EVO: Phase One, like the Phantom but uglier

by Blake Snow { Jul 12th 2006 at 11:00AM }

Envizions is launching a new Phantom-inspired hybrid pc console via the internet on October 20 for $679.99. Dubbed Evo: Phase One media entertainment console (for short), the system combines a "computer system machine," media center, and PC gaming console into one unit and will ship with the Akimbo video on demand service. The company CEO Derrick Samuels claims that the final hardware unit is "greatly improved from the unit displayed at E3 this year," though we didn't see it, or anything that resembled it at E3. Furthermore, the system will merely have "console-like features upon future upgrade applications and hardware assistance," whatever that means.

This thing sounds more like the Phantom the deeper the press release reads.

[Via Engadget]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

T-Bag @ Jul 12th 2006 11:07AM

If it can play all the latest pc games and then some, I'm hooked. Too bad there aren't any usb ports for a mouse and keyboard add on.

Anthony @ Jul 12th 2006 11:07AM

This will just be another thing that gets lost in time. I honestly do not think that this will sell more then 200 units.

billychaos @ Jul 12th 2006 11:15AM

I refuse to pay $600 for a ps3, but if there ever were a system like this or the Phantom that truly could play all current PC games and had the ability to have it's Ram, Video card, and hard drive upgraded for future games...I think i'm not alone when I say I'd gladly pay $600 for that type of machine.

But that remains a pipe dream.

Probot @ Jul 12th 2006 11:16AM

Was "integrated biometric fingerprint reader" really on someone's wishlist for console features? And why is there company blog on Myspace.com? And why does it read like a typical Myspace blog ("Last thought, go see Superman Returns! I'm a big comic book fan and this movie rocked! See you soon.")?

I'd hate to knock someone for trying something new, but this doesn't look real at all. However, if it is, more power to him. However, he should really think about dropping the "console" part and market it as a low-cost gaming PC. $700 is way too much for a console, but it's about right for a decent PC.

vidGuy @ Jul 12th 2006 11:16AM

WHY?? Bad price point, no marketing (no market?), no support, no distribution. And who will sue over that controller?

I think Anthony's right, 200 units sold would be a success for this thing.

jc @ Jul 12th 2006 11:17AM

... and off in the distance we hear a huge sigh of relief from the old dudes at Sony whom are no longer responsible for the most expensive console to be almost on the market.

Phantom N @ Jul 12th 2006 11:18AM

This thing is no where close to the Infinium Phantom. When the Phantom has a surprise launch before the PS3 or Wii at $100 with PS3-like graphics, Wii-like controls, and completely new awesome games it will take off. Phantom is the ovious next-gen winner...

Also where is my Phantom Fanboy?

Exo @ Jul 12th 2006 11:20AM

ps3 was never the most expensive. I remember the jaguar being 600

Orangecoke @ Jul 12th 2006 11:26AM

Is there anyone on the planet who would actually buy one of these??

32_Footsteps @ Jul 12th 2006 11:27AM

Really interesting. I didn't remember this at E3 either, and wished there was some way to check up on that.

Fortunately, as they don't start promoting next year's convention in earnest until December at the earliest, they conveniently have last year's floor plan (as of 4/14/06) in convenient PDF form on the official E3 site.

Now, I'll grant you that there were a handful of empty rooms on the map, and in the month between when that map was done and the show itself, those rooms could have been filled by anyone. However, Envizion was not anywhere on the map - interesting considering that they said they'd be at E3 to show the console in a release dated March 31, 2006 - so they definitely didn't have a booth as of when they first talked about the system.

Also really interesting is that absolutely nobody talked about the system at all in E3 coverage. I didn't, Joystiq didn't, nobody talked about it at all. Heck, I've seen more talk about Diet Queen for the cell phone (in the classic Power of Korean Game booth) at the show than this supposed console.

In other words, I smell a scam.

SuperChuck @ Jul 12th 2006 11:28AM

PS2 Controller: $34.95
Black Spraypaint: 3.95
New Console Design: Priceless

BlueNocturne @ Jul 12th 2006 11:31AM

That controller looks like a complete ripoff of Sega's wireless PS2 controllers. This is definitely a fake. http://image.lik-sang.com/images//170/ps2-surfwave-black.jpg

Xizer @ Jul 12th 2006 11:34AM

Well, looky here...it's supposed to play PC games...but no keyboard and controller.

Oh, and they had to go and choose the shittiest controller design of the past 10 years: the Dual Shock. Actually, it's going to be the shittiest controller design for the next 15 years thanks to the PS3 using the same old ass controller as the PS1 did 10 years ago.

Whose bright idea was it to stick the thumb sticks down in an uncomfortable position instead of up to the top-left where your primary thumb position is? Yeah, because these are really going to be 2D consoles where you need the d-pad there.

They could have at least tried to copy the Phantom design somewhat, as it actually looked kind of cool.

Probot @ Jul 12th 2006 12:25PM

So because of my obsessive compulsive nature, I looked up the parts of this thing on Newegg.
It comes to about $610 including Windows Media Center, and pretty much everything else listed in their products page.

