Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

17 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

This would be cool.  It would have to be 2D or 2.5D since Amico can't do 3D.  Hopefully it comes to Amico.  Wouldn't that be something?

We can do 1st person 3D games if we wanted... we just don't want to.  In order to control games like that... it makes Amico something we don't want it to be. 

We shy away from anything that would need complicated or complex controls.

16 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

Hopefully we get a game play video of another Imagic game before the year ends.  We already saw Safecracker.  I want to see what Demon Attack looks like or maybe Dragon Fire.  But it depends on if they have even been started yet.  According to Wikipedia, it shows Ice Trek coming to Amico.  Not sure if Tommy confirmed this one yet.  If no other Imagic games can be shown off this year, then it would be a cool way to begin 2021.

Demon Attack and Dragonfire haven't been started.  Not til late next year.  Ice Trek is definitely on our "to do" list. 

 

15 hours ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

Capcom coming out with  a retro "thing" next week.   Not my cup of tea since Fighting games aint my thing but I do kinda like the styling of the unit

 

https://kotaku.com/capcoms-latest-retro-console-is-so-adorable-1845738325

 

Yeah... definitely looks cool!

14 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

According to Wikipedia, the Amico can do 3D games as long as they're easy to play and easy to learn.  For some reason I thought Amico couldn't handle 3D but after doing research I stand corrected.  Perhaps Tommy said 3D games are coming down the road and I misremembered what he actually said.  Because I could've sworn he said no 3D games on Amico.  Anyway, it's all good.  I'm just getting old and can't recall stuff.  LOL. 

It's more about the control scheme needed to play the game.

9 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

Tommy,

 

On the retro re-imagined games, if you die in a level, do you have to restart the level?  A lot of old school games were notorious for that.  I hate it.  It's a pet peeve of mine.  Hopefully on Amico, this isn't an issue.

It depends on the game.  Lets take Moon Patrol for example.  If the game is over (i.e. all of your lives are gone) and you didn't complete the level... then yes, you would need to start the level from the beginning.

But if you have lives left, then you would start at the place you left off.

If we didn't do that... you would be blowing through every game in under an hour.  And you don't want that.

9 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

I second this.

Probably not til late next year.

7 hours ago, Starpaddler said:

3D adds complexity to the control scheme that IE is trying to avoid, and it’s also harder to incorporate multiplayer.  While not a powerhouse, I believe avoiding 3D has to do more the above then to limitations with the chip (even though they exist).  Also, by 3D I mean open world (where you can move the view perspective).  First person perspective makes it even harder to incorporate couch co-op (and requires more system performance).

 

Out of curiosity, does anyone know of any same-system (not multi-system networked) first person couch co-op games?  I’d think it would be dang near impossible, but there are some really creative people out there. 

You are correct!

2 hours ago, skylinesandsunsets said:

Hi Tommy,

How soon are we going to see the Amico boot-up sequence? 

I'm not sure exactly.  Probably sometime soon.  As we move into our new offices and finalize hardware for production, we have a lot more important things on our plate right now that are taking precedence.

I remember Sony & Microsoft showing their boot up sequence and UI only a few weeks before they hit retail shelves.  So like everything we've done from the beginning... we'd be showing things way before the norm.

We had a pretty good version of the UI ready to go on 10/10, but after the live stream didn't go as planned... we decided to just wait longer instead of showing it incomplete.

So I'm sure after we get settled into the office and things calm down a bit, we can do a live stream and show off some really cool, simple and unique ways we're doing things.

Question:  I'm curious.  Are you more interested in seeing the machine just booting up... or in the UI (User Interface) itself?  The reason I ask is that you didn't mention the UI in your question... only the "boot up sequence".

Thanks.

46 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

We can do 1st person 3D games if we wanted... we just don't want to.  In order to control games like that... it makes Amico something we don't want it to be. 

 

We shy away from anything that would need complicated or complex controls.

No Treasure of Tarmin remake?

New hats from the Intellivision Store ! 😀

https://www.intellivisionamico.com/shop/intellivision-amico-logo-snapback-hat

Here are  some examples of different colors ...

