finger action acts to cause the control element to swivel as a trigger about the hinge and thereby interact with the switch. The second control element includes a flexible material mounted such that pressure applied to the flexible material in different directions and positions acts to change the electrical relationship between the conductive elements on the board and thereby vary an output signal from the electronic circuit. The rear portion of the housing includes a receptacle for receiving removable battery means for powering the electronic circuit. There is an infra-red output signal transmitted to a receiver for operating the computer. The first control element is located substantially below the second control element, and the first control element being in a bottom face of the housing." - U.S. Patent & trademark office

I may be no expert on patent law, but while the ArsTechinca article points out that the Wiimote uses motion sensing and not finger pressure to move objects around the screen, they seem to forget that the Nunchuck is part of the Wii's control scheme and, unlike the Wiimote, would seem to fit that description quite well.

Perhaps the part that leads me to believe that Interlink is serious about the patent infringement (and not just looking for an easy payout) is that they've filed suit in their home state rather than seeking out an area known for excessive judgments in favor of plaintiffs. My guess is that if there's any chance of Interlink having a valid claim, expect Nintendo to attempt to settle the matter as soon as possible - the last thing they would need would be a cease and desist order on the sale of Wii consoles.

One last thing to note here in reference to the ArsTechnica article - ArsTechnica makes a point of highlighting Interlink's statement that the infringement has cost them money in "loss of reasonable royalties, reduced sales and/or lost profits as a result of infringing activities." while mocking the fact that no one most likely skipped the purchase of pointers made by Interlink in order to purchase a Wii. What they seem to have forgotten is that statement also mentions "loss of reasonable royalties" which Interlink would make on the sale of Wii consoles were the technology licensed by Nintendo.

So, who's right and who's wrong? I have no idea. Interlink made no specific explanation of just what part of their patent was infringed by Nintendo in their filing, but I can tell you that given what happened with Sony and Microsoft when they were sued by Immersion, I'm sure Nintendo will take this all quite seriously.

Check out the ArsTechinca article at this link for more details.

UPDATE: 12/09/06 4:30pm - I sent this one over to Kotaku as a tip only to find out that they had broken this story a bit earlier than even Ars had - and theirs was even a bit more balanced than ArsTechnica's was. Check out the original Kotaku article at this link for additional information on the story. That's what I get for missing a few pages of Kotaku yesterday due to work concerns - damn you, damn you all to hell you filthy employers!

Posted by nylatenite at 2:27 PM EST

Updated: Saturday, 9 December 2006 4:34 PM EST

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Electronic Arts has announced that they will be releasing one last Burnout title on the PlayStation 2 in the form of Burnout Dominator. As Burnout 5 will be taking the series in a new direction with a more open road, "sandbox" style of Gameplay, the company decided they wanted to close the series out on the PlayStation 2 with one final "closed track" experience that harkens back to the series' roots. As such, Burnout Dominator will also be taking a step back in the direction of Burnout 3 by removing traffic checking from the mix.

"Burnout Dominator is an all-new installment of the legendary and multi-award winning Burnout™ series, loaded with intense racing action and dozens of retina-searing World Tour events. Burnout Dominator challenges gamers to face off against a series of hot-blooded rivals in brutal tests of aggressive driving techniques where performing burnouts gives you the advantage and multiplies your score potential. For the ultimate nerve-wracking experience, Burnout Dominator takes you to the very edge of control, punishing the smallest mistakes and rewarding drivers for taking outrageous risks.

"The series was born on the PlayStation 2, and Burnout Dominator is about celebrating the essence of Burnout," said Nick Channon, senior producer of Burnout Dominator. "Burnout Dominator focuses on the reckless skill-based racing and fear of crashing that fuelled the first games." - Electronic Arts press release

That little bit alone is more than enough to make me burst into a chorus of cheers, as I felt traffic checking really took something away from the series when it was introduced in Burnout Revenge - it just took away some of the insanity generated by weaving frantically in and out of traffic.

While I've only mentioned the PlayStation 2 version so far, EA has confirmed that Burnout Dominator will be coming to both the PlayStation 2 and PSP. Those of you looking for a little more on the game should check out the full EA press release here and this article over at Gamespot, as they've posted some nice screenshots of the game.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:06 AM EST

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MAME32, the Windows GUI version of MAME, has also been updated to incorporate the u5 changes listed below. As with the regular version of MAME, MAME32 110.5 centers around a lot of background updates, so you may want to hold off on upgrading until the next full release - just to be on the safe side.

Check out the official MAME32 page here for more details and the download links.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:05 AM EST

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