Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

Those are online multiplayer games that requires internet connection. Amico games are not.

Shall we say that physical product for Amico is a box containing a cd-key on a card and somekind of toy or overlay for controller. Close enough?

Personally I'm looking forward to the "physical product", even if it's just a box with an unlock code inside. Who cares? It's a nice collectors item and gives one a warm fuzzy feeling in having something tangible that you can hold, rather than just bits and bytes inside a machine. Nearly all Xbox games I've bought in recent times are essentially this, because even if they come with a DVD, the content is completely out of date before you've ever put the disc in the drive, and so the Xbox must download the entire game from the cloud and install it on your hard drive before you can even play it for the first time.

I read about this discussion about what a physical game is or isn't, I don't want to go into it because I don't have the technical knowledge that other people have. The only thing I would like to point out is that we are talking about something that no one outside of Intellivision has ever experienced or only touched by hand. I therefore think that all the things written about it are only personal opinions and not absolute truth. When we are finally able to use physical games, we will be able to know for sure what they are and what they are not.

Good grief people! Let’s just wait and see what’s in the box! Then we can all chat about it nicely 😀👍

We'll see what is what but it doesn’t hurt anyone if there’s a little speculation.

1 hour ago, MinerWilly said:

We'll see what is what but it doesn’t hurt anyone if there’s a little speculation.

Agreed.  Speculation is fine.

Someone declaring we are liars, being deceptive and/or purposely trying to fool people seems like a step too far when noone has seen how we are revealing them, how they are marketed/advertised and what they can or can't do.

🙂

1 hour ago, Silverbot said:

Good grief people! Let’s just wait and see what’s in the box! Then we can all chat about it nicely 😀👍

Been saying that since Day 1!  How can anyone form such a solid opinion on something they don't physically own.

"I know I'll hate this...I know I will!!!  Wait...oh wow, it does that?  I love it!!! I want it!!"

How dumb does that sound.

1 hour ago, Silverbot said:

Good grief people! Let’s just wait and see what’s in the box! Then we can all chat about it nicely 😀👍

7 minutes ago, IMBerzerk said:

Been saying that since Day 1!  How can anyone form such a solid opinion on something they don't physically own.

 

"I know I'll hate this...I know I will!!!  Wait...oh wow, it does that?  I love it!!! I want it!!"

 

How dumb does that sound.

 The thread for calm reservation and common sense is on that other internet, just down the road a bit.  Turn left at the old barn, you can't miss it.

3 minutes ago, Razzie.P said:

 

 The thread for calm reservation and common sense is on that other internet, just down the road a bit.  Turn left at the old barn, you can't miss it.

Seems that way with everything now doesn't it.  I miss the 80s.

On 7/30/2021 at 8:18 PM, CurlyQ said:

Another intermission incoming.....Cheers! @IMBerzerk

 

6 hours ago, MinerWilly said:

Those are online multiplayer games that requires internet connection. Amico games are not.

Not trying to pick a fight, but would like to understand your explanation a little more (so please don't take my question the wrong way).

What if noone else was online playing any of those games at the time you logged on?  Does that automatically dismiss it from being a physical product?

So if a game needs an internet connection at all times... as long as it's a multiplayer game it's okay?  But if a game doesn't need a connection all the time it's not okay?  What if there is an online leaderboard for a game where score competitions are held against other players from around the world on a monthly basis?  Is that not considered a multiplayer game/challenge against someone else?

Again, I'm not trying to say folks are right or wrong.  I'm just giving examples and saying that physical products/games/media have changed a lot over the past 20 years.  What we are doing, hasn't been done before in the way we are doing it.  As I've mentioned, it's not a "code in a box" in the traditional sense.  Some may say that folks just calling it a "code in a box"... is being disingenuous (when they aren't even sure what it is and what it does yet).

When I think of all my old games I think of them and refer to them as "carts" or "cartridges".  Don't we all?  When I think of my Sega-CD collection I refer to them as CD's or CD-Roms.  Also important to note that there were no other options back then so although the carts were shaped differently, they were all still a cart.

