Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

I would really love to see a game like Outrun on the Amico, I know the multiplayer would have to be split screen, but that was how we played racing games in the golden years. 😀👍

I used to play a PC strategy game called “Capture The Flag.”  It had all the best elements of strategy war games without the killing. Based on that team sport game of the same name, each player would have men who have different strengths. Some were fast, somewhere sneaky, and if you were good at fighting. Terrain type affected movement rate and concealment. Players would deploy their men and begin searching for the pressing side’s flag. When two opposing figures were within a certain amount of space from each other, there would be a cartoon-like scuffle until one emerged the winner. It’s apparently abandonware now, but I think this game, or one very much like it, would be a lot of fun on the entire vision. The game had an AI so you could play solo, but it was most fun against other organics. 
 

https://www.mobygames.com/game/capture-the-flag

14 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

Oops sorry, bad export settings - this should be closer to real time (and replacing the one above)

You can watch the actual glitch in the matrix here: https://youtu.be/LRMeJYH2RUA?t=3758

 

L. Ron Hubbard’s million year old alien makes a brief appearance. 

This looks cool.  Reminds me of Space Invaders.  Maybe it could be on Amico.

5 hours ago, TMPiper said:

I used to play a PC strategy game called “Capture The Flag.”  It had all the best elements of strategy war games without the killing. Based on that team sport game of the same name, each player would have men who have different strengths. Some were fast, somewhere sneaky, and if you were good at fighting. Terrain type affected movement rate and concealment. Players would deploy their men and begin searching for the pressing side’s flag. When two opposing figures were within a certain amount of space from each other, there would be a cartoon-like scuffle until one emerged the winner. It’s apparently abandonware now, but I think this game, or one very much like it, would be a lot of fun on the entire vision. The game had an AI so you could play solo, but it was most fun against other organics. 
 

https://www.mobygames.com/game/capture-the-flag

Looks like he's still active.

http://www.carrsoft.com

You'll need to turn up the volume on this video as he talks low.

3 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

You'll need to turn up the volume on this video as he talks low.

Don’t let him trick you into wearing a puffy shirt. 

On 2/22/2021 at 12:15 AM, RREDDWARFF said:

I disagree with this. How difficult is it to add controller remapping options like with the Xbox? I had a stroke in 2018 and no longer have much use of my right hand. Remapping buttons is extremely important to me, as well as several other handicapped gamers out there. Why not just have an option in the console settings to remap all of the buttons?

I appreciate your thoughts.

It's not really a matter of difficulty from a technical standpoint... it's more about the overall message and complexity of interacting with menus, etc. 

The "less" options  people have to change or adjust things, the less daunting the overall experience becomes. 

We don't want to have menu screens looking like this eventually.

But seriously... there are so many different ways to hold and use the controller that just by turning the controller a certain way... it would automatically change which sides the buttons were on.

Also, each game is extremely different and unique in the way they are interacted with and played with the controller.  So having a global system mapping as you suggested wouldn't work or be possible.

One last super important thing...

We typically never have just one button for one action.  For example... if there is only one button press needed... we actually already open EVERY button on the controller to represent that button.  So ANY of them will work.  In some instances... even the touch screen.  Meaning... no matter where you push or touch... it will act as the input so that folks are scrambling around and trying to remember if they should push the top left shoulder button or the top right one.  If there is only one button... open them ALL up for that particular game so there is less confusion or button memory needed.

Even our entire UI is like this.  Hit ANYTHING (after selecting it with the disc) and it will move you forward, etc.

I hope that explanation helps to understand our thought process.

Thank you for your feedback and so sorry to hear about your stroke. 

21 hours ago, woobman said:

Loved the original..  Hopeful for this one. With all of the controller features being used. Very cool.  Can't wait to see gameplay and how it will all work.

I've got tons of questions.. I'm sure most of us will, but I'll start with 2 simple ones. Will we (meaning 2 or more people) be able to play at the same time? or one by one? and the 2nd: Was that an actual level? other than the popout telling us about the controller, of course. Good tease Tommy!!!

Yes.  2 or more people will be able to play at the same time.  The whole game is built around that.  And in single player mode... you'll be tasked to having to deal with 2 controllers at once which is not always easy.  Especially when you may need to use your nose with all the Twister type action you'll have going on.     Expect the unexpected with this one!

Yes.  That was in-game footage of the code breaking device that will be used to diffuse bombs and to give hints to what you need to do.  There are other screens of well of course... but this is just one of the in game graphics.  It's very different from anything else we currently have which is why we wanted to showcase it.

Thanks!

18 hours ago, Tavi said:

That is going to get some howls from the PS5 FPS Battlefield/COD players. Burning though a 70$ controller every 2-3 months is not going to be a very welcome additional expense I expect.

I am pretty sure at some point Tommy had made a post here about designing the Amico for durability and is intended to last for years of play. I would expect that would cover the controllers as well?

