Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

43 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Over the past few weeks we have started ramping up the visibility of the games.  Skiing, Moon Patrol and Breakout just over the past week or so!  You will see that trend continuing as we get closer and closer to launch.  Even if it's something small.  For example... on Monday I'll be releasing the logo for Intellivision Skiing.  It may not seem like a big deal to most... but when the hardcore Intellivision fans see what we've done (and how we incorporated part of the old game)... they'll get a kick out of it. 

Thanks again for stopping by and engaging with the group.  Hopefully you'll stick around and please let me know if you have any other questions.  Will be happy to answer them if I can.

 

p.s.  Cloudy Mountain looks AMAZING!!!  Can't wait for folks to see it!  Probably not for a few more months.  Still trying to get a certain "license" for it. 

 

 

 

Ok, just reading this makes me want to play Intellivision Skiing and Cloudy Mountain!  I think I'm "getting bit by the bug" as they say... 😁

8 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

1.  is this system about couch co-op or multiplayer?

 

2.  But passing my phone on the game I mentioned also was not solitary. So my point still stands.

 

3.  Also couch co-op is thrown out more than multiplayer. I will say this I have watched a group of 6 kids play a game online together via their phones. No it wasn't Jackbox. It was something else. They were joking amd having fun together while playing. So not everything is solitary when it comes to phones. But it is more than not.

 

4.  I get wanting to correct some misinformation, but some of those corrections aren't corrections now. The last I checked $200 was a possibility, yet one of the gripes about Pat was he kept saying $200. Well now it might be a $200 system instead of $180.

 

5. That is why that squabble has only done more harm than good.

 

6. I would point out that they did say Breakout looked cool and Ian liked the ability to flip the controller around. So it isn't like there weren't any compliments or positives said.

 

 

7.  I would also encourage TT to stop making curly hair references. It comes across as slightly childish online. We know his name is Pat. Just type Pat. Pat is even shorter to type than 'curly hair guy'.

 

8.  My next family game night I'm planning on showing Moon Patrol and Breakout to see their thoughts.

 

1.  Couch co-op (which is a form of multiplayer).  But within couch co-op you can play WITH or AGAINST each other.  Pretty cool.

 

2.  Passing a phone isnt couch co-op.

 

3.  There are around 5 proper couch co op games on mobile.  Which has over 1.4 million games on it.  Also important to note... the couch co-op on mobile (Jackbox for example) are adult games.  Not kid or family friendly.

 

4.  That isnt true.  If he said $200 I wouldnt have minded.  He said $300 which is why I respectfully brought it up to him via Twitter.  But instead of just saying he made a mistake, he decided to attack me and lie about me.  

 

5.  I'm done with the squabble.  As I mentioned earlier... I tried engaging with them on a mature level and it feel on deaf ears.  Now, their only mission is to keep trying to publicly insult me and the product.  How many more times are they going to bring up the fact that Smash JT rode in my car to Intellivision?  They sound like a jilted ex girlfriend the way they talk.  I'm done calling them out and I wont engage with them unless they feel like apologizing for lying about me.  They admitted that they like the controversy with me because they get more views.  So do you really think they are being objective at this point?  I think not.

 

6.  And then bashed it immediately because they said there were a bunch of games just like it. They spent more time bashing Breakout then praising it.  So sorry... they dont get points for that. 

 

7.  He deserves ZERO respect from me.  They both lied about what I said... and as they later admitted... they love the attention it brings.  Again... I dont engage with them.  They are the ones who cant seem to stop talking about me (and Smash JT getting a ride) they bring it up in videos unrelated to Intellivision (at least that's what folks have told me).  I ignore them unless someone brings it up here or Intellivision Invasion on Facebook.  I dont engage with them.

 

8.  I'll be interested in hearing their thoughts.  But again... neither of the current demos show the games in couch co-op.  So they wont get a sense of the final product.

 

Thanks for the conversation.  Not trying to be confrontational at all.  Just giving info.

 

Thanks.

8 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

So how DOES the phone interact with Amico?

