Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

27 minutes ago, MantaNZ said:

I actually think it's a neat looking PC. Problem is I don't think it'd be powerful enough to replace my current rig so I'd have no use for it. I do like the style of the thing but I'm not buying one just for that. Would be an expensive paperweight! But hey, if I needed a PC and wasn't going to be doing any heavy lifting on it I'd definitely consider it. But yeah, it's an oddball...

I think you are spot on. Mini PCs with the integrated R1606G AMD APU are way overpriced and believe it or not the Atari VCS is a good value if measured in that world. For example ASUS ASROCK makes a little computer with similiar specs as the Atari VCS and it costs substantially more and of course doesn't look as nearly as nice. So if Atari can actually ship a working AMD APU computer in a cute box - although a lot of backers may be disappointed that it doesn't live up to being a console (which is more about the ecosystem than the hardware) - they can probably eBay those things to hobbyist and DIY retro fans (it should be a decent emulation box) and get their money back. Of course all of means they are immediately wiping any Atari stuff off of there and maybe upgrading the internals a bit - so a 'console' it will likely be a failure. However as a little, low spec PC/media/emulation box - it might be alright.

None of that excuses the way Atari SA has treated their customers of course.

2 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

/snip

 

- If the PS5 is a Ferrari and the Amico is a bycicle... What would the Atari VCS be?

Now if only the backers read the fine print... (link for those who are interested: https://www.factoryfive.com/type-65-coupe/what-you-get-complete-kit/)

4 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Can you expand on this idea a little more.  I'm not sure I totally understand.  Would like to hear and understand more.

 

 

Sure!

Similar to how certain TV shows can be bought on DVD online, where said content is burned onto a DVD-R, my idea involves a blank form of [whatever media the Amico uses].

Buyers would select a game of their choice, and then pay extra to have the title written onto the Amico's physical media. This would include a special media label, along with a paper cover for the game's case; these being specifically designed for any game available through the program.

If the resources were available for such a program, then this print-on-demand initiative could be an option for players who want to collect and own copies of every Amico game, even the ones that wouldn't justify a retail release. And, at least for the length of this program, physical games would never sell out.

Sorry if I'm not making sense. Rather tired after today.

1 hour ago, GrudgeQ said:

I think you are spot on. Mini PCs with the integrated R1606G AMD APU are way overpriced and believe it or not the Atari VCS is a good value if measured in that world. For example ASUS ASROCK makes a little computer with similiar specs as the Atari VCS and it costs substantially more and of course doesn't look as nearly as nice. So if Atari can actually ship a working AMD APU computer in a cute box - although a lot of backers may be disappointed that it doesn't live up to being a console (which is more about the ecosystem than the hardware) - they can probably eBay those things to hobbyist and DIY retro fans (it should be a decent emulation box) and get their money back. Of course all of means they are immediately wiping any Atari stuff off of there and maybe upgrading the internals a bit - so a 'console' it will likely be a failure. However as a little, low spec PC/media/emulation box - it might be alright.

 

None of that excuses the way Atari SA has treated their customers of course.

Yeah, if you think of it as a PC it's not bad value at all - at least if you already have a Windows licence or intend to use Linux.

4 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I agree with this.  Getting teenagers who are already playing PS4, COD, XBOX, Fortnite, etc. will immediately be turned off to Amico.  Just like all of those same folks were when their parents brought home a Wii.  But then... when they see their parents playing a video game... something that the kid LOVES and their parents are now partaking in (with or without them)... and then they call the teenager over to join in a game with mom & dad and younger sister.  They may just do it.  Again.. it won't be their main machine.  But it may be something that they do once or twice a week for an hour with their parents.

We're not relying on this in order to succeed.  It's just something that I saw happen with hardcore gamers during the Wii.  We would probably see this happen more if mobile wasn't so solitary!

 

I might know little about hard core video games but, from what I've seen, hard core gamers will play any video game even simple games.  And they like competing with others.  

The comments you see on social media represent a tiny fraction of the community.  And it's the same people over and over.  It doesn't mean much.

4 hours ago, 1980gamer said:

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us use the controller with the REAL orientation.

I don't care if you do it horizontal as well.  But give us the option.  This is the best part of a controller like this.