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

We can do 1st person 3D games if we wanted... we just don't want to.  In order to control games like that... it makes Amico something we don't want it to be. 

 

We shy away from anything that would need complicated or complex controls.

I understand.  That's why I said that Amico games are 2D/2.5D.  Perhaps at some point though, Amico could have a true 3D game.  If it isn't complex and is fun to play.  

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

It's more about the control scheme needed to play the game.

Right.  I don't like complicated controls myself.  

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

It depends on the game.  Lets take Moon Patrol for example.  If the game is over (i.e. all of your lives are gone) and you didn't complete the level... then yes, you would need to start the level from the beginning.

 

But if you have lives left, then you would start at the place you left off.

 

If we didn't do that... you would be blowing through every game in under an hour.  And you don't want that.

 

 

 

Yes, I meant when you have lives remaining but the game still throws you back to the beginning of a level.  I know that once all lives/continues are gone it's game over.  I prefer that when you lose a life, you pick up where you left off.  I like short games.  I don't mind if it's under an hour.  A lot of arcade games were short.  Take fighting games for example.  If possible, I want to finish the game in one session.  Unless it's a game like Cloudy Mountain where you have to explore and that kind of game would take longer to complete.  

We need this on Amico.  Never heard of it but looks cool.

14 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

We need this on Amico.  Never heard of it but looks cool.

 

Looks cool.  I've never seen this one, I'll have to try it. 

Have to say pretty much everything Williams made was 5 stars in my book.

56 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

I like short games.  I don't mind if it's under an hour.  A lot of arcade games were short.  Take fighting games for example.  If possible, I want to finish the game in one session.  Unless it's a game like Cloudy Mountain where you have to explore and that kind of game would take longer to complete.

It depends of the type of games, if not you will lose value !
But I respect your point !

I think you will enjoy Recreational, board and card games and some other games like Missile Command, Side Swipers, and plenty of others!

But I want value for games like Night Stalker and Moon Patrol.

But for this particular games, I think finishing a level in less than 10 minutes is really good when you don't have enough time to play ! 😀

9 hours ago, LePionnier said:

It depends of the type of games, if not you will lose value !
But I respect your point !

I think you will enjoy Recreational, board and card games and some other games like Missile Command, Side Swipe, and plenty of others!

But I want value for games like Night Stalker and Moon Patrol.

But for this particular games, I think finishing a level in less than 10 minutes is really good when you don't have enough time to play ! 😀

Right, it depends on the game.  Don't get me wrong.  I like long games but not ones that take forever to beat, lol.  Night Stalker will be one to really get into.  That game I would enjoy.  I guess what I'm trying to say is I like games that are easy to finish.  With the re-reimagined, if a game had both an arcade mode and story mode, with arcade mode being shorter, I would play that over story mode.  Once I beat a long game, that's it.  I don't go back trying to replay the whole thing again.  It took long enough the first time.  For me personally I like a game that is going to be short but have high replay value.  That's why I mentioned arcade fighting games because they're not long.  So, anyway, that's all.  I'm just picky, lol.  

1 hour ago, Intellivision Master said:

We need this on Amico.  Never heard of it but looks cool.

 

This game is giving Joust vibes. You kill the enemy and collect its remains or it turns into a more powerful enemy. Also the "Wave" counter is the same font as Joust. Looks really cool.

Thought you folks would enjoy checking out this chart making the rounds...

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/50-years-gaming-history-revenue-stream/

Some interesting points...

PC has now taken over home consoles.  It makes sense considering the PS4 & XBOX One were at the end of their life-cycles last year.  The console market will grow and once again be bigger than PC gaming within the next few years (especially with Amico being added in there as well!!).

You can also see that mobile started dominating about 7 years ago.

Remember this dopey comment from a few months ago?

Just goes to show how some so-called self proclaimed video game "experts" don't actually know very much about the video game industry as a whole.  Not even close in fact.

Probably best if they stick to their strengths.... like doing more flea market videos and shilling products for their ass and balls.  Those are fun.

🤣

And if folks like that can't study or comprehend basic public info correctly... imagine all the other things they constantly screw up and get wrong. 

