Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

14 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Every game has single player so couch co-op concern would not negatively impact sales.

It may take someone 5 - 7 hours to finish Moon Patrol in single player... yet they may play the game in versus or co-op mode for 100 hours.  I'd say they got their $9.99 worth.  I didn't spend that long with the $80 version of Red Dead Redemption II I bought.  Hell... I didn't even spent 5 - 7 hours on it.  

Moon Patrol has an ending?

I though arcade games at this time are looping.

I don't think good parents won't allow their kids completing Moon Patrol for five hours in single player.

Two hours should be fine.

3 minutes ago, Serguei2 said:

It may take someone 5 - 7 hours to finish Moon Patrol in single player... yet they may play the game in versus or co-op mode for 100 hours. 

5-7 hours? The old R-Type games are 20 min max with 8 levels. If you do this with Moon Patrol, then I can't wait until I get 35-50 stages of R-Type! 😍

Forgive me for quoting myself, but I must. There were plenty of people defending this project from the start and making a distinction that this is not the same as Ataribox. I'm not saying they're the same, and I am saying there has been a ton a promises made, adoration heaped up, some fairly salty accusations hurled and a call for $100 up front. It's fair to question the veracity of claims now that this has entered the "send us money because we promise it's all good phase."

I'm not suggesting this is a scam, or people are lying, or that some people need protection from themselves. If somebody wants to hand over their money in any scenario, that's their choice and I could care less. I'm not even suggesting

there's some moral issue here that needs to be defended or uncovered. I'm saying I'm interested in this project, and I'm curious where it's really at. I was enticed that Tommy would be sharing information about the project. I'd like to see more than guarantees and assurances and promises of assured success, giant marketing budgets, huge private investor budgets etc. This is not a publicly traded company, so there's no insight into their inner workings available. Now that it's going down the well trodden road of asking for money based on assured success and guaranteed refunds, I wanna see actual evidence of why any of that should be taken at face value.

I'm sorry if it offends some people's confirmation bias, but assume I'm from the show-me state. We've all been down that road way too many times to just keep getting excited over talk. It's great they've shown some product, but I've got nothing to go on about all the talk of huge marketing budgets, or giant investor funds. Just a lot of kicking the can and explaining why things can't be revealed. Right or wrong, that puts the project in familiar territory, so asking for money up front "may" be a bad indicator of things to come. In my mind, just dismissing legitimate questions as, "this may not be for you", or "we'll agree to disagree" add further fuel to the fire because it's diversionary tactics that "may" further lend credence to those bad indicators. The knee jerk defenses also head into familiar territory, just sayin'.

On 11/15/2019 at 9:18 AM, JBerel said:

The thing is not being crowdfunded, or offered for pre-order sight unseen. That, by definition cannot be called a scam, nor does it result in "haters turning into fence sitters" since there's nothing to hate until it's released, short of taking people's money based on promises.  What some call evangelism marketing, tech evangelism or engagement marketing is referred to by advertising professionals as the bandwagon approach, the facts and figures approach, or the hype train. It's also typical of the use of P.R. in place of traditional marketing. It's not good or bad in itself, but does run the risk of becoming exhausting when overdone, and can result in waning interest or audience disappointment if the results don't live up to the hype. The true measures of success will be audience reach and conversion. That hasn't even begun, and even if very successful, the product will ultimately have to find acceptance based on its own merits and appeal as results speak 1000 times more than words. All the wildly optimistic projections and predictions in the world don't amount to a hill of beans until the thing is in at least a significant number of households. (conservatively 250,000+)  Otherwise, it's just another pet project like so many before.   

10 minutes ago, Serguei2 said:

Moon Patrol has an ending?

 

I though arcade games at this time are looping.

 

I don't think good parents won't allow their kids completing Moon Patrol for five hours in single player.

 

Two hours should be fine.

I am happy Moon Patrol as an ending. And probably you will also see "To be continued ...".
 

Adults can finish the game in one day if they want. I agree kids should stop after 2 hours, and go play outside and tell their friends how Amico is cool !!   lol

1 minute ago, Serguei2 said:

Moon Patrol has an ending?

 

I though arcade games at this time are looping.

 

I don't think good parents won't allow their kids completing Moon Patrol for five hours in single player.

 

Two hours should be fine.

It's Amico Moon patrol, not the arcade game.  But a shorter game is not a bad idea.