 

Do you know ANYONE that played Intellivision with the overlay?  It was all feel.  I kind of wish I could put a domed overlay on the new controllers to mimic the feel of the originals.

 

I don't think the button location would cause a problem for swing or bunt.  It is one action.  I am either running or not with the disc. 

 

Do not overthink what is already gold!

 

 

 

 

Yes.  It has multiple orientations.  For lefties & righties as well.

1 hour ago, Battlefish said:

Sure!

 

Similar to how certain TV shows can be bought on DVD online, where said content is burned onto a DVD-R, my idea involves a blank form of [whatever media the Amico uses].

 

Buyers would select a game of their choice, and then pay extra to have the title written onto the Amico's physical media. This would include a special media label, along with a paper cover for the game's case; these being specifically designed for any game available through the program.

 

If the resources were available for such a program, then this print-on-demand initiative could be an option for players who want to collect and own copies of every Amico game, even the ones that wouldn't justify a retail release. And, at least for the length of this program, physical games would never sell out.

 

Sorry if I'm not making sense. Rather tired after today.

Ah.  I understand now.  It wouldn't really work the way we are doing media.

Cool idea though.

2 hours ago, JasperAK said:

Now if only the backers read the fine print... (link for those who are interested: https://www.factoryfive.com/type-65-coupe/what-you-get-complete-kit/)

A buddy of mine built one of the Factory Five kits... it's a really good, well-designed kit with plenty of room in it and lots of options.   Funny story about his car.  This side has all the graphics, and the tire lettering.  The other side is totally blank, no tire lettering.  Why?  Because to keep his wife happy, he did her side all black as she didn't like what it looked like on his side... 😩

5 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Specific strategies are putting it in peoples hands.  In store demos, mall tours, etc.  But also (because it has become the way to market these days) by getting influencers and celebrities super excited about it and talking about it to their millions of followers.

Would you say that sounds like a good strategy?  Any other thoughts or ideas on getting to the mobile audience?  We've even been talking about running mobile ads within mobile games!  Wouldn't that be funny. 

Running the ads would be funny. I think getting it out there would be great. What stores are you hoping to get into?

Have you been working on any deals with some popular board games? I'm not talking like the Hasbro ones but games like Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, or Pandemic?

12 hours ago, MantaNZ said:

Awesome. That solves the issue of rolling it off the table, trying to find the thing and people yelling "THAT DOESN'T COUNT" when you roll a six on the floor, hahaha!

Stop playing with cheaters! The 6 counts! No matter where in the house it lands. Even if it bounced off the table & flew into the sink & dropped into the garbage disposal. Get a flashlight & find out where it landed on! 

12 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I know right.  I hate that name! 

I'm just glad they didn't fill the bags with peas instead of corn!



 

I'm personally glad its more associated with the game these days. Us gay folks hated the epithet when it was a normal insult yelled out by mouth breathing southern rednecks. Beavis/Butthead didn't help either.

2 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

Running the ads would be funny. I think getting it out there would be great. What stores are you hoping to get into?

 

Have you been working on any deals with some popular board games? I'm not talking like the Hasbro ones but games like Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, or Pandemic?

I can't officially name names right now (announcements in spring when pre-orders will start), but it's ALL the biggest and best. And the very biggest is our biggest and best partner!  The AtariVCS is only sold online at Walmart & Gamestop.  We will be in actual retail locations.  BIG difference! 

Yes!  We have some really great board games not by mainstream companies, but great cult classics and super popular among board gamers.  Announcements in the spring.  And REALLY unique interfaces with the touch screen controller that actually make the original board games a LOT better and more fun!  Yet another thing and category that no other console or system can accomplish.

Oh, no! I just realized that most modern board games require to read instructions, and some have 200 pages manuals!

That's a blatant violation of the Amico Commandment nº 2. Any workaround for that, Tommy?

10 hours ago, mr_me said:

I might know little about hard core video games but, from what I've seen, hard core gamers will play any video game even simple games.  And they like competing with others.  

 

The comments you see on social media represent a tiny fraction of the community.  And it's the same people over and over.  It doesn't mean much.

