Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

13 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

Tommy,

 

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

Puffy plush stuffed animal would be epic!

Hey @Tommy Tallarico, I know you "can't confirm or deny", but I think all of us here would love  to know the state of completion of the games shown in the menu. Can you fill up this list with percentages?

Colossal Crash____- %
Back Tack Party___- %
Dolphin Quest____- %
Missile Command__- %
Shark! Shark!_____- %
Moon Patrol______- %
Night Stalker_____- %
Armor Battle_____- %
Snafoo__________- %
Flying Circus_____- %
Safecracker______- %
Skiing__________- %
Dynablaster______- %
Farkle__________- %
Darts___________- %
Soccer__________- %
Astrosmash______- %
Auto Racing______- %
Biplanes_________- %
Breakout________- %
Cats with Swords_- %
Centipede_______- %

Earthworm Jim___- %
Fox & Forest_____- %

😇

By the way, congratulations:

- Astrosmash looks impressive, even for someone who never played the original.

- The music is very MDK-ish too. Surprisingly good for this simple pack-in game.

- Even the UI, being an old version, looks pretty decent to me!

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Puffy plush stuffed animal would be epic!

Yes it would be.  Also, a T-shirt as well.

10 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!

 

 

 

 

 

More epic commentary and thoughts from @supahwally!

Our goal is to get the system down to $199 ASAP.  But could take a year or two.  Every console takes off in it's 3rd & 4th year.  That's when the majority of sales happen.  So we have a few years to figure it out. 

But yes... a lot of our eventual marketing and advertising will be focused and based around TRUST & VALUE.  2 major things we have going for us that no one else does.

 

8 hours ago, MiketheAmicoPunk said:

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.

Thanks!  I appreciate your kind words and support.

You're a fantastic writer and I look forward to reading more Amico content in the future! 

Question... what country are you from exactly and how did you hear about Amico?

8 hours ago, MiketheAmicoPunk said:

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.

Yep!  We're talking!

In fact... a Netflix crew was filming at my house for 3 days recently.  Just sayin'.

8 hours ago, MiketheAmicoPunk said:

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

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em ROBOTS!

1 hour ago, Intellivision Master said:

 

Looking forward to this one!!

They will have a LOT to talk about tonight!!

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em ROBOTS!

 

 

 

Yes.  Can't wait to see this on Amico.

Just now, Tommy Tallarico said:

Looking forward to this one!!

They will have a LOT to talk about tonight!!

 

Hopefully you stop by and the podcast will go for 3 hours.  Lol.  But seriously, it's always nice when you can join in.

1 hour ago, Malrinth said:

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.  

They aren't as big as they seem in your hand... and you hold them sideways with the motion control and the button is like a trigger.  Even little kids love them... especially with games like Cornhole and Farkle.

When can we expect the Amico website to get updated in a way that shows off the games being officially offered on release date? Maybe even a way to preorder them.

15 minutes ago, GrudgeQ said:

 

Nice mention!  I love his channel.  Really great presentation, content and thoughts.

I did an interview with him last year and he was really great and had awesome questions.

2 minutes ago, Matt-H06 said:

When can we expect the Amico website to get updated in a way that shows off the games being officially offered on release date? Maybe even a way to preorder them.

We are currently targeting February.

If the Amico does in fact get delayed, hopefully more game demos will come to the Amico app.  That way it'll help with the wait.

After watching the latest video again (double figures now), I really like how the controllers pop up on the bottom left hand side on the screen when you are on the main UI.👍😀

19 minutes ago, IntelliMission said:

Hey @Tommy Tallarico, I know you "can't confirm or deny", but I think all of us here would love  to know the state of completion of the games shown in the menu. Can you fill up this list with percentages?

 

Colossal Crash____- %
Back Tack Party___- %
Dolphin Quest____- %
Missile Command__- %
Shark! Shark!_____- %
Moon Patrol______- %
Night Stalker_____- %
Armor Battle_____- %
Snafoo__________- %
Flying Circus_____- %
Safecracker______- %
Skiing__________- %
Dynablaster______- %
Farkle__________- %
Darts___________- %
Soccer__________- %
Astrosmash______- %
Auto Racing______- %
Biplanes_________- %
Breakout________- %
Cats with Swords_- %
Centipede_______- %

Earthworm Jim___- %
Fox & Forest_____- %

 

😇

 

By the way, congratulations:

 

- Astrosmash looks impressive, even for someone who never played the original.

 

- The music is very MDK-ish too. Surprisingly good for this simple pack-in game.

 

- Even the UI, being an old version, looks pretty decent to me!

Thanks for the kind words about the music!

The UI "look" is close to final... but we will be showing off a lot more down the road.

Don't really want to fill out the chart as it will only be used against me or to pressure us constantly... and when things change (which they ALWAYS DO in development) people will say I'm a liar, etc.  So no real advantage for us to share that kind of info.

I'll say this.  Almost all the launch games are on the average... 95% complete at this point with (at the least) 3 more full months of development (or at the most) 6 more! 

Best to just leave it at that I think.

2 minutes ago, Silverbot said:

After watching the latest video again (double figures now), I really like how the controllers pop up on the bottom left hand side on the screen when you are on the main UI.👍😀

Nice catch!!  I think you're the first person I've seen notice and mention that!  And when you connect a mobile device, it shows a phone controller there as well!

Good eye!!

Tommy,

I saw the video you put up about your mom's birthday.  That was really nice.  Tell your mom I said happy birthday. 

We need an update video for Cloudy Mountain.  I can't wait to hear how the music will sound for this game.  Imagine fighting the dragon and have epic choir music playing in the background.  It would be so awesome.  Gotta have the cool boss music.

So I watched the video again, this time with sound on since the first time I didn't get to.

I really liked some of the subtle features in Astrosmash -- like the moon slowly gliding across the background in the first level. Or the rocks slowly glowing more/heating up as they got closer to the ground. 

Level 4 is really pretty both from a music and background perspective. I think that's my favorite part so far. 

On level 2, the snow combined with the music sort of reminded me of the winter levels on Donkey Kong Country. 

Tommy,

On the new video, there were no lights on the Amico when Astrosmash was playing, were they turned off, or are they not used on that game? 👍😀

9 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

More epic commentary and thoughts from @supahwally!

Our goal is to get the system down to $199 ASAP.  But could take a year or two.  Every console takes off in it's 3rd & 4th year.  That's when the majority of sales happen.  So we have a few years to figure it out. 

But yes... a lot of our eventual marketing and advertising will be focused and based around TRUST & VALUE.  2 major things we have going for us that no one else does.

 

LOL yeah, in the interest of seeming somewhat sane, I avoid posting too often.

Tommy, I fully understand your marketing goals and philosophy and believe in it.  What I can't believe is the low standard of research from major outlets like engaget.  It gets to me like the crazies on youtube got to you for awhile, and I keep searching for ways to prove them wrong-which isn't possible. It's hard to imagine someone getting paid to be that oblivious.

Back to my hole!  

1 hour ago, supahwally said:

LOL yeah, in the interest of seeming somewhat sane, I avoid posting too often.

 

Tommy, I fully understand your marketing goals and philosophy and believe in it.  What I can't believe is the low standard of research from major outlets like engaget.  It gets to me like the crazies on youtube got to you for awhile, and I keep searching for ways to prove them wrong-which isn't possible. It's hard to imagine someone getting paid to be that oblivious.

 

Back to my hole!  

There are tools like that everywhere!