Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

11 minutes ago, Swami said:

I agree. Just saying they get quite pissed off when they know the answer and the timer runs out when they’re 50% done spelling it or figuring out what to push or where to point. 

Yeah that is the design from able body young programmers who think that 'anyone' should be able to type it in (even with a horrible keyboard) within 40 seconds. Easy to fall into that trap when you are a young joystick guru hyped-up on caffeine (they probably think 40 seconds is a ridiculous eternity). At least with Intellivision they are trying from the start to make things playable for all skill levels and Tommy is open to suggestions & feedback on this stuff. Likely more and more limited ability stuff gets built into the design spec for Amico games since every game is basically a collab with Intellivision Entertainment and they can exert some design requirements & quality control.

5 hours ago, mr_me said:

arcade Quantum is about drawing circles with a trackball.

It's got potential to be more than that in the right hands. Check out Geometry Wars 3 in Scorpion mode.

Just replace the geometric shapes with emoji Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. 😜

Geometry Wars looks like Robotron.  A dual stick shooter would be great.

8 hours ago, Swami said:

Are there going to be game shows on the Amico? Price is Right, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, Card Sharks, Jeopardy, $25000 pyramid, etc. That would be great, but if so...PLEASE add easy timer adjustment and multiple choice or some other options as difficulty options. I've been trying to play these games with my parents lately and the short timer upsets them and having to scan through the alphabet for letters one by one to spell out a wheel of fortune answer in, like, 40 seconds is ridiculous. I assume the Amico will not come with one, let alone 4-6 computer keyboards.

Yes. 

And in regards to people asking about input for older folks.  Remember we have a microphone on each controller.  Why would they need to search for a letter on Wheel of Fortune when they can just SAY IT!

Yet another unique design element that mobile and consoles don't seem to be doing. 

Wheel of Fortune on the Switch is horrible in the sense that you MUST have at least 2 controllers to play.  Ridiculous.  They don't allow you to pass a single controller (because no one ever goes at the same time) and they don't even allow you to split the controller (all you need is a directional and 1 button).  Me & my wife (well... maybe just me) wanted to throw the controller through the screen.  The simplest and most casual of multiplayer games can NOT be played unless you purchase multiple controllers.  Companies aren't even thinking or trying at this point.

 

8 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

Actually with the built in screen on the controllers then yes you could actually have 4 to 6 keyboards on every Amico. Plus they could be customized to just have upper case letters only for Wheel of Fortune so 26 letters wouldn’t be too tiny for less mobile hands.

 

EDIT: Basically you could get rid of the bottom space bar lines in this picture of the mobile app and make the letters bigger:

Yes. 

And we've tested this keyboard set up with seniors and they didnt' seem to have an issue when wearing glasses.

And for anyone who has ever had to "input" any kind of letters in their smart TV or video game console... you realize how GREAT this is going to be as opposed to using your remote control or game controller doing one letter at a time.

Yet ANOTHER simple yet unique thing we can do that makes gaming easier and that no other game console can do.  (Anyone else starting to see a pattern?) 

 

7 hours ago, Swami said:

I agree. Just saying they get quite pissed off when they know the answer and the timer runs out when they’re 50% done spelling it or figuring out what to push or where to point. 

We would NEVER do anything like this.  Folks should be able to assign "timers" if they want... or... pause the timer when a person starts typing.  Most people when playing together tend to not want to "cheat".  If your friend is trying to cheat then we let "real life" take over at that point.  We don't want to try and police gaming.  I'm so tired of that. 

I'm sure there will be instances where we need to make some decisions.  But when encountering this kind of stuff in game design... we've figured out ways around it to ensure that the majority of folks (and all non-cheaters... which is the majority) can have fun.  Grandma (or any non-gamer) getting frustrated because of a stupid timer is exactly the opposite of what we're trying to accomplish.

6 hours ago, mr_me said:

Geometry Wars looks like Robotron.  A dual stick shooter would be great.

Wait til you play Night Stalker and Tron Deadly Discs!!  

 

Really looking forward to 10.10.2020!  I've been enjoying reading the various game requests for the system.  At this point I've been looking for a list of games that have been actually announced and/or are in the works for the Amico.  I've been coming up a bit short in finding one so I put together the following based off the Intellivision Entertainment website and trailer videos.  Feel free to make corrections or point me in the direction of a better list that I probably overlooked!

