Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

An Idea Tommy. Instead of just remaking Atlantis, perhaps rethink an entirely new game so it's not Missile Command in Mythos. 

How about a Crossbow type game (without the gun). Like Lemmings, dozens or hundreds of Atlanteans are fleeing to the "Cosmic Ark" to escape the flooding and sinking of the city. Where the aliens are dismantling buildings, bridges, pathways to hinder their escape, and a few aliens who are graboids (Thanks Tremors LOL) to kidnap the Atlanteans. A single gun per player, in the bottom that follows a free roaming target sight that fires a fireworks type expansive explosion like Missile Command... but the goals are to protect the pathways, shoot down graboids to let the kidnapees fall back down on the paths & get as many escapees onto the ark as possible before the city sinks. Round has to be repeated if less than 70% reach the ark.

Or you can do just a couple of guys with guns in togas shooting down enemies trying to sink the city, with a play mechanic like SNES Wild Guns or Neo Geo 'Nam 75. 

I hope everyone has a safe New Years Eve! 2020 will be our big year and we are greatly looking forward to it!

200 million units!!  Damn... now I really got my work cut out for me and the team!  So much for taking tomorrow off! 

Nice video though.  Glad that folks are paying attention and starting to understand the idea of bringing people together (of all skill levels) to play together...  once again.

I don't think Atlantis will ever have quite the appeal of a game like Moon Patrol or Demon Attack because it is about careful timing, including waiting periods, and not everyone is into that. I did know people BITD though who really got into Atlantis, playing it to master the game or max out points (as opposed to Moon Patrol or Demon Attack, which were very often just played for fun by not very good players). 

However, it's a classic, nostalgic game, there's a good story behind it, and some people really like aiming/timing challenges. I definitely think you should update it. 

The problem is, it was never a very good two player game. As it's not the most fun game to watch, alternating isn't great. And when one guy operates the left cannon and one guy operates the right cannon, there's no direct interaction and little opportunity for joint strategizing. 

So unless you can think of some great new coop ideas, I don't think it's going to work as a couch coop game. 

I think I suggested it before, but why don't you consider games along the lines of two of the most simple and praised couch coop games out there... Channel F Dodge It, where all you do is try to outlast the other guy not getting hit by stuff moving around in (varying size, alternating) arenas, and the 2600 homebrew Fall Down, where you basically run through slots of rising beams to fall down, and try to not get crushed at the top of the screen before the other guy... A 4 Player Fall Down-ish game would be incredible, and it's a game which would play pretty well off a phone screen if you are just pressing the left or right side of the screen to run left or right (though the 2600 game also uses the button to activate power ups...) 

22 minutes ago, doug0909 said:

I don't think Atlantis will ever have quite the appeal of a game like Moon Patrol or Demon Attack because it is about careful timing, including waiting periods, and not everyone is into that. I did know people BITD though who really got into Atlantis, playing it to master the game or max out points (as opposed to Moon Patrol or Demon Attack, which were very often just played for fun by not very good players). 

 

However, it's a classic, nostalgic game, there's a good story behind it, and some people really like aiming/timing challenges. I definitely think you should update it. 

 

The problem is, it was never a very good two player game. As it's not the most fun game to watch, alternating isn't great. And when one guy operates the left cannon and one guy operates the right cannon, there's no direct interaction and little opportunity for joint strategizing. 

 

So unless you can think of some great new coop ideas, I don't think it's going to work as a couch coop game. 

 

I think I suggested it before, but why don't you consider games along the lines of two of the most simple and praised couch coop games out there... Channel F Dodge It, where all you do is try to outlast the other guy not getting hit by stuff moving around in (varying size, alternating) arenas, and the 2600 homebrew Fall Down, where you basically run through slots of rising beams to fall down, and try to not get crushed at the top of the screen before the other guy... A 4 Player Fall Down-ish game would be incredible, and it's a game which would play pretty well off a phone screen if you are just pressing the left or right side of the screen to run left or right (though the 2600 game also uses the button to activate power ups...) 

We currently have an 8 player co-op mode in Missile Command and it's pretty amazing!  We also have a 2 player versus mode where you are fighting and defending each other from your own missiles (and enemy fighters).  So doing Atlantis multiplayer would be pretty easy using that same logic. 

