Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

18 hours ago, インテレビジョン said:

Happy New Year one and all!

 

I wanna thank Tommy for the New Year's Day update video. Astrosmash looks great, and I really like how the background music changes with each level.

One thing that bugs me is on the title screen for Astrosmash we see the astronaut on the ladder ready to climb aboard the ship, with the radar screen in the ship animating and the space rocks coming down, but the astronaut is frozen. It reminds me of the faked freeze frame at the end of the Police Squad episodes:

https://youtu.be/A_3rJqHWYjs?t=99

Anyway, could the astronaut be waving at the player or something like that to break the frozen effect? Just a minor tweak hopefully. Otherwise, it's perfect.

 

Astronaut on the menu screen isn't final. 

10 hours ago, Stoke said:

I just watched the Astrosmash video again.  The more I watch it, the more impressed I get.

 

The music of the game is so good and synchronized with the action (like when there is a pause before the meteor shower, then boom!).  Super impressed.

 

Unbelievable that the game is a "packin".

 

This thing is going to blow doors!

Thanks!

Yeah... we wanted to create a bunch of those meteor shower type moments synchronized to the music.  I think we have at least one kinda cool moment like that for each level if I'm not mistaken.

On 1/1/2021 at 9:23 AM, vprette said:

I say we really need a fanzine for Amico... I need to find some people to collaborate and think how to do it

That reminds me of how I used to wait for the new EGM or Gamepro to come out at the local magazine store. No internet to speak of, and so exciting to read each magazine cover to cover 😀

10 hours ago, Malrinth said:

Would be interesting to see which other games you can dual-wield with those controllers!

Because Amico comes with 2 controllers out of the box... that means we have a HUGE advantage over other systems because we could have a game use 2 motion controlled controllers.  Maybe even like "hands" like you see in VR.

Wouldn't That Be Something?™

9 hours ago, Silverbot said:

Just showed my dad (who’s 78 years old) the new Astrosmash video and he was so impressed he’s preorder one. Thought Astrosmash looked amazing, used to play the original one back in the early 80s. Also he loved the way you can turn the controller around, and was amazed that the games are going to cost £10 or less. I’m looking forward to playing this with him and my wife. 👍😀

Love this!!

Word of mouth is going to be HUGE for us.  The more people who see it and experience it... the more people will love it, talk about it and get their friends & family to know about it.

Parts of our advertising are actually going to be focused around this as well.

7 hours ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

 

well Tommy and the Gang have had Crabs before... wait that didnt come out right.... they have made great games with crabs before...

 

 

Now that game looks a little familiar!

Crazy to think that most of the same team who did that game nearly 30 years ago is now working on Astrosmash & Earthworm Jim!

7 hours ago, Silverbot said:

So, I just played the new Astrosmash video on my tv and sound bar..........WoW Tommy, you are the John Williams of video games music! Even my wife asked if the music was from the game and not a film. 👍😀

You (and your wife) are too kind!!  I will pass it along to the others.

And although I am the Audio Director, Music Supervisor, Sound Designer, Game Designer... I'm only one of the composers working on it.  It's a team full of super talented folks!!

7 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

We need movies based on Intellivision games.  That would be so cool.  Imagine a Night Stalker movie?  Or an Astrosmash movie?  Wouldn't that be something.  

Funny you should mention those two!

I'll leave it at that.

2 hours ago, Alpha82 said:

Great video and if anyone is interested the Amico article he mentioned in the video can be found at the link here 

 

https://discover.hubpages.com/.amp/games-hobbies/Should-You-Buy-An-Intellivision-Amico?__twitter_impression=true

Fantastic article!!   Jan is a talented dude!

So great to see people from around the world loving what we're doing.  A great sign of things to come I think!

Tommy,

I'm still hoping we get merchandise for Puffy.  Lol.  

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Damn... you're good!

 

You can't hide stuff from me~ Except for stuff that you can.

Anyway, hopefully the system doesn't get delayed again, but if the government says there is an indefinite lockdown, there isn't much you can do about it, but hopefully stuff works out somehow. You said the hardware is 98% finished, so hopefully you're able to finalize it soon and start mass-production. How is software development going?

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Now that game looks a little familiar!

Crazy to think that most of the same team who did that game nearly 30 years ago is now working on Astrosmash & Earthworm Jim!

 

 

 

 

I saw this relevant thread on GameFAQs the other day: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/691087-playstation-4/79212593

3 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

LOL I also have one of those “fake” 🙄 HDMI splitters! They are super handy for video production.

 

”Stupid is as stupid does” - Forrest Gump

Yes... but can it run Crysis?

😉🤣🤣

Happy New Year everyone!  Astrosmash is looking great, nice video.

I'm back to complain about the media's inability to understand the Amico controller, or the inherent value in the system at a $249 price point.  This article https://www.engadget.com/alternative-consoles-analogue-playdate-intellivision-atari-2021-140044860.html calls the controllers 'simplistic' and compares it unfavorably with systems starting at $50 more, without grasping that you can get six Amico games for $60 instead of just one....even though it's mentioned earlier that the games are under $10.  The stated goals of the console (family, co-op play, ease of use, safety, no scams) are summed in a paragraph that ends with 'That's the idea, anyway',  as if it's all just a feel-good mission statement without evidence to back it up.  The author quickly returns to the standard 'retro system, expensive, limited market to 80s people' narrative that the gaming press is unable to let go of. 