5 minutes ago, JBerel said:

Forgive me for quoting myself, but I must. There were plenty of people defending this project from the start and making a distinction that this is not the same as Ataribox. I'm not saying they're the same, and I am saying there has been a ton a promises made, adoration heaped up, some fairly salty accusations hurled and a call for $100 up front. It's fair to question the veracity of claims now that this has entered the "send us money because we promise it's all good phase."

 

I'm not suggesting this is a scam, or people are lying, or that some people need protection from themselves. If somebody wants to hand over their money in any scenario, that's their choice and I could care less. I'm not even suggesting

there's some moral issue here that needs to be defended or uncovered. I'm saying I'm interested in this project, and I'm curious where it's really at. I was enticed that Tommy would be sharing information about the project. I'd like to see more than guarantees and assurances and promises of assured success, giant marketing budgets, huge private investor budgets etc. This is not a publicly traded company, so there's no insight into their inner workings available. Now that it's going down the well trodden road of asking for money based on assured success and guaranteed refunds, I wanna see actual evidence of why any of that should be taken at face value.

 

I'm sorry if it offends some people's confirmation bias, but assume I'm from the show-me state. We've all been down that road way too many times to just keep getting excited over talk. It's great they've shown some product, but I've got nothing to go on about all the talk of huge marketing budgets, or giant investor funds. Just a lot of kicking the can and explaining why things can't be revealed. Right or wrong, that puts the project in familiar territory, so asking for money up front "may" be a bad indicator of things to come. In my mind, just dismissing legitimate questions as, "this may not be for you", or "we'll agree to disagree" add further fuel to the fire because it's diversionary tactics that "may" further lend credence to those bad indicators. The knee jerk defenses also head into familiar territory, just sayin'.

  

 

We're all waiting to see the games.

5 minutes ago, mr_me said:

It's Amico Moon patrol, not the arcade game.  But a shorter game is not a bad idea.

Out of questions ! ( No way For me !).

If you want it shorter, stop at letter Z on the first planet !

Tommy said he wants value for buyers of Amico ! Come on !

JBerel:  Tommy has already stated he can’t show much of the info you seek for many reasons.  When they are ready to show, they will.  There is nothing wrong with questioning, but when people start throwing in chameleon and Atari vcs to support their point of view, again, can you expecting else?

I’d accept confirmation bias when people start using better words than sycophant and alluding to people supporting the FE as more or less blind sheep lol

5 hours ago, JBerel said:

What's more disturbing to me is a corporate entity using these forums to repeatedly obsess over some amateur gaming geeks because they don't buy into his schtick or continually disparage leading industry players over their "vile content" while complaining his free speech rights are being violated and that others are being passive aggressive, all while selling his merch and progressing into full on pre-order mode again. If some want to support that to the degree of sycophant, that's their right, but it wears thin on some of us, and has nothing to do with being defensive about those other folks. 

And there ya go folks!  The truth is revealed.  Your passive aggressive diatribes have now been outed.  At least you finally admit what your real issue is.  Took ya long enough. 

You just can't stand the fact that this thread exists and (what most would call) my openness to speak with folks who have stuff in common with me.   I'll let you in on something... if you don't like the way I'm coming across and interacting... that's fine... but it isn't going to stop.  So you may want to do yourself a favor and save a lot of headaches and drama by just not coming here anymore.  See how simple that is?   

It wears thin on you??  Then please...  stop coming here.  No one is forcing you.  Please... stop commenting if you dislike it so much.  Maybe the way you've been interacting "wears thin" on the majority here. 

What a dumb post. You have no idea how ridiculous you sound or come across.  That's the sad part (but to me funny) .   

Hope you won't be posting here anymore... I wouldn't want your snowflake ass to melt.

Just now, mr_me said:

It's Amico Moon patrol, not the arcade game.  But a shorter game is not a bad idea.

Agreed.

Playing Moon Patrol for hours in multiplayers is not better that we have on other systems.

All Amico games should be short. It's one of 10 commandments.

1 hour ago, Loafer said:

This paragraph boggles my mind.  This thread was created by the corporate entity known as Tommy to promote the Amico product.  If you don’t buy into the corporate entity’s schtick, exactly why are you here?  I’m not inviting you to leave, I’m curious what makes your world go round here because that paragraph goes beyond just being concerned about a founders edition.  It is insulting not only to Tommy but to all of us who see positive value here.

 

ie:  this is a thread for fans of the product.  Most who approve of the founders edition have even stated they get why people may not like it but we do.  Of course, we are obviously just being sheep.