 

I know Amico doesn't need to be online to play games. Yay! But if I wanted to use my phone as a controller do they both need to be hooked up to the same WiFi network to work?

 

Great question!  I was waiting for someone to ask.  I believe you're the first!

 

Answer... Bluetooth is default (and quicker).  WiFi recommended for more than 4 players at once.  Although Blutooth can handle more.  Still doing a ton of latency testing (which we refered to in our last MEET AMICO video.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

p.s.  Cloudy Mountain looks AMAZING!!!  Can't wait for folks to see it!  Probably not for a few more months.  Still trying to get a certain "license" for it. 

YES!  Me and my avatar thanks you!  

10 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

You really buy Nintendo for their games. And you can't get those on Steam AND they usually hold their value over time because they are almost 100% of the time quality.

Just to clarify because of poor wording on my part - almost all Nintendo *first party* games are really good and often worth the full $60 price tags. However most of the other games on the Switch sell at a premium that is not always deserved. Nintendo builds a premium brand on the back of their first party software but you tend to pay for it no matter what game you buy, great, meh or bad. 

1 minute ago, GrudgeQ said:

Just to clarify because of poor wording on my part - almost all Nintendo *first party* games are really good and often worth the full $60 price tags. However most of the other games on the Switch sell at a premium that is not always deserved. Nintendo builds a premium brand on the back of their first party software but you tend to pay for it no matter what game you buy, great, meh or bad. 

The eShop is different though and that high price tag is mainly for physical. Smaller indie stuff doesn't carry the higher price.

5 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

The eShop is different though and that high price tag is mainly for physical. Smaller indie stuff doesn't carry the higher price.

I am sure you are right but I am in the position of a lot of people - I buy Switch games as a gift. Since you can’t gift eShop games, my world view of Switch games is retail. I understand cartridge manufacturing costs are higher but like all the console makers they use things like MAP pricing (ie prevent retailers from non approved discounting) to keep prices high & non competitive. To one degree or another console makers all use the shaving model of sell the razor (console) cheap and make money on the blades (games). This is my actual point - total console ownership (games included) can be an amazingly expensive proposition, even more so if you are gifting. Saying that the Switch Lite is $200 is simply wrong - it cost $200 plus a game (or two or three or four). That total price (especially if buying at retail) is dramatically higher. Not picking on Nintendo here - swap in XBox or PSx if you like. Remember that post was about consumers and cost and massive corporations and blind love cause they happen to make games you like. No more posts on this - standing by what I said before.

Tommy shared this on Facebook and I thought it was a nice time to review Hans Ippisch’s dev team recruitment European tour for late 2019. If you wondered why a lot of the 24 announced dev teams are in Europe - attending dev conferences like these is probably the reason why. A few of these slipped by my corporate spying, er, I mean social media information gathering network but this is the list from Hans himself:

 

08/18-19 devcom, Cologne, Germany
08/20-22 gamescom, Cologne, Germany
11/1-2 EGX, Berlin, Germany
11/13-15 GameRome, Rome, Italy
11/16-17 GameOn, Vilnius, Lithuania
11/22-23 GAMEVENTION, Hamburg, Germany
12/11 Deutscher Entwicklerpreis, Cologne, Germany
12/13 DEVSUMMIT 12 (RCP), Munich, Germany

Edited December 14, 2019 by GrudgeQ

2 hours ago, roots.genoa said:

Of course, but as Tommy just said several times above, people don't read everything. Early misconceptions, when they are repeated a lot, tend to stick alas, and it is all the more infuriating when some people indeed know better but bend the truth to troll or get more clicks. -_-

Excellent point. . .it's a lot like in the business world. Every once in a while, a company will put itself up for sale. People assume that it means they're going out of business. That is rarely ever the case, but it's next to impossible to shake that misconception. Sure, companies that are struggling do that a lot; but for others it's because they recognize they are growing to a point where they may either need to change direction or add another entire division to their organization. Some companies would rather sell their services and latch on to an organization that is reaching the same conclusion. That's not to say that there aren't many instances where it is a death yelp for the company. 

