Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

9 minutes ago, Cranker said:

I’m wondering if the control pad can be mapped to move only in 4 directions for a game like pac man. So for example, any of the 16 outputs for left would give you a “pure left”

I believe it can be. Tommy has talked about this feature before and I'm sure in games where you can only move up, down, left, and right that it will be implemented.  

1 hour ago, Cranker said:

I’m wondering if the control pad can be mapped to move only in 4 directions for a game like pac man. So for example, any of the 16 outputs for left would give you a “pure left”

I am pretty much 100% sure that is possible just by setting the range of inputs which represent up down left and right in the code 

My point was more about how it takes a bit of experience to get used to the controllers in each game. If Cyrus experience is anything like mine you get to play a round in a game and then swap to a new game, do that a couple of times and then you hand off the controller so as not to be a game hog. I  mis thumbed several times and had to adjust my pressure/position and about the time I got used to it the game is over. Obviously just playing a couple of times is all that is needed to be a disc pro. When looking at “Disc jank” in a video of an Amico game you got to ask the question if the pressure applied was to the right part of the disc and if tapping or wheeling is the best strategy. Basically it isn’t IF the Amico controller can be a dpad like control, it can, but is the user using the interface optimally for that game.

6 hours ago, totalamico said:

Great to see these first impressions and vids arriving from folk who were able to join the Amico event at the National Videogame Museum in Texas. Cyrus Martin has also posted a short vid showcasing his experience of the day. These reports really are making me more excited for the October launch!

 

 

At 3:14 - guessing this is R-Type - is this the first time we've seen Amico gameplay?

8 hours ago, theswede said:

Haha, totally agree, let’s not bring those “flat earth” type theories in here as well.

Flat Earth “theory”?  Of course the world is flat!  Just because every other observable celesta body is a sphere and that the same orbital mechanics that define the earth orbiting the sun (which I’ll concede is round) apply to satellites orbiting the earth (the man made ones and our moon) and just because the moon (which I’ll also concede is round) travels across our sky in an arc, and that we have time zones across the planet and all the other inconvenient “evidence” doesn’t mean the earth itself is round. It is special and unique to all the other bodies in the universe. Don’t listen to scientists and astronomers and don't look to your own observations and judgement, but rather just listen to and believe me   
 

geez, the next conspiracy you’ll tell me and expect me to believe in is that Amico is a real thing that will be coming out. 

1 minute ago, squirrelgotdead said:

At 3:14 - guessing this is R-Type - is this the first time we've seen Amico gameplay?

I think it was Rigid Force Redux.

2 hours ago, vongruetz said:

Skiing is on my Intellivision Flashback. That is weird it's not on yours.

You sure?  To be honest, I didn’t hook it up but tried looking at the online flasback instructions to see the options for the game for when I did, and was surprised to find it wasn’t included. Also not seeing it on the game list I found online. 

3 hours ago, Silverbot said:

Lag...No Lag... Some people here have played it now, and have said there is No Lag.....Lets put a pin in it now and Move On! Let’s just look forward to seeing more videos from the folks who were lucky enough to have a go on it. Hope someone filmed some Skiing footage!! 👍😀

Lag is often not perceptible, it has to be measured.  It might only show in your scores.

2 hours ago, Cranker said:

I’m wondering if the control pad can be mapped to move only in 4 directions for a game like pac man. So for example, any of the 16 outputs for left would give you a “pure left”

Amico Astrosmash is only using two directions.  All points can be assigned to one of two directions.

5 minutes ago, mr_me said:

Lag is often not perceptible, it has to be measured.  It might only show in your scores.

 

Amico Astrosmash is only using two directions.  All points can be assigned to one of two directions.

I’m not exactly sure what that means but I’m guessing that it can be 2-way or 4-way or even 8-way it needed ?

55 minutes ago, squirrelgotdead said:

At 3:14 - guessing this is R-Type - is this the first time we've seen Amico gameplay?

Whatever space game it is,it looks really cool and should be a lot of multiplayer fun!

7 minutes ago, Cranker said:

I’m not exactly sure what that means but I’m guessing that it can be 2-way or 4-way or even 8-way it needed ?

Two-way and 4-way should work well but not so much with 8-way.  You might as well just use full precision rather than program eight directions.  Even a 4-way game with just diagonals, e.g. qbert, would work well.

3 hours ago, Starpaddler said:

You sure?  To be honest, I didn’t hook it up but tried looking at the online flasback instructions to see the options for the game for when I did, and was surprised to find it wasn’t included. Also not seeing it on the game list I found online. 

Ok. You're right. It isn't there. But I just played it a few weeks ago and if it wasn't on my Flashback, I'm not sure where I would have played it. This is strange.

7 minutes ago, vongruetz said:

Ok. You're right. It isn't there. But I just played it a few weeks ago and if it wasn't on my Flashback, I'm not sure where I would have played it. This is strange.

19 minutes ago, vongruetz said:

3 hours ago, Starpaddler said:

You sure?  To be honest, I didn’t hook it up but tried looking at the online flasback instructions to see the options for the game for when I did, and was surprised to find it wasn’t included. Also not seeing it on the game list I found online. 

Ok. You're right. It isn't there. But I just played it a few weeks ago and if it wasn't on my Flashback, I'm not sure where I would have played it. This is strange.

On the PS2 Intellivision Lives ?

I really enjoyed that second vid from Cyrus; it was good to hear his thoughts on the event and games from right across the day.

The controller looks to be well-built and it seems that a wide range of folk quickly got to grips with it. Cyrus indicated that everyone seemed to genuinely enjoy the games on show and, to me, it feels like momentum is starting to build now. We still have six months before launch but I'd imagine that this time is gonna go pretty quick; pre-order sales seem to be going well and most of those initial thirty or so games will be in the polishing stage for the next month or two. Electrical component sourcing will probably be challenging right through the coming few months but Intellivision appear to be on top of that with the launch date being set.

Overall things are looking good right now and this first big gaming event for Amico was a great window for us fans to look in on.

A year ago today I joined the light side and became Intellivision Master. 

22 hours ago, Cranker said:

I’m not exactly sure what that means but I’m guessing that it can be 2-way or 4-way or even 8-way it needed ?

Yes up to 64 way with pressure sensitivity. I believe technically it just returns one to I believe 4 contact points in the direction you are pressing (depending on pressure) and the software just determines what that means, left right, up down or up to 64 directions -  it can also just be a giant button so ANY directional input is a press. Since the Amico controller can be rotated in most games (an underrated feature) the software also needs to reference the controller orientation to determine what left or right is in the position the controller is being held.

On 3/25/2021 at 6:44 PM, Starpaddler said:

Maybe IE could even team with Rokenbok on special editions where the toys could be controlled with Amico via BT, kinda like Nintend did with Mario Cart Live.

 

Rokenbok stopped manufacturing a few years back, but they retained ownership of the IP and tooling (I'd inquired). Who knows, I could see a retro rokenbok making sense as a comeback in another 5 or so years when the kids that had them in the 90s/00s hit their 30s and want them for their own kids.

This game looks and sounds interesting.  It's the sequel to Guardic on MSX.  It would be cool if this was on Amico.

Just a reminder - about 30 minutes to Amico All Access!