Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

This would be a good game for Amico.  I played it and it's fun.  Tommy said that some Turbo Grafx 16 games are coming to Amico.  Maybe this can be one of them.

1 hour ago, Battlefish said:

Aye, that's disappointing to hear...but the honest truth.

 

I was hoping to hear if you folks were close to finished with the system software, or if you managed to secure enough components yet. Would you be able to share info on that, or no?

Will definitely give updates as to when manufacturing starts, etc.  Hopefully some cool video or pics as well!

57 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

This would be a good game for Amico.  I played it and it's fun.  Tommy said that some Turbo Grafx 16 games are coming to Amico.  Maybe this can be one of them.

Looks interesting, though maybe Intellivision would be better off using the Japanese title, Be Ball.

1 minute ago, Battlefish said:

Looks interesting, though maybe Intellivision would be better off using the Japanese title, Be Ball.

Yeah.  The name might have to be changed.  Like with Snafu becoming Snafoo.

Warlords warlords warlords warlords 

adventure adventure adventure adventure 

tempest tempest tempest tempest 

thank you 😊 

Hello Tommy.  
 

Thanks for addressing my concerns, telling me that  Amico has every game have a solo mode and a local multiplayer mode.

3. suggestions. And I’ll try to TLDR

1.  USB controllers, like to DB9 like 2600/7800/Coleco/INTV2/Bally,  and to DB 15 for 5200.  That way replacement specialty controls can be made, like Paddles, Trak Balls, Spinners, flight yolks, and  arcade style joysticks, could be used by those who prefer them.   Also it simultaneously benefit the “true retro” market o original consoles as well as the neo-retro market like Amico and the New VCS. 
 

2.  Though doing that could let individuals use their own controllers, my design is the best “all around joystick” if ambidextrrity and conforming to “fighting game fans” must be balanced.  Visit http://Sinister sticks.com for my personal sales story of how I and 4 others toppled a future gaming giant.

BTW Hori USA said the design is brilliant, should sell in the USA well, yet the main office in Japan forbids this to go through.

3.  In you’re going to do online gaming in 2 to 3 years from now, consider http://Netrogames.com . Keith Robinson said if it were echnically possible, it would create a new online gaming market. Steve Ronny said if he had 3 M in 1 M out combined with the low-ping aspects of the Sprint direct connect network, he could easily do it

The concept of Netrogames is to use a straight line light speed connection to make a low-ping connection possible. And if a low ping connection can beat 1 frame both ways and sync up machines, then literally any multi player game that uses the same screen or split screen and has separate controllers for each player can be turned into an online game without writing a single bit of code that is not dependent on the originating game’s code.

Games in licensing purgatory can be turned online without the permission of the original cold owners.  All you need is an original cartridge and a new version of the cartridge player which features a Netrogames , and that’s exactly why Atari failed my Invention saying that they weren’t sure about the legal implications of Activision having their games used to make money without their permission. 

Some people told me to go into the lengthy details. I say read what’s already up there on my websites. 

1 hour ago, Cranker said:

Warlords warlords warlords warlords 

 

adventure adventure adventure adventure 

 

tempest tempest tempest tempest 

 

thank you 😊 

 

 

Definitely Warlords and Tempest if a USB to 9 pin can let you real 2600 paddles and USB spinners are made for it as a possible alternative, if the individual thinks it’s better.

But I heard the original INTV controllers were supposed to be combo Joystick/paddles. And the Amico controller does that and more.  

2 hours ago, tripletopper said:

1.  USB controllers, like to DB9 like 2600/7800/Coleco/INTV2/Bally,  and to DB 15 for 5200.  That way replacement specialty controls can be made, like Paddles, Trak Balls, Spinners, flight yolks, and  arcade style joysticks, could be used by those who prefer them.   Also it simultaneously benefit the “true retro” market o original consoles as well as the neo-retro market like Amico and the New VCS. 
 

2.  Though doing that could let individuals use their own controllers, my design is the best “all around joystick” if ambidextrrity and conforming to “fighting game fans” must be balanced.  Visit http://Sinister sticks.com for my personal sales story of how I and 4 others toppled a future gaming giant.

 

BTW Hori USA said the design is brilliant, should sell in the USA well, yet the main office in Japan forbids this to go through.

 

3.  In you’re going to do online gaming in 2 to 3 years from now, consider http://Netrogames.com . Keith Robinson said if it were echnically possible, it would create a new online gaming market. Steve Ronny said if he had 3 M in 1 M out combined with the low-ping aspects of the Sprint direct connect network, he could easily do it

I think your not getting the point of Amico’s controller.  It is designed to be unique to the console to separate it from others that are out there.  The motion controls and touch screen will make it stand out from others with its feedback and interaction with the games. Tommy had mentioned that a lot of games will utilize one button and that the controller can be rotated to be used ambidextrously.  Also,  the Amico is not a retro game console.  Only 20-25% of the games will be retro reimagined.  I’m not sure the Sinister Stick will work with most of the games because of the motion and touch screen aspect the games will be taking advantage of.  
 