Thanks for turning me on to those 2 games you spoke about.  I'm not familiar with either of them so I'll check them out.  Thanks!

And of course any one touch/one switch games where the players are competing based on how well they can count /time things in their brains. A template might be Odyssey 2 Smithereens, but I'm sure there are infinite other ways to implement that mechanic in a multi player game. It doesn't sound fun on paper, but when you hold down that button for just the right amount of time and then release it and get the satisfaction of blowing something up as a result (or sending a rock off a catapult into a castle as in Smithereens...), there's just something very satisfying about that. Also, it's something where non video games players who just happen to be really good at counting /timing things in their head can excel...  My girlfriend kicked my butt at Smithereens the first time we played.... 

On 12/29/2019 at 1:28 PM, MrBeefy said:

New game announcement.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

We currently have an 8 player co-op mode in Missile Command and it's pretty amazing!  We also have a 2 player versus mode where you are fighting and defending each other from your own missiles (and enemy fighters).  So doing Atlantis multiplayer would be pretty easy using that same logic. 

Thanks for turning me on to those 2 games you spoke about.  I'm not familiar with either of them so I'll check them out.  Thanks!

 

Tommy, if you haven't seen Uberleben you might take a look.  1-7 player simultaneous game where you simply move your falling skydiver around the screen avoiding obstacles in a canyon, mine shaft, snow cavern, etc. The last person falling still has to try to make it though to the landing zone. The blood could easily be removed This is great fun, even crowding around a single keyboard. Rooting for/trash talking the last guy while he tries to finish without distraction is half of the charm.

8 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

2020... the year that the Intellivision Amico is released to the world!!  

A sneak peek in August at PRGE?

6 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

2020... the year that the Intellivision Amico is released to the world!!  

 

 

I purchased a hat and a beanie last night to go with my shirt.

It is my mission to make the running man logo more visible in 2020!

10 months from now people will probably say to me"Now I know what that logo you have been wearing all the time stands for!".

I love the Intellivision and I am going to do my part to promote the Amico!😊👍

1 hour ago, wolfy62 said:

I purchased a hat and a beanie last night to go with my shirt.

It is my mission to make the running man logo more visible in 2020!

10 months from now people will probably say to me"Now I know what that logo you have been wearing all the time stands for!".

I love the Intellivision and I am going to do my part to promote the Amico!😊👍

This reminds me of Nissan hyping up their new luxury brand in the late 80s. For 6 months, all we saw was this, without ever seeing the car.

At least we know what the console and controllers look like here.😃

19 hours ago, fdr4prez said:

 

A sneak peek in August at PRGE?

Not sure yet.  We hope so.  Depends on our schedule as it will be 6 weeks from our launch.  Will hopefully try to send someone/something.

13 hours ago, wolfy62 said:

I purchased a hat and a beanie last night to go with my shirt.

It is my mission to make the running man logo more visible in 2020!

10 months from now people will probably say to me"Now I know what that logo you have been wearing all the time stands for!".

I love the Intellivision and I am going to do my part to promote the Amico!😊👍

THANK-YOU!!!!!!!!

Hey Tommy, several people who actually know what they are talking about have predicted that the Amico will be a huge success this week: First it was Michael Patcher, then the IntellivisonPlanet Youtube channel (he says the Amico will benefit from the "blue ocean" strategy) and finally there's this comment on the video in response to your comment:

I think there's an interesting question right there: If the Amico starts selling like crazy, will there be unit shortages or can the production be increased somehow?

10 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

Hey Tommy, several people who actually know what they are talking about have predicted that the Amico will be a huge success this week: First it was Michael Patcher, then the IntellivisonPlanet Youtube channel (he says the Amico will benefit from the "blue ocean" strategy) and finally there's this comment on the video in response to your comment:

 

 

I think there's an interesting question right there: If the Amico starts selling like crazy, will there be unit shortages or can the production be increased somehow?

Wow!!  Thanks for sharing.  I hadn't seen the comment yet!  Thanks for pointing it out.  This kind of stuff really helps me a lot.  As much as I try to be online and engaging with the community (mostly positive and few negatives) it's impossible to be everywhere all the time.  So you guys in here posting stuff and bringing it to my attention really means a lot.  Thanks!!   Will send this out to our investors!

