New Companies to Enter Console Market

Posted on Saturday 17th January 2004 at 23:15 by Phoenix

Apex Digital and Infinium Labs, companies new to the gaming market, have each designed a console to compete with the industry giants: Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft.

Apex's machine, called the "ApeXtreme," will be released within the next four months and will carry a price tag just under $400.
Details about the ApeXtreme can be found at PCReview.co.uk.

Infinium has yet to give a specific date for release of the "Phantom;" however, the Phantom debuted at the Ultimate Gamers' Expo in Los Angeles last August. The console's expected price range is from $300 to $500.
Details about the Phantom are available at Infinium Labs.com.

Both the ApeXtreme and the Phantom use a modified version of the Windows XP OS and support broadband Internet connection.

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Neither of the machines sound like anything amazing to me; so far they have minimal publisher relationships. However, at least one of the two consoles will have some degree of support for running games designed for PC play, which is an interesting attempt at melding desktop to console gaming.

One other noteworthy piece is the price of each console--compared to the $99 Gamecube, it's hard to see how these virtually unknown companies can compete.

Posted in: Gaming Industry News

Written by	Phoenix
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Comments

Del S	Comment 1: 2004-01-17 23:20
	anyone remeber the Jaguar? anyone having Deja-Vu? Ape Xtreme's just monekying around. This "Phantom" doesnt seem like its going to materialise, does it? and as for those price tags, they must be banana's. If i were them, I'd take N-gages example and give up the ghost.
Phoenix	Comment 2: 2004-01-17 23:22
	Quote (Del S @ 17th January 2004 11:20) Ape Xtreme's just monekying around. Yeah, apparently it's supposed to be pronounced "Apex Extreme." I don't know what they were thinking when they chose that spelling.
DisasterChild8	Comment 3: 2004-01-18 04:52
	for some reason this thread makes me wanna sing that old Queen song... "dun dun dun, another one bites the dust..." in all seriousnesss, i don't plan on buying either and i don't know anybody that does. How can they hope to compete?
Figaro	Comment 4: 2004-01-18 06:18
	Quote However, at least one of the two consoles will have some degree of support for running games designed for PC play, which is an interesting attempt at melding desktop to console gaming. Does anyone out there wonder why? Computers are always good for playing games and for just about anything else, and a lot of the time, they are even better than consoles. At least one of these companies are smart in this respect. About me ever buying the consoles, it will never happen in that price range. whoove The price just knocks the wind right outta me.
Phoenix	Comment 5: 2004-01-18 23:25
	Quote (Figaro @ 17th January 2004 18:18) Quote However, at least one of the two consoles will have some degree of support for running games designed for PC play, which is an interesting attempt at melding desktop to console gaming. Does anyone out there wonder why? Computers are always good for playing games and for just about anything else, and a lot of the time, they are even better than consoles. However, a large number of PC games are designed with PC players in mind--computer monitors have incredibly sharp pictures and a large number of pixels that even modern HDTVs have trouble keeping up with. Additionally, computer gamers are usually perhaps a maximum of three feet away from their monitor, while console gamers are often resting on a couch a few yards away from the television. Because of these two factors, computer games are often very detailed and would look, in my opinion, less than flattering on a TV screen. Take Diablo II, for example: Many of the items in that game are miniscule when dropped on the playing field, and picking those up with a mouse on a TV screen could be a big hassle. -Phoenix
Figaro	Comment 6: 2004-01-18 23:56
	True, that could be a bit of a hassle... Does anyone know what sorts of games and companies who will be releasing games will be coming out for these platforms? Cause if theres some really awesome game that will only ever come out for the system, there's a possibility that I might get it.
karasuman	Comment 7: 2004-01-19 04:54
	I agree with the majority of posters--I don't think these are going to be very popular. But, then again, who knows? They could surprise us. shrug All I know for sure is that I definitely wouldn't blow $400 on a new console that might not even stick around. I'm sticking with Sony. The idea of playing computer games on the console sounds like fun--I know I'd like to be able to play a couple of mine, and if that extended to viewing VCDs, I'd be a lot more tempted, but I don't really see how they can realistically expect to support all PC games. My computer doesn't even support all of the games I own.
Tiddles	Comment 8: 2004-01-19 11:10
	I hope they wouldn't try and push "PC games on a TV" as a particular selling point, since for much less than the cost of these you can equip your existing PC with a graphics card with TV-Out, and whack a USB gamepad in if you want the full effect. (Nice setup for more authentic emulation, by the way.) I think these will probably go the way of the 3DO or VM Labs' Nuon (anyone remember that?) since that's just always what happens. Though, I must say, I'm tempted to buy anything titled "Ape Extreme".
Dark Paladin	Comment 9: 2004-01-19 15:51
	If these guys are actually serious about getting into the game, let's just hope they didn't screw up as badly as Microsoft did.
Rangers51	Comment 10: 2004-01-19 16:32
	Quote (Dark Paladin @ 19th January 2004 09:51) If these guys are actually serious about getting into the game, let's just hope they didn't screw up as badly as Microsoft did. I would assume you mean "Nokia" where you said "Microsoft." Microsoft has put together a decent showing for their first ever outing, if you ask me. Hasn't the XBox outsold the NGC overall? Of course, the NGC is selling buckets now, since they cut the price so low. But I don't see how Microsoft has failed so badly.
