Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

Just now, IMBerzerk said:

What is this AtariVCS that you speak of?  

A dream... to hit a $3million jackpot! 

Personally, I liked the Intellivision Flashback and thought it did a decent enough job.  I was really excited for the Flashback 2 as well.  However, considering all that has happened since then and been revealed, I am glad to see Intellivision releasing a new console that will play new games and be able to play the classics.  Best of both worlds IMO.

53 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

So it's an Intellivision but not the Intellivision. 

 

(I can't believe I'm having this conversation).

 

 

So wait... if it says it's an Intellivision... but is not an Intellivision, yet it acts like an Intellivision... it must somehow... be... an Intellivision... 

39 minutes ago, IMBerzerk said:

So wait... if it says it's an Intellivision... but is not an Intellivision, yet it acts like an Intellivision... it must somehow... be... an Intellivision... 

 

Wait, I thought this was supposed to be...

😀😄😂🤣

13 hours ago, Lathe26 said:

I recall hearing Keith say that IP provided ATgames with original controller and asked them to get the wiring right.  By the time Keith found out the wiring was goofed by ATgames, it was too late to fix.

Pretty much.  As many of you will recall, I borrowed the first Flashback controller Keith got early on to take it apart and sort out the wiring issue (that's when I worked out my adapter cables).  At that point AT Games were still telling Keith they were going to fix it, but they never did.

That said, aside from the botched wiring, the controllers themselves are really quite good, so I give them credit for that.  They do have quality control issues though - bad solder joints, cheap cables prone to broken wires.

18 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

One of the first things I did when I took over was to squash that deal (that they never officially had).  I found them to be an untrustworthy company that wasn't concerned with quality and who did NOT have the rights to do a Flashback 2 and who took advantage of Keith Robinson.   We were also involved in another dispute with them and Atari which very much ended up in our favor.    

 

Can't wait to write a book and spill the behind-the-scenes info on a LOT of stuff once Intellivision & Amico become huge hits. 

 

I was in that meeting with AT Games discussing the possibility of an Intellivision Flashback 2, along with Tommy.  Without going into details (gotta save those for Tommy's book!), it was really fun watching the new sheriff in town call them out on the bad deal they were offering.

Tommy, I was thinking about all the possibilities...  and something came up.

I was listening the video from level 857 talking about great sound and music, imagining it like an orchestra...

Did the speakers on each controllers are good quality enough to have different sound coming from everywhere in the room, with several different musical instruments with good quality sounds ?

That could add really fun entertainement while playing (creating surround sound !) , and also one game could be made with this particularity in mind. Each one playing different musical instruments, etc.

Another question is about the disc on the controller ( seen from the recent clip ). It's really cool everything that could be done with it.

I really like the marks on it, helping to turn it more easily, with a good grip, and acting like a button,  and the light, etc. Really great for a lot of possibilities. I am giving a 10 out of 10 !

But I didn't try it, and I was wandering if it's hard to turn the disc without pushing or pressing it at the same time !?

Thanks a lot.

Tommy, having you here is really helping me, and probably most of our community, to let the time pass before we have our hands on Amico and all the great games.

Thank you for taking some of your precious time answering each one of us ! It's really really really appreciate !

4 hours ago, IMBerzerk said:

What is this AtariVCS that you speak of?  

Hi again Tommy.

I was taking my measurements for the sweater, and noticed for the adult size, metric sizes and US sizes have been reversed.

It's not a big deal, but at first I was wondering why I could not find my size! lol

Talarico has announced more Amico games in Portland in advance of PRGE (Portland Retro Gaming Expo).

Apparently, these will be nutrition education games, designed to encourage children to eat healthy.  Keeping in line with the low prices, some of the games are:

"Red Bell Peppers 2", the sequel to last year's hit "Red Bell Peppers".  Priced at $1

"Local Winter Squash".  Priced at a mere 69 cents!