 

you are right, there are some who are wearing thin...

Unlike you... I am totally inviting him to leave.

...Tommy opened his doors unlike any CEO/celebrity I've known in my years...Breaking his balls a little is not a big deal, because he does the same as well.  That's what makes him and this whole thing a lot more genuine to me.  But like anything else, there are fine lines of which should not be crossed.  Poking jokes is fun when both sides are laughing.   Being from the decade and area he's from, it was a part of life.  From what I've seen so far .... I'm sure he had his trophies from his own "rank-out sessions" as a kid.  

36 minutes ago, Serguei2 said:

42 minutes ago, mr_me said:

It's Amico Moon patrol, not the arcade game.  But a shorter game is not a bad idea.

Agreed.

 

Playing Moon Patrol for hours in multiplayers is not better that we have on other systems.

 

All Amico games should be short. It's one of 10 commandments.

I think you are mixing things.  The single player has a story mode. Habitually multi player it's not the same thing.

But probably, it's possible, as an exemple, on the last planet, it's harder. I am playing alone, but I am asking my son, can he help me by just jumping, and I will take care of the rest.

Tommy know better than me, but I think it's something that you can choose before playing.

Versus Player will not be the story mode, and it's probably a lot shorter, just from point A to Z, and choosing on witch planet you want to play.

I am reading what's happening here since two days, and it looks like haters ( Not talking particulary about you Serguei2 or mr_me ) are waking up because the project is becoming more and more concrete ! 🤔

Tomorrow I will write "9 Months to go !"

And believe it or not, today I can say "5 Months to go" (E3 2020, June 9th-11th) before we will know ALL THE DETAILS ! (Tommy, do you already know witch day it will be Amico day in June at E3 ?)

It's coming true !

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yeah... you really nailed it.  And it all seems so obvious.  But I believe it's tough for folks sometimes to think outside their own world... which is understandable.  It is very difficult sometimes.  I mean look at political views.  I find that most people want the same outcome... they just have different ways of getting there.  But the way people argue politics or religion or game consoles is so closed minded sometimes.  

Totally okay to voice concerns.  Another thing to tell people they are wrong (or blind fanboys) because they like something different or have a different perspective on something.

I always like to give the comparison of the Wii.  The Wii sold 102 milliion units.  The Switch... only half of that (granted it still has a few years left in the life cycle... but it is NOT going to do the numbers the Wii did.  So where are those other 50 million people who bought the Wii and not the Switch so far?  Those 50 million people who paid $250 ($320 in today's money) to play Wii Bowling and never bought another game?   Is the answer they all went to mobile?  Okay... then that means they've done nothing but play all by themselves with their face buried in their screens when they have proven in the past that they will pay $250 just to do simple digital bowling with friends.

I like our chances.   

 

Do you think they keep bringing up the phone and Switch because they subconsciously want this to be a portable like the 3DS or Switch Lite, but can’t seem to verbalize it? I have my suspicions, although they are admittedly speculations. 

1 minute ago, Swami said:

Do you think they keep bringing up the phone and Switch because they subconsciously want this to be a portable like the 3DS or Switch Lite? I have my suspicions, although they are admittedly speculations. 

Subconscious or passive-aggressive?

Seeing Moon Patrol coming up as a topic this morning reminded me of a question of my own.

I was ecstatic to see Astrosmash was being remade for the Amico, as both my cousin and I logged hundreds of hours playing it. But the problem was at one point we were both so good the other would never get a chance to play, and it was only single player.

Any chance there will be a multiplayer option for your Astrosmash? Perhaps something like for competitive play the ground being split into sections that each player has to defend from being hit (and then losing points) while still having full range of the entire play area with their laser for scoring purposes.

Cooperative could be easier with just multiple lasers and a combined score?

It would be a blast (literally and figuratively) to finally go head-to-head and see who is better after all these decades!

But even if it is just single player, I am still looking forward to playing the Amico version. Also highly excited Cloudy Mountain is on the re-imagined/updated games list!

12 minutes ago, Tavi said:

I was ecstatic to see Astrosmash was being remade for the Amico, as both my cousin and I logged hundreds of hours playing it. But the problem was at one point we were both so good the other would never get a chance to play, and it was only single player.

 

Any chance there will be a multiplayer option for your Astrosmash? Perhaps something like for competitive play the ground being split into sections that each player has to defend from being hit (and then losing points) while still having full range of the entire play area with their laser for scoring purposes.