The only think that doesn't fit is the cooling system. According to the Coolit website, their system retails for $400. However, I know Envizions would be getting better prices than I would at Newegg.

I want to say this is a scam. The evidence is there, as 32_Footsteps pointed out about the lack of E3 coverage and BlueNocturne showed the controller is clearly a knockoff. However, some quick googling shows this company was supposed to have released a previous system called the EVO: Trinity HD3. I can only find press releases about it, so I don't think it made much of a splash. Also, GamesIndustry.biz has a couple of news stories about this thing.

Nov 2005: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=12821
Jan 2006: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=14284
Apr 2006: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15881

It looks to be real, just really bad marketing. They'd need investors for this to be a Phantom scam wouldn't they?

alraydius @ Jul 12th 2006 12:31PM

This is BS and has always been BS. Derrick Samuels is a scam artist, plain and simple. Ever heard of a town called Anniston, AL? Google Map it. That's where the Headquarters of this 'EVO' console bull is.

Mapped it? Yep, the northwest corner of Alabama. God knows this is a real company making a real system.

This junk has been around for almost 3 years if I can remember correctly, and back then he had a photoshopped image of Ninja from MGS on the damn page. And was asking people to pay 25.00 for a special showing of the console. And the special showing was taking place on the wrong side of the tracks.

Please, Joystiq, remove this article and don't give this hack the wasted space.

alraydius @ Jul 12th 2006 12:35PM

801-5 Nobel Street, Anniston, Alabama

CANT EVEN SPELL THE STREET NAME RIGHT IN THE PRESS RELEASE! FIVE FRIGGIN DOLLARS FOR FIVE SCRATCH AND WIN STICKERS. Dont worry you'll never win, every damn ticket probably says: 'Sorry, you are not a winner'

I repeat Joystiq, remove the damn article, it hurts my thought processes.

Probot @ Jul 12th 2006 12:47PM

alraydius,

I don't get your point about the location. It's actually in more North East and not quite the corner. But I don't know anything about Alabama. Is that place notorious for scammers?

However, if the other stuff you say is true, than that would explain away the previous "evidence" I brought up.

alraydius @ Jul 12th 2006 1:25PM

Sorry, meant Northeast, not northwest, in my anger of the stupidity of this whole article, I said northwest.

But yes, there was a 'preview showing' on the wrong side of town that cost $25. The guy used to run a comic store/comic 'company' called Destiny Comics and ripped off all the people that worked for him 'making comics'. Sure it was a smalltown BS company, but still.

I never personally knew/worked for the guy, but a close friend of mine did work with him with the Destiny comics company and had that occur to him. Samuels has flaunted things time and time again, and they NEVER come to fruition. This is a man looking to make a quick buck by making others beleive he is telling the truth. They 'released' an EVO system before, of course, never saw one piece of it. And that wasn't this 'EVO TRINITY HD' crap mentioned either, it was simply an EVO CONSOLE.

And yes, about Ninja, thats true as well. The image he 'shopped was from the Japanese MGS site...and I should have an image I made comparing the two somewhere around here...I'll look for it tonight and if I find it, put it somewhere and link to it.

My main point is...you can't have a 'real' console/system made in the middle nowhere U.S. It requires a real company with real connections, and not someone's basement.

alraydius @ Jul 12th 2006 1:28PM

http://img461.imageshack.us/my.php?image=evo4ks.jpg

There we go, thats from the first webpage of that existed. I still own it because my friends and I always found it to be really stupid.

idioteraser @ Jul 12th 2006 1:51PM

MMM they aren't listed in the Alabama yellow pages.

I don't know the Anniston streets but I suspect number 16 is claiming they misspelled Noble as Nobel. Yup it's Noble street according to google maps.

Anniston is a small city with about 25, 000 people. It's home to one of the largest boot camps for troubled youths. 4000 high school students. Also home to the place where they destroy chemical weapons. It's not a tourist destination not even for Alabamians. I don't think I have ever been there.

turtleboy @ Jul 12th 2006 2:17PM

what's with the contoller? That thing looks like they came up with it on their own. I see Sony sueing the pants off them because they stole their contoller design. I doubt it. I do have to say the contoller looks just like the one for the playstation. This machine will blow my mind if it even sells enough to stay in the market. Good luck!

Mad @ Jul 12th 2006 2:21PM

I wish I had money to burn. This is doomed to failure just like the recent Gizmondo. Why? Because the company has no pedigree.

Stu L Tissimus @ Jul 12th 2006 2:40PM

But unlike Gizmondo, this will never go in to production.

Fygar @ Jul 12th 2006 2:46PM

My question is, what is Blade doing being pictured with a big glowing EVO button... is he the official mascot?

Pal @ Jul 12th 2006 2:48PM

At least the Phantom gave us something to dream about (sleek product, interesting software distribution ideas) -- this is just an expensive computer bundled with a USB controller.

Akimbo isn't free either, so I guess they're bundling the software to save you 3 minutes of web surfing time.

I'm sure that they're enjoying all this blog-media attention that they're getting, you know, before they announce that it's not really a console after all.

Good luck, ENVIZIONS!