Current production house headquarters:

5 hours ago, LePionnier said:

Tommy, I was thinking about all the possibilities...  and something came up.

I was listening the video from level 857 talking about great sound and music, imagining it like an orchestra...

Did the speakers on each controllers are good quality enough to have different sound coming from everywhere in the room, with several different musical instruments with good quality sounds ?

That could add really fun entertainement while playing (creating surround sound !) , and also one game could be made with this particularity in mind. Each one playing different musical instruments, etc.

 

Another question is about the disc on the controller ( seen from the recent clip ). It's really cool everything that could be done with it.

I really like the marks on it, helping to turn it more easily, with a good grip, and acting like a button,  and the light, etc. Really great for a lot of possibilities. I am giving a 10 out of 10 !

But I didn't try it, and I was wandering if it's hard to turn the disc without pushing or pressing it at the same time !?

 

Thanks a lot.

Tommy, having you here is really helping me, and probably most of our community, to let the time pass before we have our hands on Amico and all the great games.

Thank you for taking some of your precious time answering each one of us ! It's really really really appreciate !

 

Hi,

Thanks for the questions.
 

The answer is no to both questions.

 

6 hours ago, nurmix said:

I was in that meeting with AT Games discussing the possibility of an Intellivision Flashback 2, along with Tommy.  Without going into details (gotta save those for Tommy's book!), it was really fun watching the new sheriff in town call them out on the bad deal they were offering.

 

I felt Keith was smiling down on me that day.  

2 hours ago, LePionnier said:

Hi again Tommy.

I was taking my measurements for the sweater, and noticed for the adult size, metric sizes and US sizes have been reversed.

It's not a big deal, but at first I was wondering why I could not find my size! lol

 

The sizing chart is right on the page.  Look on the right and click the FIND MY SIZE button.  It has both inches and metric.

 

1 hour ago, Lathe26 said:

Talarico has announced more Amico games in Portland in advance of PRGE (Portland Retro Gaming Expo).

 

Apparently, these will be nutrition education games, designed to encourage children to eat healthy.  Keeping in line with the low prices, some of the games are:

"Red Bell Peppers 2", the sequel to last year's hit "Red Bell Peppers".  Priced at $1

"Local Winter Squash".  Priced at a mere 69 cents!

 

 

Current production house headquarters:

Dude!  Wait til you play Couch Co-Op Brussel Sprouts!!  It's the like the vegan version of BurgerTime.  Kids LOVE it.  Has been testing very well.  And wait til you see the LED's light up green when you get a bonus sprout.  So amazing!  And the best part... ALL in 2D!!   Soundtrack is epic as well.  Kinda like a cross between Conway Twitty & Marilyn Manson.  Can't wait for you to check it out.

:D

On 10/12/2019 at 10:24 PM, ColdCoffee said:

Hey, Tommy the expansion port seems to be missing from the recent Amico revisions. Is that gone for good? I remember an interview you did you said in theory it could upgrade the entire system. 

I ran into another gamer today. When I asked her what her favorite console was, she said she had several consoles but mostly played mobile games because it was easier than turning on the TV ... just some field research for Tommy.

6 hours ago, Alpha82 said:

there is no pride or passion in AtGames products it’s just about quick money grabs which seems very sad.

Some people say the same thing about Intellivision. If Tommy wasn't so outspoken, which is something really rare for a CEO, I'd say that's what the majority would believe.

I don't believe for a second AT Games is just there for a quick money grab. I'm pretty sure this is a really hard market that requires a lot of effort. Simply negotiating with crazy IP holders who greatly overestimate their portfolios would drive me nut. More importantly, AT Games is not a new company. If they didn't have at least a minimum of passion, they would have switched to something completely different a long time ago.

However, no matter the passion, people who ignore the harsh reality of the market tend to be eliminated quite quickly. We don't live in a "Field of Dreams" kind of world. It's not because we build it that customers will come. Making a product is always a struggle between what you want to do and what people are willing to pay.