But what if there was a BIG and important distinction and advantage between the games that you buy digitally and the same game when you buy it as a physical product?  And if that was the case, what wording or phrase would be used to distinguish between the two?  Calling our boxed versions "digital" wouldn't make sense.

I guess what I'm ultimately saying (and someone here explained it well before) is that over the past 20 years gaming hardware and technology has been changing so much and some would say mostly for the better (others would say for the worse).  Moving forward we will not refer to what we're doing as physical media or even physical games.  Physical product is the closest thing to what it is without causing controversy (or so we thought).  😀

I think when people start ordering, owning and collecting they"ll probably refer to them as the "physical version" of (say) Finnigan Fox.  

I would think that retro folks may have appreciated the fact that we took the extra time to make something physical (especially when you find out what's all inside and how it works).  I would have thought that retro folks would appreciate the fact that we DON'T charge the same price for digital as we do physical... unlike every other company.

But I feel the bottom line is this... As long as our target market and average person knows and understands what it is... then that's all that matters.  The fact that hardcore retro folks are talking about it and discussing it is totally fine and some of those folks may agree or disagree.  And that's okay too.

Thanks again for the discussion everyone. I have no issues with folks discussing it here.  I just think it's a bit unfair to judge us when it hasn't even been revealed yet and noone is aware how we will be marketing and advertising it.

🙂

7 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Not to be confrontational, but with all due respect, your statement is incorrect.

There are loads of physical media game products on Xbox & PS4 that require the internet to play.

Here are just a few examples:

https://www.amazon.com/Final-Fantasy-XIV-Online-playstation-4/dp/B00UO4NKA4/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=final+fantasy+xiv+ps4&qid=1627795176&sr=8-4

 

https://www.amazon.com/Overwatch-Legendary-PlayStation-4/dp/B07D9QWSG1/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=overwatch+ps4&qid=1627795277&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Standard-PlayStation-4/dp/B00BGA9Y3W/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=destiny+ps4&qid=1627794986&sr=8-3

 

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Battlefront-II-PlayStation-4/dp/B06ZXTGFDR/ref=asc_df_B06ZXTGFDR/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312172071345&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1070408533580445898&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031556&hvtargid=pla-569918050749&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Elder-Scrolls-Online-Gold-PlayStation-4/dp/B01I41HEGY/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=elder+scrolls+online+ps4&qid=1627795090&sr=8-7
 

All Physical games and/or physical media for the PS4:  Internet required.

 

 

I think even the most ardent, hardcore crier for “we want our physical media the way it’s always been!!!!” type of  user will be understanding and give you a free pass for requiring internet connections for any Amico games that have ONLINE MULTIPLAYER like the examples you’ve posted.

It’s those cases where internet is required for a game that is single player/local multiplayer only that tends to cause outrage, boycotts, reviewing bombing, and companies issuing a “we real sorry, we read this wrong…” type of apologies.

We’re an understanding, definitely-not-whiny bunch of fellers.  😄
 

19 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I would think that retro folks may have appreciated the fact that we took the extra time to make something physical (especially when you find out what's all inside and how it works).  I would have thought that retro folks would appreciate the fact that we DON'T charge the same price for digital as we do physical... unlike every other company.

I appreciate what you're doing Tommy.  I look forward to seeing what's inside the boxes and how it works.  You know OEB Pete loves to open every box.  Lol.  Also, I'm glad IE won't charge the same price for digital as physical.

14 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I just think it's a bit unfair to judge us when it hasn't even been revealed yet and noone is aware how we will be marketing and advertising it.

I can't wait to see how the marketing and advertising will look once it starts.  It's going to be exciting. 

Just a reminder that there's no AAA podcast today.  It should be back next Sunday 8/8 or later depending on OEB Pete.

While I’ve joined in a bit on the “physical or not” discussion, it really has 0 impact on my decision to buy Amico and games for it (although it does impact which versions I’d wanna buy)   The boxes look great, and I’m excited to see what this “new thing” you’ve mention you guys are doing.