Earthworm Jim 3
MotoRace USA
Miner 2049er
Tropical Angel
Super Burgertime
Moon Patrol : The Milky Way Chronicles
R-Type
10-Yard Fight
Lode Runner
Kung-Fu Master
Archon
ToeJam & Earl
Spelunker
Bad Dudes

Intellivision Classics remade/reimagined:
Astrosmash
Armor Battle
Shark!Shark!
Baseball
Night Stalker
Skiing
Math Fun
SNAFU
Frog Bog
Boxing
Bowling 
Triple Action
Tron Deadly Discs
AD&D Cloudy Mountain
Utopia
Star Strike
Horse Racing
Auto Racing
B-17 Bomber

Atari Classics remade/reimagined:
Pong
Asteroids
Centipede
Tempest
Adventure
Missle Command
Yar's Revenge
Breakout
Lunar Lander
Night Driver
Sky Diver
Warlords

Imagic Classics remade/reimagined:
Microsurgeon
Atlantis
Demon Attack
Dracula
Beauty and the Beast
Ice Trek
Swords & Serpents
Truckin'

Un-named (featured in Amico press release trailers etc. "Over 20 Brand New games on launch")
Intellivision Running Man (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 1:53)
Car Crash Track (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 1:58)
Clown Cannon (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 2:05) 
DJ turn it up (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 2:05)
Assassin Kitty VS General Meow (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 2:06)
Ecco the dolphin? (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 2:07)

+board games

+card games

Nice list, Cyclone!

I think Dragonfire, Safecracker & Wing War are in with the Imagic list.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yes. 

And in regards to people asking about input for older folks.  Remember we have a microphone on each controller.  Why would they need to search for a letter on Wheel of Fortune when they can just SAY IT!

 

 

Yet another unique design element that mobile and consoles don't seem to be doing. 

 

Wheel of Fortune on the Switch is horrible in the sense that you MUST have at least 2 controllers to play.  Ridiculous.  They don't allow you to pass a single controller (because no one ever goes at the same time) and they don't even allow you to split the controller (all you need is a directional and 1 button).  Me & my wife (well... maybe just me) wanted to throw the controller through the screen.  The simplest and most casual of multiplayer games can NOT be played unless you purchase multiple controllers.  Companies aren't even thinking or trying at this point.

 

What else Amico can do? 

Can controllers rumble too? 

53 minutes ago, uglyclone said:

Really looking forward to 10.10.2020!  I've been enjoying reading the various game requests for the system.  At this point I've been looking for a list of games that have been actually announced and/or are in the works for the Amico.  I've been coming up a bit short in finding one so I put together the following based off the Intellivision Entertainment website and trailer videos.  Feel free to make corrections or point me in the direction of a better list that I probably overlooked!

 

Earthworm Jim 3
MotoRace USA
Miner 2049er
Tropical Angel
Super Burgertime
Moon Patrol : The Milky Way Chronicles
R-Type
10-Yard Fight
Lode Runner
Kung-Fu Master
Archon
ToeJam & Earl
Spelunker
Bad Dudes

Intellivision Classics remade/reimagined:
Astrosmash
Armor Battle
Shark!Shark!
Baseball
Night Stalker
Skiing
Math Fun
SNAFU
Frog Bog
Boxing
Bowling 
Triple Action
Tron Deadly Discs
AD&D Cloudy Mountain
Utopia
Star Strike
Horse Racing
Auto Racing
B-17 Bomber

 

Atari Classics remade/reimagined:
Pong
Asteroids
Centipede
Tempest
Adventure
Missle Command
Yar's Revenge
Breakout
Lunar Lander
Night Driver
Sky Diver
Warlords

 

Imagic Classics remade/reimagined:
Microsurgeon
Atlantis
Demon Attack
Dracula
Beauty and the Beast
Ice Trek
Swords & Serpents
Truckin'

 

Un-named (featured in Amico press release trailers etc. "Over 20 Brand New games on launch")
Intellivision Running Man (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 1:53)
Car Crash Track (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 1:58)
Clown Cannon (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 2:05) 
DJ turn it up (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 2:05)
Assassin Kitty VS General Meow (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 2:06)
Ecco the dolphin? (Gamescom 2019 trailer @ 2:07)

 

+board games

 

+card games

Great list of games at the launch.

Are these games included with Amico?

16 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

 

@Spriggy if you are a master of the Ironing Simulator, feel free to come over and iron all my shirts. We can then work on our darning once the ironing is finished!

 

Oh goody!  I'll be right over.  I'll bring some freshly made Cool-Aid.

9 minutes ago, Serguei2 said:

What else Amico can do? 

 

Can controllers rumble too? 

 

Great list of games at the launch.

 

Are these games included with Amico?

Have a look at their website.  Controllers have haptic force feedback.  The console comes with five preinstalled games.  No internet needed to start playing.

https://www.intellivisionamico.com/amico-tech-specs

15 minutes ago, mr_me said:

Have a look at their website.  Controllers have haptic force feedback.  The console comes with five preinstalled games.  No internet needed to start playing.

https://www.intellivisionamico.com/amico-tech-specs

I guess other games are available from eshop then.

Thanks for the link.

43 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

Nice list, Cyclone!

I think Dragonfire, Safecracker & Wing War are in with the Imagic list.

