Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

8 minutes ago, 1980gamer said:

CLUE could be a good game.

Each person can track clues gathered on the controller.

 

Secret notes etc.

 

Then I have to ask,can you use a stylus with the touch screen.  I am not great at pin point tapping on my phone LOL.

 

 

TOTALLY!!!!!!!!  

55 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Just curious... what makes you think that the 30 - 40 games on launch (and/or the pack-in games) won't be of any interest to you.  Especially since you don't know what any of them are?

Again... just curious as I'm confused by your reasoning.

 

Thanks!

 

You try your best to convince anybody Amico will be the best console ever. I can understand that.

I'm a kind of player who loves games since NES when you can save games for later or entering passwords. 

All Amico games I know so far, Moon Patrol, Breakout, Burgetime. … 

Even if they have remade, better backgrounds, more options, more levels, multiplayers, ...

They are the same for me. I already played all of them. 

Maybe Super Mario 64-like games might me think to buy Amico, with multiplayers of course.

These games would break 7e commandment and I know I won't find these kind of games on your machine.

Like you said, Amico is not for everyone.

35 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I keep all the AMICO WILL FAIL videos in a file folder so even if some of these people go back to delete them... I'll have a copy and will enjoy making a video of all the negative initial reactions while showing graphics of our success that show the opposite. 

I really like that. But not for making fun of them, because everyone can change his mind and we have to keep a little respect !

It's great for personnal motivation, and when you will make a video of all who will be converted.  lol

It will be really cool to look at all those first tought, and when Gaming Historian will make a video about Amico and everything you, your teams and all the believers have had to endured !

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Commenting and informing folks on YouTube or Twitter or Facebook is definitely a better way to go.  More of a mainstream audience that potential future target audience buyers could see.  No mom is searching resetera or 4chan.  In fact... I'm guessing (even like this place!) that it's 99% male. 

Read your whole post but I am just quoting the end here. Thanks for the long and detailed reply. I won't go back to those sites, it was difficult to sift through the same and almost repeat responses as it was. 

I agree completely that these kinds of websites aren't the core audience for Amico. On the repeated comments, I thought it was very interesting to learn what these websites were saying and how frequently they crossed over one another like they all think the same no matter where they post. A week and a half ago I knew nothing about the Amico and if I was not the kind of person to look further into something I would probably be thinking what a lot of these people were thinking (not as brutally though) so it wasn't all completely worthless information. It does help show clear distinctions in mindsets and that these groups are probably a lost cause. Or potential lost marketing dollars $$$ anyways.

You have targeted an existing market of non-hardcore gamers, but because people see "video games" they immediately assume it's an Xbox/PS/Nintendo thing, when it's not at all. Gamers weren't this type of hardcore isolationist gamer when Intellivision, Colecovision and Atari 2600 came out and you are focused on that original second gen experience on a modern system with modernized controls and modern features. 

Very interested to see where this leads and what new marketing does when it comes up in the summer.

1 hour ago, Serguei2 said:

All Amico games I know so far, Moon Patrol, Breakout, Burgetime. … 

 

Even if they have remade, better backgrounds, more options, more levels, multiplayers, ...

 

They are the same for me. I already played all of them. 

Ooh, presuming “it’s all the same”... I want to turn your attention to something:

The Lion King is a retelling of Hamlet.  Same plot devices, same story arch, same themes.  A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a post-modern retelling of Pinocchio.  The quintessential WWII film, The Guns of Navaronne is a new setting but a rehashing of The Seven Samuraii.  The clever 80s comedy Trading Places?  Simply a mash-up of The Prince and the Pauper with Pygmalion.  Game of Thrones was one long interpretive retelling of The War of the Roses, and The Warriors a punk era retelling of a BC era take of Greek Warriors overcoming hardships and deception on their way home.

Taking an original concept, adjusting the possibilities, adding flavor, adjusting the setting, simply spiking the punch, that is the essence of creativity.