Look at China. Chinese companies are right now the number one when it comes to manufacturing technology. They have even surpassed Japan. However, because of the past, people still go to China mainly for cheap products, not for high-quality products. So despite the fact that Chinese companies can make outstanding quality products, they have to make mainly cheap and low-quality products. It's the market that ultimately decides what a company does, not passion.

Back to the Flashback, I also bought the overlay pack from Intellivision Productions. Some of those overlays were not cut right and they didn't fit properly. Either they were too wide or too long. In total, I had to trim about 20 overlays so they could fit in the controller. Also, the corner of the supplemental overlay were not a fillet but a chamfer. I'm no sure who was responsible for what, but the overlays shipped by AT Games were of higher quality than the ones shipped by Intellivision Productions. Will you say that Intellivision Productions had no passion and produced those overlays only for a quick buck?

Considering the very low price I paid for those overlays (22.99 USD plus 9.50 USD for shipping), I can understand that quality control had to be sacrificed and I won't blame Intellivision Productions at all. I can use an X-Acto and the inconvenience was minor. As for the Flashback, considering its insanely low price of 39 USD, I never expected a high quality product. I was even surprised by the quality of the controllers. Maybe you could criticize the choice of going for a $39 price point instead of $59, but I consider anyone criticizing the quality of this $39 product is unreasonable.

I also don't expect Amico to be perfect. I'm sure Intellivision had and will have to make a lot of compromises to respect their strict pricing rule. I'm guessing a lot of hardcore gamers (including people here) will be disappointed by the console and its games the same way Intellivision fans were disappointed by the Flashback. However, personally I won't judge Amico on some expectations I could have, but simply for what it does.

Anyway, did you regret buying the Flashback? Because in the end that's all that matters.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

The sizing chart is right on the page.  Look on the right and click the FIND MY SIZE button.  It has both inches and metric.

 

Yes I know that.

But what's in inches should be in cm, and what's in cm should be in inches ! The youth sizes are okay, but not the adult size.

76 inches is way too long for a shirt ! lol

Sorry if my english is that bad that you did not understand the first time ! 😕

12 hours ago, mr_me said:

The new games being created are amico games made by a company called intellivision.  The old games are intellivision games, none of which were created by a company called intellivision (e.g. Mattel, INTV).

Actually... The early games were not made by Mattel either.

Artists at Mattel created the concepts and graphics for the early intellivision games.  The programming (and much of the game play) was contracted out. They were of course manufactured/published by Mattel. Not unlike what Intellivision Entertainment is doing with Amico.

As stated by others... I was happy to get an "Intellivision" Flashback.  Yes, it could have had a few seemingly simple adjustments... 

But back to the Amico, 

1st.. Can't wait!

2nd, I am looking forward to the re-imagined versions of the classic games.

3rd, I am hoping the original games are available as the were BITD!  Yes, I have multiple ways to play them. But if these new controllers are as sweet as we expect....

Wait, If we had Papa Intellvision... Is Tommy Bambino Intellivision?  

Please don't take that personal TT.  I don't mean to call you a child, just the Next Generation Intellivision torchbearer!

It's a joke.  So sad we have to pre-appaulagise for any comment we make these days!

Again, not that you can't take it...  Ah forget it..

53 minutes ago, Papy said:

I don't believe for a second AT Games is just there for a quick money grab.

Well... unfortunately they are.  Which is why every major company has dropped them.   I've received a few private messages over the past few days from folks who know the story and bite their tongue.  If you knew some of the stuff they've done and said... you'd be singing a different tune for sure.  I've even had their own employees reach out to me apologizing and asking if they could come work for us instead.  

There... I said it.

 

56 minutes ago, Papy said:

Some people say the same thing about Intellivision. If Tommy wasn't so outspoken, which is something really rare for a CEO, I'd say that's what the majority would believe.