All Amico games will have local multiplayer and co-op modes (see their web site).  And the new Astrosmash will be one of the five free games built in to the system (subject to changes).

The Intellivision had so many great two player games.  You and your cousin should have been playing Biplanes, Sea Battle, Utopia, Snafu, or one of the many great sports games.  I guess one of you didn't have their own intellivision.

52 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

I am happy Moon Patrol as an ending. And probably you will also see "To be continued ...".

Hmmm,  I only remember, Insert 25 Cents to Continue...  9  8  7 ....  LOL

love the game but wasn't very good at it!  Now, if you want to talk the TI99 version... 

1 minute ago, 1980gamer said:

55 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

I am happy Moon Patrol as an ending. And probably you will also see "To be continued ...".

Hmmm,  I only remember, Insert 25 Cents to Continue...  9  8  7 ....  LOL

love the game but wasn't very good at it!  Now, if you want to talk the TI99 version...

Tommy already said he have a few chapters in mind. That's why I said that.

When I will have more time, I will try to find where.

And I have other thing in mind I will try to do this weekend. A kind of reminder !

I was just commenting on how bad I was at it in the Arcade.   

Always having to insert coin to continue!  Never worrying about reaching the end!

I remember reaching the first checkpoint and thinking I was getting good at it!  

PS the Intellivision version is very well done!  Again, I am not very good at it, but still find it fun to play.  Need to hook up the ECS at some point to hear the music as it should be!

7 minutes ago, 1980gamer said:

I was just commenting on how bad I was at it in the Arcade.   

Always having to insert coin to continue!  Never worrying about reaching the end!

Lol.

Never had the chance to spend money on it at the Arcade.   (Never saw it)

I was not an Arcade player, I was 12, and no money to spend on Arcade !

But each day at diner when at scholl, I was going at the Arcade looking other players playing ! I envied them.

There was Popeye that I always wanted to play, but never did ? I don't know if it's the kind of game that can come on Amico.

Not sure who owned it now ?

20 minutes ago, mr_me said:

All Amico games will have local multiplayer and co-op modes (see their web site).  And the new Astrosmash will be one of the five free games built in to the system (subject to changes).

 

The Intellivision had so many great two player games.  You and your cousin should have been playing Biplanes, Sea Battle, Utopia, Snafu, or one of the many great sports games.  I guess one of you didn't have their own intellivision.

Nailed it in one.

I had the 2600, my cousin had the Intellivsion. So which console was being used depended on who's house we were at. Both consoles were a lot of fun, but Astrosmash/Astroblast stands out in my memory as a game available for both consoles that we both enjoyed playing (Intellivision absolutely had the better version though).

19 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

Lol.

Never had the chance to spend money on it at the Arcade.   (Never saw it)

I was not an Arcade player, I was 12, and no money to spend on Arcade !

But each day at diner when at scholl, I was going at the Arcade looking other players playing ! I envied them.

There was Popeye that I always wanted to play, but never did ? I don't know if it's the kind of game that can come on Amico.

Not sure who owned it now ?

 

I think Nintendo made the  popeye arcade  I dont know if they still have the license anymore though. But at one point they were exclusive  didnt do much with it .  I think someone else did the snes game though which was  kinda a platformer and a board game released in japan.

2 hours ago, JBerel said:

This is not a publicly traded company, so there's no insight into their inner workings available. Now that it's going down the well trodden road of asking for money based on assured success and guaranteed refunds, I wanna see actual evidence of why any of that should be taken at face value.

The bumbling company currently masquerading as Atari crowdfunded "that Ataribox?", thereby offloading all the risk onto their backers, because they did not—and, arguably, still do not—have the talent or resources to release it on their own.  Intellivision Entertainment is accepting preorders for a "Founder's Edition" Amico console, a project that they already initiated and secured funding for and were already on track to develop and release, without resorting to crowdfunding.  As far as I can tell, the only thing that the two have in common is the superficial resemblance of paying money up front to support a product that is not yet available, so to conflate them seems to me to be a serious stretch.

Having been here through the RetroVGS and Chameleon trainwrecks, and having followed the VCS since it was known as "that Ataribox?", I think I'm as alert as anyone to the dangers of "asking for money based on assured success and guaranteed refunds."  I don't see the Amico as belonging to the same category at all, and I'm surprised that so many people seem to be having so much trouble distinguishing the difference.