Here’s a freebie for Tommy to call up friends at Hasbro, see if they don’t have a partner in an incredibly unique game.  You think you’ve played Battleship, right?  You know, that game with the folding dual screens and the little pegs, and little plastic ships?   Add players.  Suddenly you add an element of strategy, We can form alliances to pick off players.  You can add intrigue. The blue player sent me a cue on my controller that he wants to attack green.. he has a price, I need to hand over a Cruiser.. should I deceive my allies and switch sides?  You have new gameplay mechanics, *because* you’re not limited to what everyone can see happening on the tv screen (all controllers can display private information), but all players can see the play field, can see the attacks on each other happening, can visualize the alliances and treachery unfolding.  You can toggle your touchscreen view between up to eight players potential ship locations.. see quickly how each player is doing.  Because the game can track hits on each ship, you can introduce a play mechanic - move ships during turns.  Maybe a hit ship can only move so much.  Maybe an unhit ship has wide open freedom... more maneuverability, more strategy to evolve as the game progresses.  Nobody can cheat - a hit is a hit, and the game doesn’t devolve to sweeping the board looking for enemy ships.

Think that’s all?  How about deploying reconnaissance to help find a ship? But deploying that airplane lets that player know where it departed from... suddenly, like the classic PC game, Walter Bright’s Empire: Wargame of the Century, you have a sense of where the enemy is based on the encounter.  Not only that, but you maybe take a turn to lay naval mines and give up moving your large ships.. that player moving their ships out of harms way hits a mine for damage.. Battleship is getting more dynamic.   Maybe players have a riskier option to send a ship to port for repairs.. they can’t fire with that ship, there are only two or three directions to sneak a ship away from the conflict to port - an adversary could maybe aim at that strait or toward the port escape path and hit a lame duck ship.  Or waste a shot and the player knows who fired at them and generally from where... payback, ees a beech, man.  maybe you have limited repair ships, maybe you can achieve objectives by spending a turn or two as a convoy instead of spreading your assets.  What sort of advantage do submarines bring to this game?  Depth charges and torpedoes?  Can you deplete a carrier based air squadron?

Maybe having already played Battleship supposes it's the same game experience to be had here.

But.... damn if Intellivision couldn't apply a simple, turn based guessing game of naval-themed Go Fish into a moving, real-time, dynamic game of alliances and treachery.  And I think if Intellivision talks to Hasbro, says, “hear us out..”  I think they get excited.  I think they start thinking of how to sell their own game to match enthusiasm, how to incorporate new multiplayer versions. I think Tommy can say, “let’s work together, we’ll throw in a free download code for every proof of purchase/online registration of a Hasbro game you include, and we’ll polish and rework these six titles in ways NOBODY saw coming.”

It may not be your cup of tea, which is totally fair.  But I think reworked games are going to be a very important reason why this thing becomes a success:  take what you know already has appeal, has something fundamentally sound add the critical switch, see what floats and what doesn’t.  Rinse and repeat.

1 hour ago, Serguei2 said:

You try your best to convince anybody Amico will be the best console ever. I can understand that.

 

I'm a kind of player who loves games since NES when you can save games for later or entering passwords. 

 

All Amico games I know so far, Moon Patrol, Breakout, Burgetime. … 

 

Even if they have remade, better backgrounds, more options, more levels, multiplayers, ...

 

They are the same for me. I already played all of them. 

 

Maybe Super Mario 64-like games might me think to buy Amico, with multiplayers of course.

These games would break 7e commandment and I know I won't find these kind of games on your machine.

 

Like you said, Amico is not for everyone.

 

 

They expect that about 75% of the Amico library will not be based on retro titles.  Even those that are could have all new gameplay, as they said the new earthworm jim will be different than previous editions.  So there should be lots of new game ideas.

However, for someone that doesn't have a family and does most of their socializing by going out, it might be less appealing.

31 minutes ago, 1001lives said:

Read your whole post but I am just quoting the end here. Thanks for the long and detailed reply. I won't go back to those sites, it was difficult to sift through the same and almost repeat responses as it was. 