 

I don't believe for a second AT Games is just there for a quick money grab. I'm pretty sure this is a really hard market that requires a lot of effort. Simply negotiating with crazy IP holders who greatly overestimate their portfolios would drive me nut. More importantly, AT Games is not a new company. If they didn't have at least a minimum of passion, they would have switched to something completely different a long time ago.

 

However, no matter the passion, people who ignore the harsh reality of the market tend to be eliminated quite quickly. We don't live in a "Field of Dreams" kind of world. It's not because we build it that customers will come. Making a product is always a struggle between what you want to do and what people are willing to pay.

 

Look at China. Chinese companies are right now the number one when it comes to manufacturing technology. They have even surpassed Japan. However, because of the past, people still go to China mainly for cheap products, not for high-quality products. So despite the fact that Chinese companies can make outstanding quality products, they have to make mainly cheap and low-quality products. It's the market that ultimately decides what a company does, not passion.

 

Back to the Flashback, I also bought the overlay pack from Intellivision Productions. Some of those overlays were not cut right and they didn't fit properly. Either they were too wide or too long. In total, I had to trim about 20 overlays so they could fit in the controller. Also, the corner of the supplemental overlay were not a fillet but a chamfer. I'm no sure who was responsible for what, but the overlays shipped by AT Games were of higher quality than the ones shipped by Intellivision Productions. Will you say that Intellivision Productions had no passion and produced those overlays only for a quick buck?

 

Considering the very low price I paid for those overlays (22.99 USD plus 9.50 USD for shipping), I can understand that quality control had to be sacrificed and I won't blame Intellivision Productions at all. I can use an X-Acto and the inconvenience was minor. As for the Flashback, considering its insanely low price of 39 USD, I never expected a high quality product. I was even surprised by the quality of the controllers. Maybe you could criticize the choice of going for a $39 price point instead of $59, but I consider anyone criticizing the quality of this $39 product is unreasonable.

 

I also don't expect Amico to be perfect. I'm sure Intellivision had and will have to make a lot of compromises to respect their strict pricing rule. I'm guessing a lot of hardcore gamers (including people here) will be disappointed by the console and its games the same way Intellivision fans were disappointed by the Flashback. However, personally I won't judge Amico on some expectations I could have, but simply for what it does.

 

Anyway, did you regret buying the Flashback? Because in the end that's all that matters.

The Intellivision flashback was fine AtGames however is a fairly shady company look what they did with the Namco Blast where they sent out review samples with Arcade Roms and then did NES Roms for the retail version with the arcade picture still on the box. I don’t begrudge them making a cheap product profit but I for one would rather support a company that doesn’t pull such crap I know sometimes things are forced to change and maybe the boxes for the blast were already done with the arcade photos on the back but at the very least it that was the case a paper Olin the box explaining the change or a sticker on the box would have been acceptable but that wasn’t done.  
 

As far as overlays not being cut right that is a different animal as sometimes quality control issues happen but that is very different than bad business practices 

On 5/17/2019 at 4:29 PM, Papy said:

I just have a small question, will there be at least one or two games with themes and gameplay made specifically to appeal to young girls (8 years old) at launch?

I also think it would be great to have "something for everyone". There was fun classic console homebrew mentioned on these forums "Ms. Night Stalker", just a subtle config choice in that game would add great variation.

I just saw some an interesting fundraiser themed controller for sale on Twitter. Once the Amico takes off, it would also be great to see this kind of thing from Intellivision. 

Which just led me to think of something else: what kind of adaptability will the controllers or games have to make the play attractive/fun to physically challenged folks? Sorry if this was asked before, a search on this *huge* thread did not reveal anything.

2 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Well... unfortunately they are.  Which is why every major company has dropped them.   I've received a few private messages over the past few days from folks who know the story and bite their tongue.  If you knew some of the stuff they've done and said... you'd be singing a different tune for sure.  I've even had their own employees reach out to me apologizing and asking if they could come work for us instead.  

 

There... I said it.
 

Abd that's prob not counting the underhanded thing they did to namco over Ms Pac-Man