To answer your question... YES!  100%!!!  It was partly the reason me and 4 team members were in China in mid December.  Everything in that regard is taken care of.  Lots to talk about in February about this... can't say much now, but ALL positive stuff! 

Thanks again for posting!  Keep 'em coming.  If you don't see a response from me on social media or YouTube... probably means I haven't seen it yet. 

Anyone read this story?

Bayonetta Director Calls Out The Nintendo Switch's Crappy Menu
https://kotaku.com/bayonetta-director-calls-out-the-nintendo-switchs-crapp-1840779031

Interested to know what Switch owners in here think.  I completely agree and I've been saying this for a few years now.  Interested to know if others agree or disagree... or somewhere in between.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Anyone read this story?

Bayonetta Director Calls Out The Nintendo Switch's Crappy Menu
https://kotaku.com/bayonetta-director-calls-out-the-nintendo-switchs-crapp-1840779031

Interested to know what Switch owners in here think.  I completely agree and I've been saying this for a few years now.  Interested to know if others agree or disagree... or somewhere in between.

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Thanks!

 

I agree at 100%

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Anyone read this story?

Bayonetta Director Calls Out The Nintendo Switch's Crappy Menu
https://kotaku.com/bayonetta-director-calls-out-the-nintendo-switchs-crapp-1840779031

Interested to know what Switch owners in here think.  I completely agree and I've been saying this for a few years now.  Interested to know if others agree or disagree... or somewhere in between.

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Thanks!

 

Never held or used a Switch, but considering so many non Android/IOS devices have crappy interfaces, I don't doubt it.

17 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Not sure yet.  We hope so.  Depends on our schedule as it will be 6 weeks from our launch.  Will hopefully try to send someone/something.

 

 

Paul is usually sitting around doing not much. Send him. 😂

6 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Anyone read this story?

Bayonetta Director Calls Out The Nintendo Switch's Crappy Menu
https://kotaku.com/bayonetta-director-calls-out-the-nintendo-switchs-crapp-1840779031

Interested to know what Switch owners in here think.  I completely agree and I've been saying this for a few years now.  Interested to know if others agree or disagree... or somewhere in between.

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Thanks!

 

We've got a Switch and the online store isn't easy to navigate and find what you want, we've looked quite a few times now for new games but have given up searching or have been put off by the sky high prices; after a year now we've still only got Super Mario Odyssey...

We have a Switch, my wife's main console. When you have few games (4-5) the menu is quite funcional but it become really tedius to use as soon as you gain more titles to play (a little bit lesser if you use the touch screen instead of the controller) because you have to scroll to reach the desired game. There is no "last played" list or other kind of filters.

We never used the store so I can't say anything about his usability.

2 hours ago, MonsterSky said:

There is no "last played" list or other kind of filters.

Games are actually sorted last played first by default, and I think they added filters (but you need to display the whole list I think). That being said, I wish there were folders.

I'm glad my optimistic message was so well received... Thanks so much to Tommy and the fans who upvoted it! 🍺

I guess optimism is not always something you can justify with serious analysis, so in this case we have actual reasons to be hopeful and not just our own feelings.

And yeah, Tommy is using some of our suggestions or analysis and sending others to its team and even investors... That is really cool and goes way beyond your typical Q&A situation. We are actually helping these guys create this awesome console. So I say, keep the ideas and information coming: Even if some messages may sound stupid, a few of them can have a real impact on the design of the machine or the games. 📮🛠️💰

1 hour ago, roots.genoa said:

Games are actually sorted last played first by default, and I think they added filters (but you need to display the whole list I think). That being said, I wish there were folders.

Except if you buy and download a game. So it's not the last played game, but the last game you use for something ! 😉

So if you are downloading 10 games ( demo or bought ), then the last game you played will be almost nowhere to be found. 😁

Also what's not cool, that's done for everybody. So if let's say mom or dad are playing a specific game each week ("Card game"), but the kids are playing 10 games a week, then the card game will not be near for next playtime for mom and dad !!
It should have a filter for each user.  So first select the user, then you will see the last game played for this user. Not choose the game, and after that who will use it.