Dark Paladin	Comment 11: 2004-01-19 16:38
	Quote (Rangers51 @ 19th January 2004 11:32) I would assume you mean "Nokia" where you said "Microsoft." No, I mean Microsoft. The XBox is horrible. If these guys followed MicroSoft's lead, and did as badly, it would be the official beginning of the decline of video games. Quality is already at an all-time low, and calling newer systems an upgrade of previous ones is laughable.
karasuman	Comment 12: 2004-01-19 16:46
	Quote (Dark Paladin @ 19th January 2004 11:38) Quote (Rangers51 @ 19th January 2004 11:32) I would assume you mean "Nokia" where you said "Microsoft." No, I mean Microsoft. The XBox is horrible. If these guys followed MicroSoft's lead, and did as badly, it would be the official beginning of the decline of video games. Quality is already at an all-time low, and calling newer systems an upgrade of previous ones is laughable. What color is the sky in your world? Your personal opinion about the X-Box hardly overshadows the fact that it's one of the three leading consoles. I don't own one, but I know plenty of people who do, and they even like it. And what's this "decline of video games" and "quality is already at an all-time low" stuff? I love the fact that Sony upgrades its only systems instead of scrapping it and starting over--it's half the reason I bought a PS2 in the first place, and I'm mighty satisfied with mine. In fact, I think all of the companies should incorporate that into their marketing theory. And video games seem like they're at an all-time high, to me! This beats the hell out of the days of my Adam with Burger Time and stuff. So, really, DP...sky? color?
Cazboab	Comment 13: 2004-01-19 16:51
	DP regardless of actuall sales it would take a lot more to hurt microsoft than it would to hurt sony or nintendo but josh did have a point saying nokia thay goofed big- the hand-held market is sown up by GBA
Dark Paladin	Comment 14: 2004-01-19 17:27
	Quote (karasuman @ 19th January 2004 11:46) Your personal opinion about the X-Box hardly overshadows the fact that it's one of the three leading consoles. I don't own one, but I know plenty of people who do, and they even like it. And what's this "decline of video games" and "quality is already at an all-time low" stuff? I love the fact that Sony upgrades its only systems instead of scrapping it and starting over--it's half the reason I bought a PS2 in the first place, and I'm mighty satisfied with mine. In fact, I think all of the companies should incorporate that into their marketing theory. And video games seem like they're at an all-time high, to me! This beats the hell out of the days of my Adam with Burger Time and stuff. OK, so replace "upgrade" with "improvement." You can easily tell the difference between an NES game and SNES game just by looking at it; You can easily tell the difference between SNES and PSX just by looking at the game; hell, you can tell the difference between SNES and Genesis just by looking at it, but if you want to tell the difference between a PSX and PS2 game, you'll be sitting there for a few minutes. That shows how much technology has advanced. Video games are easier now. Just look at the difference between FFI and any of the PSX FFs. FFI, you went into battle as estimated equals. In the newer ones, you are capable of clearing a dungeon or two without healing, and then it's free. Video games are no longer about game play, they are about pretty graphics (and there's enough graphics whores to keep it that way). Longer =/= better. You have obviously never played the XBox. It is the worst of the three newest consoles (and still worse than a few older ones). Extra features must be bought in pieces. As comfortable as the controller is, you still have to dance with your thumbs to use it. Plus, no matter how long I played with it, I still had to keep looking back at the controller. All good games that are on it are also for the PS2 and GameCube, except Halo, which I think can be bought for the PC. And yes, the NGage was bad, too. The commercials make it look like the GameGear is of higher quality.
karasuman	Comment 15: 2004-01-19 17:33
	Quote (Dark Paladin @ 19th January 2004 12:27) You can easily tell the difference between an NES game and SNES game just by looking at it; You can easily tell the difference between SNES and PSX just by looking at the game; hell, you can tell the difference between SNES and Genesis just by looking at it, but if you want to tell the difference between a PSX and PS2 game, you'll be sitting there for a few minutes. That shows how much technology has advanced. Video games are easier now. Just look at the difference between FFI and any of the PSX FFs. FFI, you went into battle as estimated equals. In the newer ones, you are capable of clearing a dungeon or two without healing, and then it's free. Video games are no longer about game play, they are about pretty graphics (and there's enough graphics whores to keep it that way). Longer =/= better. You have obviously never played the XBox. It is the worst of the three newest consoles (and still worse than a few older ones). Extra features must be bought in pieces. As comfortable as the controller is, you still have to dance with your thumbs to use it. Plus, no matter how long I played with it, I still had to keep looking back at the controller. All good games that are on it are also for the PS2 and GameCube, except Halo, which I think can be bought for the PC. I happen to like the fact that I can actually play the video games coming out now. I totally sucked at the original FF--the imps massacred me. There are all kinds of ways to play the new games at "low level" or "no sphere grid" if you're not being challenged enough. That hardly means that the games are all about graphics. Speaking of graphics, try comparing FFVII to FFX. No difference? Yeeeeah. I've played an X-Box. I don't own one, but I've played one and seen a few different games. I maintain that it beats the hell out of Game Cube.
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