Yeah the broken record crowd always seem to skip over the message that Tommy has had since day 1 - it isn't the console for everyone and for many it would be a 2nd or even 3rd console for some (or 47th consider the AtariAge collectors). I don't think male teenage gamers are going to lineup to snatch up an Amico for the holidays. However parents with young kids, older folks, people who don't consider themselves gamers, Wii owners looking to move on and maybe tween girls (I think that Galactic Purple Amico might be a surprise hit here) - plus a number of us retro fans - are all in the mix to get one. Those posters always seem to forget that these folks even exist or relegate it only to retro fans because of the support here on AtariAge. If I thought the Amico was only going to be marketed to hard core gamers (mostly hopeless) or retro fans (too small in number), I would have given it 'best wishes' and written it off a year ago. Long timers here know I beat everyone down (sorry about that) with business and marketing talk for months because I had to be convinced that Tommy had the money & the target market to make this thing a success. I can tell you from my years of business experience that he does have those covered now it just comes down to marketing & product. None of that business stuff guarantees success of course, but a lack of it pretty much guarantees failure & that is why I had to know.

5 minutes ago, GrudgeQ said:

Long timers here know I beat everyone down (sorry about that) with business and marketing talk for months because I had to be convinced that Tommy had the money

Yes. And every time you still bring it up, Ross and Joey miss another day of work.

12 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

Yes. And every time you still bring it up, Ross and Joey miss another day of work.

My solemn oath to any AtariAger who lived through that dark time - if we ever meet in person the first round is on me 🍻

33 minutes ago, GrudgeQ said:

Yeah the broken record crowd always seem to skip over the message that Tommy has had since day 1 - it isn't the console for everyone and for many it would be a 2nd or even 3rd console for some (or 47th consider the AtariAge collectors). I don't think male teenage gamers are going to lineup to snatch up an Amico for the holidays. However parents with young kids, older folks, people who don't consider themselves gamers, Wii owners looking to move on and maybe tween girls (I think that Galactic Purple Amico might be a surprise hit here) - plus a number of us retro fans - are all in the mix to get one. Those posters always seem to forget that these folks even exist or relegate it only to retro fans because of the support here on AtariAge. If I thought the Amico was only going to be marketed to hard core gamers (mostly hopeless) or retro fans (too small in number), I would have given it 'best wishes' and written it off a year ago. Long timers here know I beat everyone down (sorry about that) with business and marketing talk for months because I had to be convinced that Tommy had the money & the target market to make this thing a success. I can tell you from my years of business experience that he does have those covered now it just comes down to marketing & product. None of that business stuff guarantees success of course, but a lack of it pretty much guarantees failure & that is why I had to know.

I don't think that's bad policy at all.  It's smart policy.  How many times have people been burned by BS attempts at money grabbing Go Fund (ck) Me campaigns, or ATGames units that are meant to pray on our want for something, old, simple and fun, yet produce garbage.  

I hope this console sets a new standard for what gaming was meant to be, fun.  We played a few games and ran outside and played all day.  Just seems kids don't even know where the back door to the yard is anymore... And only WE are to blame for it 

33 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I can't officially name names right now (announcements in spring when pre-orders will start), but it's ALL the biggest and best. And the very biggest is our biggest and best partner!  The AtariVCS is only sold online at Walmart & Gamestop.  We will be in actual retail locations.  BIG difference! 

 

Yes!  We have some really great board games not by mainstream companies, but great cult classics and super popular among board gamers. 

Careful there with the basement burrito eating VCS troll talk! They are expecting it to be on shelves. Speaking of here is something their die hards said about Amico. 

I wish you could expand more on the board games. If it was Wizkids that would open up a lot of possibilities.

11 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Yes.  It has multiple orientations.  For lefties & righties as well.

 

This is good to hear. Then again, have you revealed anything as of yet that I have not liked? 

1 hour ago, IntelliMission said:

Oh, no! I just realized that most modern board games require to read instructions, and some have 200 pages manuals!

 

That's a blatant violation of the Amico Commandment nº 2. Any workaround for that, Tommy?

This would be a good example of not following the commandments. Also some games seem daunting but if you play them on PC they are quickly explained. I habe both Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne on PC/Phone and board games. The in game explanations are pretty quick.

If you want to compete with board games you are not going to want to water down your offerings in my opinion.