 

People hear one thing and assume it means something completely different. Yet, there have been hundreds of instances of companies in those situations that have lived for decades. But many of them continue to struggle because potential customers have a poor view of the company based on nothing other than their own poor understanding of what a business action really means. 

Watch out Tommy, Microsoft is clearly feeling the heat & is coming after you in Bed Bath & Beyond

5 minutes ago, GrudgeQ said:

Watch out Tommy, Microsoft is clearly feeling the heat & is coming after you in Bed Bath & Beyond

Ugh! It looks like a cable modem. 🤮

7 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

Ugh! It looks like a cable modem. 🤮

I know I am "that guy" because I actually don't mind the look that bad. It does look like more of a sub woofer or an air filter than a console however. Plus I think it is going to be a hard fit in a lot of entertainment centers because it is so blockly. Will be interesting to see if Sony bucks the black slab monolith design trend that they have been morphing over the last couple of consoles. One thing is for sure - the Amico is not going to look anything like the competition (which is a good thing to stand out in the marketplace).

4 hours ago, atarifan88 said:

Ok, just reading this makes me want to play Intellivision Skiing and Cloudy Mountain!  I think I'm "getting bit by the bug" as they say... 😁

Uh-oh... don't get too excited... you'll be labeled part of the cult and a suck up. 

It cracks me up when the haters make that argument.

The argument goes like this...

 

"I think this idea and machine is stupid and it's going to fail."

 

Hmm... I actually like it and can see a potential market for it if the marketing and distribution is handled correctly... and if the games are fun.

 

"OMG!!  You're a stupid Tommy fanboy or one of the original 50 year old idiot kids who got stuck with an Intellivision instead of an Atari as a kid.  You can't make any decisions on your own and are completely wrong if you have a different opinion than I do."

 

 

Wow! I wasn't sure anybody even heard of Ultravox when I posted that.  This is sort of like family. Except old farts. 
Californian and no room for Oingo Boingo. Not even a hint of Missing Persons!

I qualified my statement with “most”..

Yes to Missing Persons, and Berlin, and several other California or Los Angeles based bands of the day. And while I enjoyed some Oingo Boingo now and then, they weren’t a particular favorite.



•Sent from my Intellivision keypad phone

Somebody just sent me a message on Facebook about the recent "video" that was posted.  I actually didn't watch the entire thing and could only make it through about half of it.

 

The person who sent the message mentioned 2 things.

 

1.  In the video he stated that I Tweeted him that you couldn't play Amico games on the Switch. 

 

That is 100% true.  I did Tweet that because he said via Twitter that any of these games could be played on a Switch.  This is completely not the case at all.  The fact that we are utilizing the touch screen is just one small example.  In my response I said if he would like me to describe why they can't be played on the Switch I would be happy to talk to him about it.  He said no.  I guess he referred to this Twitter exchange in the latest video.  I suppose trying to make me look bad as if I'm crazy that these games couldn't be played on the Switch.  To give just one small example (and because I'm assuming he was talking about either Moon Patrol or Breakout)... I can tell you that Moon Patrol would NOT be able to be played on the Switch because of the way we are handling certain controls with mini-games directly on the touch screen (while traveling from moon to moon).  Same with Breakout (but in a different way).  We are going out of our way on every game design to make sure that none of these games could be played by another system (including of course mobile).  I told him that... he didn't want to hear any info about it... and now he continues to mock me and perpetrate a lie.  Nice work.

 

2.  Here's everything you need to know about how these guys operate and what their real objective is.  This is a screen grab that was sent to me (I'm assuming from that same video)...

 

 

So... he'll go out of his way and take the time and do research to follow up with a hater... but he won't follow up and do research on the actual console itself.

This exchange clearly shows that he is more interested in trying to destroy Intellivision then he is to actually cover it and give it a fair shake.  Cause as we know... this is how he has chosen to make a living.  By slandering others and causing controversy (as he admitted on one of his podcasts).