At 400+ hours, the PS5 seems to be setting the bar pretty low for the Amico to surpass them.

Absolutely!  We put the most time and energy into controller durability. 

And for any of those who may have never seen it...

Remember this...

p.s.  The guy who made this with me is the same person making Bomb Squad!  So you can imagine how much fun we're having with Bomb Squad.

4 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

And in single player mode... you'll be tasked to having to deal with 2 controllers at once which is not always easy.

Was this game you were referring to when you said that there was a game requiring 2 controllers?

18 hours ago, woobman said:

Yes. But the groundwork is there for a solid game. The ships will change as it is a OEB edict ... (Pun intended Pete).  Backgrounds. And other things will change as well. I'm sure we will see a nice polished game by the time it hits either the physical or virtual shelves.

 

I thought the rule was right now.. No FPS's... More fuel for the haters out there.. Tommy lied again.. Flying P@#*s Ships!!! Clear as day!  Sorry can't help myself.

Yeah... what was shown is still a work in progress.  Still a lot to go.

17 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

Your wish is my command oh Intellivision Master!

 

Now you all know why I only need 3 - 4 hours of sleep.  I set myself for quadruple time whenever I close my eyes to rest.

17 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

There should be a game on Amico and you play as Tommy.  He's a cartoon character but he has a special ability where he glitches out.  Lol.  By glitching, he can defeat enemies and access secret areas in a level.  Wouldn't that be something?  I think Tommy would approve.  Or at least I hope so.  

Yes.  It uses the motion controls as well.  We're calling it Whack-A-Troll.

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yes.  It uses the motion controls as well.  We're calling it Whack-A-Troll.

 

 

 

I actually suggested a Whack-A-Troll game on here last year.  

18 hours ago, Cranker said:

It was the red and blue pastel colors mixed with the ships. It might not seem busy playing in person. Not sure. 

Yeah... just watching everything on a full screen without having control of anything may look like there is a ton going on.  But when you play it and are really only focused mainly on your own ship and the ball... it doesn't become an issue.  Same with something like Astrosmash or Missile Command.  There may be a LOT going on if your just watching the screen... but when your playing, it doesn't seem that way at all because you are so focused on your own ship/vehicle/reticle, etc. that it all goes away.

17 hours ago, LePionnier said:

Tommy,

I don't have much hope, but I still ask the question ! Would it be possible to have a lunch box with "Intellivision Amico" written on it ?
I would be a buyer, and that would be great publicity while my 900 co-workers look for a place in the fridge to put their own lunch box ! lol 😀

Thank you !

Yes.  This will happen eventually I would think.

16 hours ago, Starpaddler said:

@Tommy Tallarico - Hi Tommy, Question above from last week is still open, if it is anything you can talk about. 
 

Looking to confirm if there will be a physical media running theme option for collectors looking for uniformity in their collection; i.e., uniform box size, art style, category bannering like the original games (space, sports, for example) & running media theme?
 

Thanks!
 

 

Ah!  Thanks!  I must have missed that one.

GREAT question!

Answer:  YES!

I will show it to you when you guys come down to visit!

15 hours ago, CurlyQ said:

When you slow the video down it shows what REALLY happened.

 

With great power comes great responsibility!

🕷️

14 hours ago, IMBerzerk said:

I'm going to boldly predict that this might very well be the best game made for the Amico. 

 

Seems to me you guys really hit the nail on the head with this one.  A game like this will envolve the whole room for sure.  I love the idea that so many aspects of the the console are involved that everyone can sit in the game even without a controller.  Mirroring the tension of a good Escape Room game, this one is sure to get the blood flowing!

 

This one and Safecracker are the two I've been looking forward to the most.  Nothing like a game that really challenges the mind and gets the whole room working together...and of course the tension watching the clock run down!  Great idea!

 

I love the throwback to the original game with the three colored code boards flashing, the tools, the sirens and music....and of course what used to be Boris saying.. "it won't be easy!" tossed in there as well.  Freakin' awesome!!  

 

Nice work to you and the team on this one. 

Thanks!!   Glad you enjoyed it.  Yeah... this is a really fun one!  Can't wait to show more over the summer. 

We're having fun with this one.  I don't think there has ever been a video game quite like this!

7 hours ago, Silverbot said:

I think the trails should be a bit shorter and 50% see through, so you can see the ships and ball better 👍😀

Agree.  We're still working on the trails and ships. 

14 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

Was this game you were referring to when you said that there was a game requiring 2 controllers?

No. 

8 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

No. 

 

 

Okay.  Are you able to say how many Amico games need both controllers in single player?  Now we know Bomb Squad is one of them.  Maybe just some games will require both controllers if playing alone.

2 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

Okay.  Are you able to say how many Amico games need both controllers in single player?  Now we know Bomb Squad is one of them.  Maybe just some games will require both controllers if playing alone.

Not at this time.