I wonder if a $229 asking price (or anything below $50 less than a Switch or XBox) would be enough to truly separate the Amico from pricier systems in the minds of these people.  Typical consumers-Americans, at least-can't do the math to calculate long term value.  I'm afraid at $249 they'll only see it as $50 more for a 'real' system with no 'its for dad' baggage.  I even wonder if a $199 price point with only one controller included would make it irresistible.  Make the smartphone-as-controller feature a major marketing point for the initial sale and extra $70 controllers would sell themselves when people realize just how amazing they are compared to the phone.  You could offer a more expensive version that includes 2 controllers alongside the 'budget' model, and mimic what Microsoft is doing with the Xbox with different versions.

On another note, since people are still mentioning cool games they'd like to see on the Amico, I'd like to mention a board game (it's also on Steam, apparently) called Wingspan.  We got it as a gift for Christmas and have been playing it constantly. My apologies if it's been mentioned before.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1054490/Wingspan/

As an aside, I had a good laugh when we got this game.  Last time I posted here, I mentioned my first video game concept: 'Hawk Hawk', loosely based on 'Shark Shark' and thought up while watching the birds at my backyard feeders.  While Wingspan isn't exactly what I had in mind, it's in the neighborhood, and I was happy to see something like it out in the world.  I've actually learned a lot playing it, and we were able to identify one bird (Northern Flicker) that we couldn't figure out from the photos in our Audubon book of North American birds!

21 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Fantastic article!!   Jan is a talented dude!

 

So great to see people from around the world loving what we're doing.  A great sign of things to come I think!

 

 

 

Thank you for the praise Tommy. You are one of those good down to Earth people who value smaller people like myself. Not everyone remains humble upon reaching success.

21 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Funny you should mention those two!

I'll leave it at that.

 

 

 

You need to talk to Netflix Tommy. Recently they have been criticized for less than family friendly content. The family friendly them of the Intellivision properties would be better content for them. Love Astrosmash and its superhero like music. Its like I'm saving the world.

21 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Because Amico comes with 2 controllers out of the box... that means we have a HUGE advantage over other systems because we could have a game use 2 motion controlled controllers.  Maybe even like "hands" like you see in VR.

 

Wouldn't That Be Something?™

 

 

Tommy a good use of this would be maybe in some sort of boxing game ala Punchout.

17 hours ago, supahwally said:

Happy New Year everyone!  Astrosmash is looking great, nice video.

 

I'm back to complain about the media's inability to understand the Amico controller, or the inherent value in the system at a $249 price point.  This article https://www.engadget.com/alternative-consoles-analogue-playdate-intellivision-atari-2021-140044860.html calls the controllers 'simplistic' and compares it unfavorably with systems starting at $50 more, without grasping that you can get six Amico games for $60 instead of just one....even though it's mentioned earlier that the games are under $10.  The stated goals of the console (family, co-op play, ease of use, safety, no scams) are summed in a paragraph that ends with 'That's the idea, anyway',  as if it's all just a feel-good mission statement without evidence to back it up.  The author quickly returns to the standard 'retro system, expensive, limited market to 80s people' narrative that the gaming press is unable to let go of. 

 

I wonder if a $229 asking price (or anything below $50 less than a Switch or XBox) would be enough to truly separate the Amico from pricier systems in the minds of these people.  Typical consumers-Americans, at least-can't do the math to calculate long term value.  I'm afraid at $249 they'll only see it as $50 more for a 'real' system with no 'its for dad' baggage.  I even wonder if a $199 price point with only one controller included would make it irresistible.  Make the smartphone-as-controller feature a major marketing point for the initial sale and extra $70 controllers would sell themselves when people realize just how amazing they are compared to the phone.  You could offer a more expensive version that includes 2 controllers alongside the 'budget' model, and mimic what Microsoft is doing with the Xbox with different versions.

 

On another note, since people are still mentioning cool games they'd like to see on the Amico, I'd like to mention a board game (it's also on Steam, apparently) called Wingspan.  We got it as a gift for Christmas and have been playing it constantly. My apologies if it's been mentioned before.

 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1054490/Wingspan/

 

As an aside, I had a good laugh when we got this game.  Last time I posted here, I mentioned my first video game concept: 'Hawk Hawk', loosely based on 'Shark Shark' and thought up while watching the birds at my backyard feeders.  While Wingspan isn't exactly what I had in mind, it's in the neighborhood, and I was happy to see something like it out in the world.  I've actually learned a lot playing it, and we were able to identify one bird (Northern Flicker) that we couldn't figure out from the photos in our Audubon book of North American birds!

 

 

 

 

 

I wrote an article on the value proposition of the Amico. While the Amico is not for everyone, for the price of a low end Android phone, up to 8 people can have years upon years of enjoyment and do not have to spend a single dime after the initial purchase. The media at times does not understand things and does not give an accurate representation of the product https://discover.hubpages.com/games-hobbies/Should-You-Buy-An-Intellivision-Amico

Cool idea! The movies will help promote the Intelliviision brand.

Dogs with shields is a good one Pete.  We also need crabs with knives.  Lol.

12 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Because Amico comes with 2 controllers out of the box... that means we have a HUGE advantage over other systems because we could have a game use 2 motion controlled controllers.  Maybe even like "hands" like you see in VR.

 

Wouldn't That Be Something?™

 

 

I'm actually not a fan of the motion controls in the controllers as I think the controllers are too big to be versatile in that regard (unlike say, a Wii remote, which can fit comfortably in the palm of the hand), but I do LOVE breakout.

I would be most interested in unique ways to use the controller while playing that game vertically.  

1 hour ago, Intellivision Master said:

Dogs with shields is a good one Pete.  We also need crabs with knives.  Lol.

Don't worry, I got you covered:

3 months from today the FE comes out hopefully.