 

p.s.  That Joshua Snyder guy consistently leaves vile and hateful things on our YouTube page that we continue having to delete and report.  There were 3 more from him today.  I guess I'll start screen grabbing them just in case.

I believe there were a few other people from here that had commented on that exchange.  And yes... he was being a complete tool the entire time as I tried to answer his negativity (it wasn't "concern") in a respectful manner.  You can see even in the exchange above that he calls anyone who potentially has a positive response to Amico as a "Tommy fetish".  After awhile I said I hope he doesn't bully his kids the way he does people online. 

 

The level of lying and word twisting with these folks is amazing.  And the most pathetic part is that these folks are supposed to be FANS of video games.  Yet they get off trashing and trying to destroy something before it comes out or before anyone has a chance to play it... or even KNOWING what the console does because you're too lazy to find out.

Amazing.  Shame on them.

 

There is a difference between "concerns" and hating.  If someone has a concern and I answer them... then it's seen as "having thin skin" and not being able to take criticism.  Um.. no... I'm giving you an answer to your concern. 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2019 by Tommy Tallarico

3 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

The eShop is different though and that high price tag is mainly for physical. Smaller indie stuff doesn't carry the higher price.

Not really.  All of the big Nintendo 1st party games are available on Switch and the digital pricing is the same as the physical and are in the $49 - $59 range.  Check Mario Kart & Zelda.  You can see both the physical and digital version prices. 

So Nintendo has opted NOT to give any break on the digital versions of games.  Even though the store makes a 100% mark up on physical AND they don't have packaging, manufacturing, shipping, etc. 

We're different. 

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2019 by Tommy Tallarico

44 minutes ago, GrudgeQ said:

I know I am "that guy" because I actually don't mind the look that bad. It does look like more of a sub woofer or an air filter than a console however. Plus I think it is going to be a hard fit in a lot of entertainment centers because it is so blockly. Will be interesting to see if Sony bucks the black slab monolith design trend that they have been morphing over the last couple of consoles. One thing is for sure - the Amico is not going to look anything like the competition (which is a good thing to stand out in the marketplace).

I also don't think the PS5 or XBOX X is going to be appealing to too many moms out there. 

But that's totally fine and okay... they aren't meant to.

But it does show how our target audience is very different than the rest.  The haters can't see past their own bubbles.  They feel that everyone is going to hate it because they do.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Again... I have the data.  Investors don't plop down millions and millions of dollars because they think I'm a good "salesman" and can trick people into buying a product.  Only someone who has no idea about big businesses would say something as naive as that.  And although it's very true that not all investors make their money back... but if anyone here understood the amount of due diligence that is needed in order to secure funding... it would make your head spin.  Yeah... I'm a good pitch man for the product because of my passion.  But you also need the numbers people, spreadsheets, forecasts, data, market research, focus testing, and corporate money raising experience to back it up.  Our Board of Directors alone has raised money and sold and created companies totally BILLIONS of dollars.  Trust me... the company and product I ain't getting by just on passion and the ability to tell a good story.

 

22 minutes ago, nurmix said:

 

I qualified my statement with “most”..

Yes to Missing Persons, and Berlin, and several other California or Los Angeles based bands of the day. And while I enjoyed some Oingo Boingo now and then, they weren’t a particular favorite.



•Sent from my Intellivision keypad phone

 

Its interesting that most folks I meet our age (45+) who grew up on the west coast are into that style of music.  Yet the folks I meet who grew up on the east coast (same age range) grew up with more Classic Rock 'n Roll (Van Halen, Boston, Zepp, etc.).  I suppose it's regional for sure.  I bet folks from the south had more Country music playing. 

Any data to add to my theory? 

How old are you?

Where did you grow up?

What kind of music did you listen to and still love?

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2019 by Tommy Tallarico

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Uh-oh... don't get too excited... you'll be labeled part of the cult and a suck up. 

It cracks me up when the haters make that argument.

The argument goes like this...

 

"I think this idea and machine is stupid and it's going to fail."

 

Hmm... I actually like it and can see a potential market for it if the marketing and distribution is handled correctly... and if the games are fun.