 

I agree completely that these kinds of websites aren't the core audience for Amico. On the repeated comments, I thought it was very interesting to learn what these websites were saying and how frequently they crossed over one another like they all think the same no matter where they post. A week and a half ago I knew nothing about the Amico and if I was not the kind of person to look further into something I would probably be thinking what a lot of these people were thinking (not as brutally though) so it wasn't all completely worthless information. It does help show clear distinctions in mindsets and that these groups are probably a lost cause. Or potential lost marketing dollars $$$ anyways.

 

You have targeted an existing market of non-hardcore gamers, but because people see "video games" they immediately assume it's an Xbox/PS/Nintendo thing, when it's not at all. Gamers weren't this type of hardcore isolationist gamer when Intellivision, Colecovision and Atari 2600 came out and you are focused on that original second gen experience on a modern system with modernized controls and modern features. 

 

Very interested to see where this leads and what new marketing does when it comes up in the summer.

I am impressed you actually went out and did the research on this - that is like 1 out of 100 people (probably way less). The problem with the 4chan crowd (besides the racism, hate speech and child porn) is that they are incapable of projecting beyond their own likes & needs. It is very much "I don't like it so it is stuuupid and nobody should want it!". No empathy, no emotional projection. The biggest reasons I am interested in the Amico (and hope it succeeds) is that whole bringing families together thing. I am not a child psychologist but the parent in me says that learning winning & losing with others in a family bonding situation if far healthier than, say, anonymous online gaming. Might teach kids there is a person (maybe even one they care about) on the other side of that joystick. Maybe if we had more of that we would have less 4chan members. OK philosophical mode OFF.

3 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yep!  Talking to the biggest video game pinball developers on the planet!

 

 

 

How about a pinball game featuring Atari's short-lived pinball division? Wink wink

1 hour ago, Serguei2 said:

You try your best to convince anybody Amico will be the best console ever. I can understand that.

 

I'm a kind of player who loves games since NES when you can save games for later or entering passwords. 

 

All Amico games I know so far, Moon Patrol, Breakout, Burgetime. … 

 

Even if they have remade, better backgrounds, more options, more levels, multiplayers, ...

 

They are the same for me. I already played all of them. 

 

Maybe Super Mario 64-like games might me think to buy Amico, with multiplayers of course.

These games would break 7e commandment and I know I won't find these kind of games on your machine.

 

Like you said, Amico is not for everyone.

I know that not caring about remakes is going to rankle some of the retro fans here (including me, I have a list of games I would love to see remade or extended). But your right, the Amico isn't for everyone. Maybe revisit the available game list after it ships.

15 minutes ago, mr_me said:

They expect that about 75% of the Amico library will not be based on retro titles.  Even those that are could have all new gameplay, as they said the new earthworm jim will be different than previous editions.  So there should be lots of new game ideas.

 

However, for someone that doesn't have a family and does most of their socializing by going out, it might be less appealing.

Touché. I mostly play alone even if sometimes, I play with friends.

22 minutes ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

Ooh, presuming “it’s all the same”... I want to turn your attention to something:

 

The Lion King is a retelling of Hamlet.  Same plot devices, same story arch, same themes.  A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a post-modern retelling of Pinocchio.  The quintessential WWII film, The Guns of Navaronne is a new setting but a rehashing of The Seven Samuraii.  The clever 80s comedy Trading Places?  Simply a mash-up of The Prince and the Pauper with Pygmalion.  Game of Thrones was one long interpretive retelling of The War of the Roses, and The Warriors a punk era retelling of a BC era take of Greek Warriors overcoming hardships and deception on their way home.

 

Taking an original concept, adjusting the possibilities, adding flavor, adjusting the setting, simply spiking the punch, that is the essence of creativity.

 

 

Here’s a freebie for Tommy to call up friends at Hasbro, see if they don’t have a partner in an incredibly unique game.  You think you’ve played Battleship, right?  You know, that game with the folding dual screens and the little pegs, and little plastic ships?   Add players.  Suddenly you add an element of strategy, We can form alliances to pick off players.  You can add intrigue. The blue player sent me a cue on my controller that he wants to attack green.. he has a price, I need to hand over a Cruiser.. should I deceive my allies and switch sides?  You have new gameplay mechanics, *because* you’re not limited to what everyone can see happening on the tv screen (all controllers can display private information), but all players can see the play field, can see the attacks on each other happening, can visualize the alliances and treachery unfolding.  You can toggle your touchscreen view between up to eight players potential ship locations.. see quickly how each player is doing.  Because the game can track hits on each ship, you can introduce a play mechanic - move ships during turns.  Maybe a hit ship can only move so much.  Maybe an unhit ship has wide open freedom... more maneuverability, more strategy to evolve as the game progresses.  Nobody can cheat - a hit is a hit, and the game doesn’t devolve to sweeping the board looking for enemy ships.