2 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

Normally I 'm not used to reply to this kind of messages but this time he "pulled out the words from my hands". So, analizing some of his statements:

"Android is limited. Android gaming is limited". Really? It's a pity that Amico is not an "android console"

"Mobile phone/tablet hardware vs much more powerful computer hardware. It's like comparing a gameboy to an entry-level gaming laptop" Why the hell we have to compare Amico to a computer?!?

"Has Tommy Tallarico of Intellivision designed the Amico to be fully customizable with any operating System you want, and give full access to the hardware?" Again, why the hell they should design the console in that way? OUYA style?

"I think thè Amico is going to be good, but limited and not expandable or usable as a computer when you want" Hey man I'm telling you a secret Amico ISN'T a computer IS a console!

1 hour ago, MrBeefy said:

This would be a good example of not following the commandments. Also some games seem daunting but if you play them on PC they are quickly explained. I habe both Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne on PC/Phone and board games. The in game explanations are pretty quick.

 

If you want to compete with board games you are not going to want to water down your offerings in my opinion.

Yeah, I guess the games will explain the rules to the players as they play...

Let's take miniature wargames, for example: In real life, you must buy them (they are very expensive!), assemble them (in most cases) using glue stick (in most cases) and (optionally but a true hobby in itself) paint them. Then, you have to buy or create the scenery (again in most cases, some games include some simple and intelligent designs including buildings to assemble and a mat with a terrain drawn). And finally, you must read all the pages in the manual. Additionally, you need a huge table and pack/unpack everything can take some time too. Oh, and in some cases you need a ruler to calulate the distances when you move a soldier or tank.

However, a casual video game based on this would have multiple (virtual) terrains, miniatures and even dices ready for the players to use when needed. In each turn, all the options available would be clearly visible on the screen (moving, attacking, selecting units). In some games there is a concept called "line of sight", which means players use a laser pointer or their own eyes to check if the soldier can "see" his objective from his own perspective so a shoot is possible, and this could be implemented very easily. Then the dices would be virtually rolled with the motion controls, and the results automatically applied and explained...

This type of games, if handled correctly, could be part of the card/board game library for the Amico.

19 minutes ago, IntelliMission said:

Yeah, I guess the games will explain the rules to the players as they play...

 

Let's take miniature wargames, for example: In real life, you must buy them (they are very expensive!), assemble them (in most cases) using glue stick (in most cases) and (optionally but a true hobby in itself) paint them. Then, you have to buy or create the scenery (again in most cases, some games include some simple and intelligent designs including buildings to assemble and a mat with a terrain drawn). And finally, you must read all the pages in the manual. Additionally, you need a huge table and pack/unpack everything can take some time too. Oh, and in some cases you need a ruler to calulate the distances when you move a soldier or tank.

 

However, a casual video game based on this would have multiple (virtual) terrains, miniatures and even dices ready for the players to use when needed. In each turn, all the options available would be clearly visible on the screen (moving, attacking, selecting units). In some games there is a concept called "line of sight", which means players use a laser pointer or their own eyes to check if the soldier can "see" his objective from his own perspective so a shoot is possible, and this could be implemented very easily. Then the dices would be virtually rolled with the motion controls, and the results automatically applied and explained...

 

This type of games, if handled correctly, could be part of the card/board game library for the Amico.

Yeah the only game like that I've played was Heroscape and it wasn't that hard. I know it was probably simpler than others, but something with pregenerated board would be best. Even in D&D you are basically playing in a pre generated world. You just may need to male or print your own map. Doesn't change the room though.

6 hours ago, Blarneo said:

I'm personally glad its more associated with the game these days. Us gay folks hated the epithet when it was a normal insult yelled out by mouth breathing southern rednecks. Beavis/Butthead didn't help either.

Haha yeah I was thinking about Beavis and Butthead when I read cornhole. TBH I had no idea it was even a game until Tommy said it. I guess it’s an American thing?

Thanks for doing multiple controller orientations.

One of the things that bugged me the most was when Super Pro Basketball changed the Jump Shot / Block / Set Shot to side buttons.

I know why they did it, because disc direction plus key press did not play well together.

Also, Stadium Mud Buggies should have used Auto Racing / Motocross control method. ( or gave the option )  Realistic mode.

Sorry for sounding negative....  I am just so looking forward to the Amico, I want it to be PERFECT.... for "me" :)