 

"OMG!!  You're a stupid Tommy fanboy or one of the original 50 year old idiot kids who got stuck with an Intellivision instead of an Atari as a kid.  You can't make any decisions on your own and are completely wrong if you have a different opinion than I do."

 

 

See, the problem with that is I've never had an Intellivision, yet I want the Amico. In fact, it is because of Amico I hunted down Intellivision Lives for PS2 as I'm interested in the history. Same with my other gaming mates. No one in NZ had one. We're just interested in all things gaming and the Amico looks to be loads of fun.

40 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Its interesting that most folks I meet our age (45+) who grew up on the west coast are into that style of music.  Yet the folks I meet who grew up on the east coast (same age range) grew up with more Classic Rock 'n Roll (Van Halen, Boston, Zepp, etc.).  I suppose it's regional for sure.  I bet folks from the south had more Country music playing. 

Any data to add to my theory? 

How old are you?

Where did you grow up?

What kind of music did you listen to and still love?

 

 

 

Grew up in WA state and CA, so guilty as charged, but WA also had a hair metal scene. Def Leppard was also big there.

But I have to take issue with Van Halen being included in the "grew up with" scenario of 80s music. They hit their pinnacle in the 80s as contemporaries and have become classic r&r since then... but nowadays so has The Cure, Simple Minds and Duran Duran.

 

And Boston??? 🤔 13 years for a 3rd album? Lazy bums!

2 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

Watch out Tommy, Microsoft is clearly feeling the heat & is coming after you in Bed Bath & Beyond

I absolutely love the design, tbh. Sadly I'll have to lie it down to fit in the cabinet, though. Haha. With 100% backwards compatibility (I recently got rid of my X360 physical games - doh!) I'll definitely pick one up but probably not at launch. Wait until price drops a wee bit. 

 

One thing about the design though - it doesn't look like a "console". No console has since the Dreamcast. They've all gone for the AV equipment look. The Amico marks the return of console aesthetics! Haha.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Its interesting that most folks I meet our age (45+) who grew up on the west coast are into that style of music.  Yet the folks I meet who grew up on the east coast (same age range) grew up with more Classic Rock 'n Roll (Van Halen, Boston, Zepp, etc.).  I suppose it's regional for sure.  I bet folks from the south had more Country music playing. 

Any data to add to my theory? 

How old are you?

Where did you grow up?

What kind of music did you listen to and still love?

 

 

 

37

southern USA

Oldies Rock (50s to maybe 80s) 

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

"Tommy fetish".  After awhile I said I hope he doesn't bully his kids the way he does people online. 

 

Further down on the YT thread, he admits he fails to produce the exchange where you "accused him of being a child abuser", but the curly haired one still pulls a Sean Hannity "Wow! You won't hear this on other news sources!" phony outrage face out of his ass.

Edited December 14, 2019 by Blarneo

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Its interesting that most folks I meet our age (45+) who grew up on the west coast are into that style of music.  Yet the folks I meet who grew up on the east coast (same age range) grew up with more Classic Rock 'n Roll (Van Halen, Boston, Zepp, etc.).  I suppose it's regional for sure.  I bet folks from the south had more Country music playing. 

Any data to add to my theory? 

How old are you?

Where did you grow up?

What kind of music did you listen to and still love?

 

 

 

45 here...grew up in Virginia and liked Zep, Steve Miller, KISS, Van Halen, Boston, anything classic rock basically. Also had parents who we’re Elvis fanatics so I like the King as well!

 

Side note to the YouTube ppl, who cares what they think...if those guys are considered “influencers” we are all hurting 😂 I game coz it’s fun and collect coz it’s cool to me.
 

I’m no fanboy or fanatic. 

One thing I love about haters is that they never try to see themselves from the ouside and apply the same criticism they use against others on themselves before their attacks.

 

In Pat & Ian's video about the Ring Fit Adventure, they could have said "oh, but you can already go outside and exercise for free!" (actually healthier than jumping in your living room)... but they didn't. Think about that.