 

Think that’s all?  How about deploying reconnaissance to help find a ship? But deploying that airplane lets that player know where it departed from... suddenly, like the classic PC game, Walter Bright’s Empire: Wargame of the Century, you have a sense of where the enemy is based on the encounter.  Not only that, but you maybe take a turn to lay naval mines and give up moving your large ships.. that player moving their ships out of harms way hits a mine for damage.. Battleship is getting more dynamic.   Maybe players have a riskier option to send a ship to port for repairs.. they can’t fire with that ship, there are only two or three directions to sneak a ship away from the conflict to port - an adversary could maybe aim at that strait or toward the port escape path and hit a lame duck ship.  Or waste a shot and the player knows who fired at them and generally from where... payback, ees a beech, man.  maybe you have limited repair ships, maybe you can achieve objectives by spending a turn or two as a convoy instead of spreading your assets.  What sort of advantage do submarines bring to this game?  Depth charges and torpedoes?  Can you deplete a carrier based air squadron?

 

 

Maybe having already played Battleship supposes it's the same game experience to be had here.

 

But.... damn if Intellivision couldn't apply a simple, turn based guessing game of naval-themed Go Fish into a moving, real-time, dynamic game of alliances and treachery.  And I think if Intellivision talks to Hasbro, says, “hear us out..”  I think they get excited.  I think they start thinking of how to sell their own game to match enthusiasm, how to incorporate new multiplayer versions. I think Tommy can say, “let’s work together, we’ll throw in a free download code for every proof of purchase/online registration of a Hasbro game you include, and we’ll polish and rework these six titles in ways NOBODY saw coming.”

 

It may not be your cup of tea, which is totally fair.  But I think reworked games are going to be a very important reason why this thing becomes a success:  take what you know already has appeal, has something fundamentally sound add the critical switch, see what floats and what doesn’t.  Rinse and repeat.

 

 

Giving description is not enough. Any screenshots or even videos to show of these games?

Serguei2, I am afraid you won't receive what you ask for... because it doesn't exist.

You are just another victim of RetroAdvisoryBoard's imagination. And you know? That's a good thing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect he has created those ideas as he was typing. This is why I said that he should make games. After all, art consists in making the imaginary seem real.

As Alan Moore wrote at the beginning of Superman #423, "This is an imaginary story... Aren't they all?".

16 minutes ago, Serguei2 said:

 Game of Thrones was one long interpretive retelling of The War of the Roses, and The Warriors a punk era retelling of a BC era take of Greek Warriors overcoming hardships and deception on their way home.

 

Taking an original concept, adjusting the possibilities, adding flavor, adjusting the setting, simply spiking the punch, that is the essence of creativity.

Wasn't it Aristotle that said there were only 9 original stories in the world, and everything else is an adaptation of those 9 stories?

6 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

Wasn't it Aristotle that said there were only 9 original stories in the world, and everything else is an adaptation of those 9 stories?

And we won't have half of those stories if our ancestors weren't fluent in Klingon

To geek out on the subject check out the work of the late Joseph Campbell on role of myth in society & the universal hero story.

2 hours ago, Serguei2 said:

All Amico games I know so far, Moon Patrol, Breakout, Burgetime. … 

 

Even if they have remade, better backgrounds, more options, more levels, multiplayers, ...

 

They are the same for me. I already played all of them. 

 

Maybe Super Mario 64-like games might me think to buy Amico, with multiplayers of course.

These games would break 7e commandment and I know I won't find these kind of games on your machine.

WHY....... Would you want to Play Super Mario 64????????