On the Netrogames topic you might want to look into the fact that the Sprint Direct Connect Network might not be around anymore from what I can see.  I’m not a wireless/communication engineer or anything, but doing a quick search shows that Sprint Direct Connect has been discontinued and it has evolved into Sprint Direct Connect Plus.  It seems that service uses WiFi and is a downloadable app that can be used with any phone? I’m not sure if it uses the same network specs you based Netrogames on anymore.
 

I would recommend trying to update your Sinister Stick design to be USB or wireless so that it could work as a MAME/Retro Pie controller in addition to a traditional pin connector version to work with original retro consoles.

Just noticed I moved up to Moonsweeper with that last post....only took 18 years lol.  I guess I don’t post as much as Intellivision Master!😁

Here's another shooter for Amico. 

2 hours ago, tripletopper said:

Some people told me to go into the lengthy details.

... and you appear to have completely missed their point.  That "request" was their subtle way of pointing out to you that you have a habit of going on about these details to an interminable and unbearable degree.  As I said in your most recent thread, I'm not aware that anyone other than you has ever expressed any interest in having an Amico fight stick, ambidextrous or otherwise; the very idea would seem to run counter to what the Amico is intended to be.

9 hours ago, PeterPepper said:

This is a good post. There are so many consumer surveys done in various industries where consumers say and prefer one thing but in reality at the point of purchase, their behavior says otherwise. A good example is the fitness industry, its like $10 billion/year and people say they want to be healthier and yet.....

May I make an observation?
 

Wouldn’t it be fair to say, in the case of phone apps at least, much of this result is driven by availability versus desire. I may want chocolate cake, for example, but if all I can get is lemon cake then lemon cake is what I’ll get. Some cake being better than no cake at all. 

With apps, it always seem to me game makers found a way to make more money and cashed in on it. Once one started, they all jumped on the bandwagon. It’s difficult to find apps now that don’t have some kind of in- app purchases. 

41 minutes ago, TMPiper said:

May I make an observation?
 

Wouldn’t it be fair to say, in the case of phone apps at least, much of this result is driven by availability versus desire. I may want chocolate cake, for example, but if all I can get is lemon cake then lemon cake is what I’ll get. Some cake being better than no cake at all. 

 

With apps, it always seem to me game makers found a way to make more money and cashed in on it. Once one started, they all jumped on the bandwagon. It’s difficult to find apps now that don’t have some kind of in- app purchases. 

Agreed, and with Amico we can have our chocolate cake - and eat it too 😆

17 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I hear from consumers all the time that they wish they could just pay a small price for the game and be done with it.

Yes, but to me it is not a question of being willing to pay a small price for a game, it’s that this business model denies me the possibility to be able to know and evaluate the “actual cost” for the product before making the “purchase”/commitment. I have no problem paying 50$ for a game if they let me know beforehand that this is the total cost and this is exactly the content I will get. Also, if the game is based around micro transactions in gameplay, it now ceases to be a video game and have crossed over to be a slot machine. Another aspect is of course when you ad small children to this, that does not have any real concept of money and value, and therefore could spend hundreds of dollars for a “game”, when they could have purchased a whole collection of great games for the same money. I don’t know if Amico will be the product that will alter the course of video game industry, but maybe it will be remembered as the system that “paved the way” for a new business model in the industry. But if I had to guess, the “Netflix” model is more probably what the industry will end up in pretty soon. 

1 hour ago, theswede said:

But if I had to guess, the “Netflix” model is more probably what the industry will end up in pretty soon. 

Like all other forms of entertainment... they are certainly trying hard to go in that direction!

10 hours ago, tripletopper said:

1.  USB controllers, like to DB9 like 2600/7800/Coleco/INTV2/Bally,  and to DB 15 for 5200.  That way replacement specialty controls can be made, like Paddles, Trak Balls, Spinners, flight yolks, and  arcade style joysticks, could be used by those who prefer them.   Also it simultaneously benefit the “true retro” market o original consoles as well as the neo-retro market like Amico and the New VCS. 

We have a USB on the back of Amico which can be used for peripherals, add-on's, etc.

Quote

 

2.  Though doing that could let individuals use their own controllers, my design is the best “all around joystick” if ambidextrrity and conforming to “fighting game fans” must be balanced.  Visit http://Sinister sticks.com for my personal sales story of how I and 4 others toppled a future gaming giant.

We don't have fighting games on Amico and the majority of games we create, design and publish are based around our very unique controller design the utilizes a touch screen, unique 64 position disc with LED lighting, gyroscope, speaker, microphone, accelerometer, etc.   As an example, we find using our disc for games like Shark! Shark! and Skiing a lot better than any joystick, analog stick or d-pad could ever replicate.

 

Quote

3.  In you’re going to do online gaming in 2 to 3 years from now, consider http://Netrogames.com . Keith Robinson said if it were echnically possible, it would create a new online gaming market. Steve Ronny said if he had 3 M in 1 M out combined with the low-ping aspects of the Sprint direct connect network, he could easily do it

 

The concept of Netrogames is to use a straight line light speed connection to make a low-ping connection possible. And if a low ping connection can beat 1 frame both ways and sync up machines, then literally any multi player game that uses the same screen or split screen and has separate controllers for each player can be turned into an online game without writing a single bit of code that is not dependent on the originating game’s code.