I know one subject they definitely suck at understanding and giving out credible and truthful information about.

I don't think it's a reflection of intelligence though.  It's just bias, ignorance and laziness to actually do a little research.

Seems to be the norm with a lot of things on YouTube and social media (and the press in general!) these days.

53 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Thought you folks would enjoy checking out this chart making the rounds...

 

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/50-years-gaming-history-revenue-stream/

Some interesting points...

 

You'll notice that mobile/casual gaming has completely taken over the worldwide market... yet none of the home consoles primarily focus on this type of gaming in the living room.

 

Amico will.

 

You'll also notice the big market and spike in 2006 when the Wii came out and (as mentioned on the chart) was targeting families and non-gamers.

What a concept!

Would you say that mobile these days is targeting families? 

 

I wouldn't.

 

 

PC has now taken over home consoles.  It makes sense considering the PS4 & XBOX One were at the end of their life-cycles last year.  They will grow and once again be bigger than PC gaming within the next few years (especially with Amico being added in there as well!!).

You can also see that mobile started dominating about 7 years ago.

 

Remember this dopey comment from a few months ago?

 

 

 

Just goes to show how some so-called self proclaimed video game "experts" don't actually know very much about the video game industry as a whole.  Not even close in fact.

Probably best if they stick to flea markets eh?

 

And if they can't get basic public info correct... imagine all the other things they constantly screw up and get wrong. 

 

I know one subject they definitely suck at understanding and giving out credible and truthful information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile gaming is an $85 billion business and it took off with the launch of the App Store for iPhone.  That's funny considering Steve Jobs was against the idea of an App Store from the beginning. It wasn't until Apple was seriously pressured into it did they cave and gave us what we have today. Seems like they lucked into that one... and sometimes luck is all you need.

24 minutes ago, vongruetz said:

Mobile gaming is an $85 billion business and it took off with the launch of the App Store for iPhone.  That's funny considering Steve Jobs was against the idea of an App Store from the beginning. It wasn't until Apple was seriously pressured into it did they cave and gave us what we have today. Seems like they lucked into that one... and sometimes luck is all you need.

The other well known thing about Steve Jobs is that he wasn't particularly fond of video games!

43 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

The other well known thing about Steve Jobs is that he wasn't particularly fond of video games!

 

 

Again, ironic since he did use to work for Atari.

I was just pointed to a link where an anonymous (i.e. cowardly) Amico hater tried to point out (unsuccessfully) that I don't know what I'm talking about because according to the industry chart and numbers that there are $3B people playing mobile so that means they aren't spending as much money on mobile as console... therefore my entire argument and Amico is a failure.

Kinda funny how I got them so wrapped that they literally listen, watch and read EVERY word I say and write at this point. 

Very flattering although somewhat funny and interesting how these folks don't have the courage to just ask me in here.  Probably because they know deep down that it's easy to destroy their one-sided biased garbage.

Unfortunately, in this particular case they left out the fact that in the places we are launching U.S./Canada and Europe the mobile market spends anywhere from $80 - $95 per year on mobile gaming. 

One of the MANY free sourced facts anyone can simply Google (if you have half a brain): 

https://www.rakutenintelligence.com/blog/2016/hardly-pocket-change-mobile-gamers-spend-an-average-of-87-dollars-on-in-app-purchases

Whoopsie!!  Well, that certainly doesn't line up with the typical nonsense and lies now does it?  

Of course places like India will spend less per capita on mobile gaming. 
 

Poor cowardly souls have a bad case of Tommy Derangement Syndrome and can't comprehend the differences or nuances of anything ever said.  So instead, they try to twist, misinform an flat out lie in hopes of destroying a video game console they have never played and clearly don't understand.

Their misinformation and cowardly one sided arguments (real people and smart people don't hide and are not afraid to have a conversation) really can't get any more pathetic at this point ...

...or lonely.

4 minutes ago, vongruetz said:

Again, ironic since he did use to work for Atari.

Nolan Bushnell told me the story about how Steve asked him to invest in his new computer company.  Unfortunately Nolan passed.

😱

Had a dream last night that Intellivision received a reward for top family gaming option definitely one that I hope comes true