You already played Super Mario.   They are all the same to you!

Past weekend was the time ! Time for my 7 years old child ( and a half !), to look at Intellivision Lives.

I have been talking to him since 4 months, about our mission with Amico to re-educate society on video games. To make players rediscover the pleasure of playing together, in the same room. I told him the company that will help to create this revolution was called Intellivision, and they had already produced a console when I was about his age. I had already explained to him that at that time, the graphics were not like today. (He's used to that kind of thing from me, I showed him the James Bond series in order of release on the Big Screen, I have an old computer screen in my basement etc, so he knows that everything changes over time ! lol )

I bought him a t-shirt, and later a hoonie and a mug (He chose the family logo. By the way, the smaller person is it a dog ? ) He is a believer too, and he is really excited.

So like I said, the day has come. I showed him skiing, Shark Shark and really likes them. We tried Auto Racing, Baseball, Hockey and Basketball. (Baseball almost unplayable with a PS2 controller. lol )

And we had great fun, laughting, etc.

But the game he like the most was Snafu (he call it Tron, because we saw the 2010 movie a month ago, and he really likes motorcycles and this particular part in the movie)
For the third day in a row he still play it. I told him Amico will have a stage almost like in Tron ! (I am really looking for all the stages you will create )

And we played Horse Racing. And it was really fun trying to guess who the winner will be, and to yell at each of our horses to go faster when it was tight !  REALLY COOL !

(And my son, Antoine, want me to ask Tommy, what will be the look of our horses with Amico ? Will it be blue, Pink etc, or more natural colors ? lol  He is so cute ! )

Whatever the colors, this game will be magnificient for us. It was one of the most played by me 38 years ago !

We can't wait to have Amico in our possession, and share it with each of our friends. THANK YOU for thinking of this wonderful project !

15 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

Past weekend was the time ! Time for my 7 years old child ( and a half !), to look at Intellivision Lives.

I have been talking to him since 4 months, about our mission with Amico to re-educate society on video games. To make players rediscover the pleasure of playing together, in the same room. I told him the company that will help to create this revolution was called Intellivision, and they had already produced a console when I was about his age. I had already explained to him that at that time, the graphics were not like today. (He's used to that kind of thing from me, I showed him the James Bond series in order of release on the Big Screen, I have an old computer screen in my basement etc, so he knows that everything changes over time ! lol )

I bought him a t-shirt, and later a hoonie and a mug (He chose the family logo. By the way, the smaller person is it a dog ? ) He is a believer too, and he is really excited.

 

So like I said, the day has come. I showed him skiing, Shark Shark and really likes them. We tried Auto Racing, Baseball, Hockey and Basketball. (Baseball almost unplayable with a PS2 controller. lol )

And we had great fun, laughting, etc.

But the game he like the most was Snafu (he call it Tron, because we saw the 2010 movie a month ago, and he really likes motorcycles and this particular part in the movie)
For the third day in a row he still play it. I told him Amico will have a stage almost like in Tron ! (I am really looking for all the stages you will create )

And we played Horse Racing. And it was really fun trying to guess who the winner will be, and to yell at each of our horses to go faster when it was tight !  REALLY COOL !

(And my son, Antoine, want me to ask Tommy, what will be the look of our horses with Amico ? Will it be blue, Pink etc, or more natural colors ? lol  He is so cute ! )

Whatever the colors, this game will be magnificient for us. It was one of the most played by me 38 years ago !

 

We can't wait to have Amico in our possession, and share it with each of our friends. THANK YOU for thinking of this wonderful project !

 

 

 

Awesome story.  You need to get him hooked on Frog Bog.  That's the best game to play 2 - player with a 7 year old other than Snafu and Shark Shark.  

So much fun.  Enjoy these years!  

1 hour ago, 1980gamer said:

WHY....... Would you want to Play Super Mario 64????????

 

You already played Super Mario.   They are all the same to you!

True. And it's funnier exploring worlds in 3D.

1 hour ago, IntelliMission said:

Serguei2, I am afraid you won't receive what you ask for... because it doesn't exist.