Where/when were Dragonfire, Safecracker & Wing War announced?  I've always thought of Dragonfire as a staple Imagic title but didn't see it in the initial trailer (Intellivision Amico - Reveal Trailer 2018 @ 2:31)

Interested in Wing War for sure as it was unreleased for the Intellivision back in the day.  What about White Water! and Nova Blast?

58 minutes ago, Spriggy said:

Oh goody!  I'll be right over.  I'll bring some freshly made Cool-Aid.

Oh yeah! Feel free to ignore coming in through the door!

53 minutes ago, Serguei2 said:

I guess other games are available from eshop then.

 

Thanks for the link.

Plus some select games will also be available in stores as physical media

49 minutes ago, uglyclone said:

Where/when were Dragonfire, Safecracker & Wing War announced?  I've always thought of Dragonfire as a staple Imagic title but didn't see it in the initial trailer (Intellivision Amico - Reveal Trailer 2018 @ 2:31)

Interested in Wing War for sure as it was unreleased for the Intellivision back in the day.  What about White Water! and Nova Blast?

Well it's my guess/understanding from Tommy's Amico announcement talk in Portland in 2018, that Intellivision Tracked down the owners of Imagic's old IPs (including unfinished games like Wing War), and has pledged to reimagine as many as possible.

Really, only the CEO does know for sure what Imagic games they're allowed to reimagine and which ones they either can't re-do or won't bother with. Luckily he's here talking with us almost every day. Which brings me to another question... The rights  to Imagic games should also include Atari 2600 exclusive games like Trick Shot, Quick Step & Shooting Gallery as well. Can we see a possible Amico future for them?

And one final question. Is it pronounced Imagic, as in Imagine, or iMagic as in iPod? I always thought it was the short "I" like imagine, imagery or improvise, but I heard it from many people say it with a long "I" like an Apple product.

3 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Wait til you play Night Stalker and Tron Deadly Discs!!  

 

Regarding twin stick shooters, what about Microsurgeon?

1 hour ago, uglyclone said:

Where/when were Dragonfire, Safecracker & Wing War announced?  I've always thought of Dragonfire as a staple Imagic title but didn't see it in the initial trailer (Intellivision Amico - Reveal Trailer 2018 @ 2:31)

Interested in Wing War for sure as it was unreleased for the Intellivision back in the day.  What about White Water! and Nova Blast?

https://www.intellivisionamico.com/press-releases/press-release-october-22nd-2018

Dragonfire was in the october 2018 press release, uglyclone missed it somehow.  It's a very basic game so we'll see what they do with it.  Nova Blast is a Defender rip off so better to get the original arcade license.  Ice Trek and White Water would be interesting.  I'm sure they could do them all if they like, the press release does say "and more".  To be honest, since these trademarks weren't maintained, they don't really need licenses (unless there's some original sounds/music being reused).

Imagic is obviously pronounced like imagine and Italy, alternative pronunciations are wrong.

2 hours ago, mr_me said:

Imagic is obviously pronounced like imagine and Italy, alternative pronunciations are wrong.

If I recall from my 80s memory, it was a portmanteau of Imagination and Magic that formed the name. 

4 hours ago, Serguei2 said:

What else Amico can do? 

 

Can controllers rumble too? 

Yes.  You can see all the specs on our website:
https://www.intellivisionamico.com/amico-tech-specs

4 hours ago, Serguei2 said:

Great list of games at the launch.

 

Are these games included with Amico?

No.  Only 5 games are loaded on the system.  The only one we have "officially" announced is Skiing.

4 hours ago, Spriggy said:

 

Oh goody!  I'll be right over.  I'll bring some freshly made Cool-Aid.

3 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

Plus some select games will also be available in stores as physical media

So physical games will be available in 2021 if I understand correctly.

David Krane is working on a game for Amico ?

2 hours ago, Blarneo said:

Well it's my guess/understanding from Tommy's Amico announcement talk in Portland in 2018, that Intellivision Tracked down the owners of Imagic's old IPs (including unfinished games like Wing War), and has pledged to reimagine as many as possible.

 

Really, only the CEO does know for sure what Imagic games they're allowed to reimagine and which ones they either can't re-do or won't bother with. Luckily he's here talking with us almost every day. Which brings me to another question... The rights  to Imagic games should also include Atari 2600 exclusive games like Trick Shot, Quick Step & Shooting Gallery as well. Can we see a possible Amico future for them?

Microsurgeon, Ice Trek, Demon Attack & Safecracker for sure!  2 of them are already in production (and 1 we showed at E3 last year).

We have anything we want... so nothing is off the table.

2 hours ago, Blarneo said:

 

And one final question. Is it pronounced Imagic, as in Imagine, or iMagic as in iPod? I always thought it was the short "I" like imagine, imagery or improvise, but I heard it from many people say it with a long "I" like an Apple product.

Like Imagine... as in Imagine Magic.

3 minutes ago, Serguei2 said:

So physical games will be available in 2021 if I understand correctly.

They will be available on launch in 2020.