One thing I am curious about, though, as this will impact my decision to buy the physical versions of games I want vs digital – 

10, 15, or 30 years from now, when we can’t connect the console to the internet (if/when Amico servers are dead and gone, or the internet has changed to where today’s tech just isn’t compatible) – will I be able to connect the Amico to my TV, sit down with friends n’ family, take a single/local multiplayer only Amico game off my shelf, and play it in the same manner that I can play games on the Atari 2600, Intellivision, NES, Genesis, etc ?  

I’d like to buy and collect all the physical versions of the games, but only if the games are 100% included.  if I can’t play them (hassle free) in the future, then they’ll be as empty, dead, and useless as that WOW box that you posted. 
 

41 minutes ago, IMBerzerk said:

Seems that way with everything now doesn't it.  I miss the 80s.

We still had these kind of back n' forths, but they were usually "resolved" by meeting at the flagpole and beating the crap out of each other during recess.  Which was much more fun.  Yep... it was definitely more fun in the 80's. 

40 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

 

 

Thanks again for the discussion everyone. I have no issues with folks discussing it here.  I just think it's a bit unfair to judge us when it hasn't even been revealed yet and noone is aware how we will be marketing and advertising it.

 

🙂

It’s hard not to judge when a company launching a $250 product in 3 months has to be so darn secretive with what’s in the box of what they are selling.

Maybe you have not been following this issue as much as I and many others have since you seem to be a bit behind on what their "physical products" are and that is ok.  Maybe you are not from an old enough generation to truly understand what an actual physical game is and if that is the case, it is all good. However, if you think a fake cartridge that contains nothing more than a product key which is tapped on the Amico to start the game download over the internet is a physical game then there is nothing I can do to help you and you are more than welcome to believe what you want.
 
All they need to do to stop this is to change their FAQ on their website to say that they do not have physical games and make some sort of public statement that they do not have physical games.  Stop misleading people because you made the mistake of saying yes when you were asked if the Amico would have physical games because you did not want people to know that you clearly do not have physical games.
 
But yeah, I have said previously, there is nothing wrong with Intellivision releasing their "physical products" as long as they do it in an honest way.  It is still very concerning that their retail box does not appear to have a disclaimer on the front letting less informed people know that it is not a physical game and will require an internet download of the game itself.
 
 

5 minutes ago, Zee said:

How do you know it requires an internet connection to download the game? What if the game is actually stored on the physical media and it transfers to the console?

Or that the reason it’s being delayed so often is because the software is incomplete and the plan is to include the system with all of these games already on it and you use an RFID token to just unlock the game?

16 minutes ago, duderino81 said:

It’s hard not to judge when a company launching a $250 product in 3 months has to be so darn secretive with what’s in the box of what they are selling.

Awesome first post! Looks like you'll fit in great here in this fan forum. Thanks for adding value. 

4 minutes ago, cmart604 said:

Awesome first post! Looks like you'll fit in great here in this fan forum. Thanks for adding value. 

Was my first post supposed to be praising the decisions to be a secretive as you can be 3 months before launch?
 

Im a potential buyer of this system, this is the most active forum on it for any type of news. Am I not allowed to be respectfully critical?

5 minutes ago, duderino81 said:

Was my first post supposed to be praising the decisions to be a secretive as you can be 3 months before launch?
 

Im a potential buyer of this system, this is the most active forum on it for any type of news. Am I not allowed to be respectfully critical?

No you're not a potential buyer. 1278 pages in this forum with tons and tons of information but you've decided to come here and say that the company is being secretive on their upcoming system. Are you really who you pretend or are you ... secretive?

13 minutes ago, cmart604 said:

Awesome first post! Looks like you'll fit in great here in this fan forum. Thanks for adding value. 

The place wouldn't be the same without 'em

31 minutes ago, Zee said:

How do you know it requires an internet connection to download the game? ...

It's what they said.

17 minutes ago, duderino81 said:

Was my first post supposed to be praising the decisions to be a secretive as you can be 3 months before launch?

...

Why shouldn't a company be secretive before they announce their product.  They would like their reveal to have the best impact at the best time.