 

You are just another victim of RetroAdvisoryBoard's imagination. And you know? That's a good thing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect he has created those ideas as he was typing. This is why I said that he should make games. After all, art consists in making the imaginary seem real.

 

As Alan Moore wrote at the beginning of Superman #423, "This is an imaginary story... Aren't they all?".

And I can tell you guys, your are stuck in 2D worlds likes if we still are in 1980s.

43 minutes ago, IMBerzerk said:

... I told him the company that will help to create this revolution was called Intellivision, and they had already produced a console when I was about his age. ...

The company that created the console you had as a kid is Mattel Toys (aka Mattel Electronics).

Your son might like Triple Action Biplanes, learning to fly those planes is really satisfying.  And NASL Soccer was one of my favourite sports cartridges.

I know online multiplayer is not their focus but if one day Intellivision Entertainment implements online multiplayer in their intellivision emulator it will be a real service to old intellivision fans.

12 minutes ago, Serguei2 said:

True. And it's funnier exploring worlds in 3D.

 

And I can tell you guys, your are stuck in 2D worlds likes if we still are in 1980s.

You have 3 game systems and PC/Steam to get all the 3D games you want. Why must this one be also? 

And so what if it's 1980s style gaming? You act like a good game gets outdated and should expire.

"Oh' that Chess! It's soooo 6th Century!🙄"

I was thinking about properties that could be turned into games that could be fun for kids to adults.   Garbage pail  kids. Would be interesting and hilarious gross out fun.  What about a crossover  garbage pail kids meets boogerman? 

Tommy the possibilities are endless   .  Earthworm jim vs the garbage pail kids 

4 hours ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

Here’s a freebie for Tommy to call up friends at Hasbro, see if they don’t have a partner in an incredibly unique game.  You think you’ve played Battleship, right?  You know, that game with the folding dual screens and the little pegs, and little plastic ships?   Add players.  Suddenly you add an element of strategy, We can form alliances to pick off players.  You can add intrigue. The blue player sent me a cue on my controller that he wants to attack green.. he has a price, I need to hand over a Cruiser.. should I deceive my allies and switch sides?  You have new gameplay mechanics, *because* you’re not limited to what everyone can see happening on the tv screen (all controllers can display private information), but all players can see the play field, can see the attacks on each other happening, can visualize the alliances and treachery unfolding.  You can toggle your touchscreen view between up to eight players potential ship locations.. see quickly how each player is doing.  Because the game can track hits on each ship, you can introduce a play mechanic - move ships during turns.  Maybe a hit ship can only move so much.  Maybe an unhit ship has wide open freedom... more maneuverability, more strategy to evolve as the game progresses.  Nobody can cheat - a hit is a hit, and the game doesn’t devolve to sweeping the board looking for enemy ships.

Diplomacy anyone? That's a good for one family night.

Or Ticket To Ride. With moving trains. 🚂

1 hour ago, mr_me said:

2 hours ago, IMBerzerk said:

... I told him the company that will help to create this revolution was called Intellivision, and they had already produced a console when I was about his age. ...

The company that created the console you had as a kid is Mattel Toys (aka Mattel Electronics).

 

Your son might like Triple Action Biplanes, learning to fly those planes is really satisfying.  And NASL Soccer was one of my favourite sports cartridges.

Yes I know, but I did not go into details with him. It was an introduction.

I don't think Triple Action Biplanes are available with Intellivision Lives ? Is it ?

I forgot to say that the first two games we played was Astrosmash and Space Armada (One player). A few minutes of Night Stalker, and telling him that I hope the ennemy will not appear always at the same place with Amico ! lol

I would have really like to show him Burger Time, Lock N Chase and Moon Patrol, but they are nowhere to be found, I don't know why.

Great 'card' game, Coup. It's a cool BS game in which you are trying to overthrow the other players. You only get two cards. Plays well with a group.

2 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

Great 'card' game, Coup. It's a cool BS game in which you are trying to overthrow the other players. You only get two cards. Plays well with a group.

Fire & Smoke! 3 black cards, they say "smoke". First red card, they say "fire". Then you flick the rest of the cards in his face & make him pick them up! Game Over.😈