 

If we ever decided to do online gaming (which is a big longshot) we would probably piggyback off a system that has already been built and tested.  As a smaller company it is the best direction for us to go into such a complex area.  Online multiplayer has been around for 20 years at this point and full systems have been built and implemented.  The one advantage about Amico is that a lot of our best multiplayer party games are not twitch based.  That is the whole idea of the console.  Make it fun for non-gamers, grandma, etc.  Many of our board games, dice games, card games, casual games, etc. don't rely on high speed ping rates.  I'm sure that whatever others are currently using (Unity driven, etc.) would be more than fine for us.  Our business models also wouldn't support a ground up build and the monthly fee doesn't capture the spirit of Amico that we are trying to incorporate.

Suggestion for you:  Although your joystick isn't a good fit for Amico, have you ever thought about doing a Kickstarter campaign for your project?  I would suggest getting together with an engineer and/or someone as passionate as yourself and creating a working prototype that you could show off to people in a video.  I would make it compatible for PC's & XBox to start... maybe even a Switch as there seems to be a lot of those types of games that could potentially benefit.  But it does seem like Hori already has a lot of joysticks available for Switch and I don't know of anyone who has one or anyone who has asked or needed one:  https://stores.horiusa.com/switch-3/

But you seem very passionate about the project so my best advice is to take the next step on your own (and with an engineer) and build it!  Don't wait around for someone else to give you money or license your product... if you believe in it... do it on your own.  It's how all great entrepreneurs create success.  I've built a complete hardware & software team from scratch in under 3 years and look how far we have come.  If you're truly passionate about your project, then just building one and playing it yourself may be an incredible accomplishment for you.  Good luck and I hope you achieve your dreams!

I hope you can achieve

On 6/6/2020 at 11:24 AM, Tommy Tallarico said:

We only sold 2,600 of them and I thought it would be appropriate to number 9 more Founders Edition consoles and give them to Intellivision employees who have been there the longest with 2609 going to the amazing @BSRSteve (Steve Roney) who... without him... there would be no Amico or Intellivision Entertainment.  Steve was crucial in getting Intellivision Productions to a place where Intellivision Entertainment could exist.  He doesn't get enough credit for this.

For anyone not knowing who Steve is... the original B-17 Bomber & Space Spartans were the games he did!  Was hired at Mattel in 1981.  Him and I were the ones who started Intellivision Entertainment together (I didn't purchase rights from Keith Robinson's family as some journalists have reported).  Emily Rosenthal (who helped Keith keep Intellivision Productions going for nearly 10 years!) and Bill Fisher were also key in making this happen initially.  From there, Nick Richards (CFO) and David Perry also deserve incredible credit for helping to start everything.  Me, Steve, David & Nick are 4 of the 5 members of the Intellivision Entertainment Board of Directors.
 

I am bringing up a previous post from @Tommy Tallarico because without these fine folks from Intellivision none of us would be here today without them.

Here's to another 40+ years of Intellivision!

On 3/5/2021 at 1:02 PM, Intellivision Master said:

 

This is tonight at 8pm ET.  It's back to the old time again.  Which is fine.

15 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

This is tonight at 8pm ET.  It's back to the old time again.  Which is fine.

Aww poo, that means it’s going to be 0100hrs here in the uk, unfortunately I won’t be there as I have work in the morning. 😔

3 hours ago, CurlyQ said:

 

I am bringing up a previous post from @Tommy Tallarico because without these fine folks from Intellivision none of us would be here today without them.

Here's to another 40+ years of Intellivision!

 

@BSRSteve!!!   Your trophy has arrived!!!!!!!!

 

57 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

@BSRSteve!!!   Your trophy has arrived!!!!!!!!

While we're handing out trophies to @BSRSteve, let's not forget one for ...

Tommy,

Will Amico have a game of the year edition?  Or a greatest hits collection?  The big 3 did that with some of their games.  Just curious if there might be something similar with Amico.

Tommy,

There should be a game on Amico called "OOF".  Lol.  Wouldn't that be something?

Anyone else always turn off the tracking computer on Space Spartans?  It always seemed to pull me into the line of fire. 

Multi player mode for a SS game on Amico could include mini games on the controller that affect the speed of the ship repairs, rotating through players at each new battle so everyone gets a chance to pilot.  
 

@Tommy Tallarico Does the new Bomb Squad also have a “focus” on single player?  Reason I ask is that Finnegan Fox looks to be designed around being a single player game (some games are just going to be that way due to their particular mechanics) with a multi-player mode added to meet the “every game” tenant (this is my interpretation anyway, feel free to correct me if I got this wrong). Will Bomb Squad be the reverse of this (meaning multi-player focus with single player mode squeezed in as best fits) or does the single player mode feel more like the full game, similar to the original albeit without the coop fun?