Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

4 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

Maybe they want to show the world they have something under the hood ?

I hope that's the case! Would make sense.

1 hour ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

Schools.  Hospitals.  Assisted Living homes.  Daycares and Aftercare programs.  Community Centers and Rec Halls.  Libraries.  YMCAs.  Churches, synagogues, and mosques.

Speaking of churches, synagogues, and mosques, ...

 

Are religious games allowed even if they are multiplayers and originals?

Now the first SOB who says VR is a passing fad, the gloves are off, let me at them!

For guys like me... until they can make it so I don’t have instant nausea and vomiting, I’m out of the VR game.



•Sent from my Intellivision keypad phone

3 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

No.  Not Armor Battle. 

We actually tried the rotating turret (Paul can attest to this) and it was just too difficult for folks to control.  The way we have it working now is pretty awesome and really fun to play.  ESPECIALLY (of course) in versus mode!  

 

 

But what if you had a mode where 2,3 or 4 teams of 2 competed on screen.  One person controlled the tank and the other person controlled the turret? It would be part co-op and part competitive.

 

4 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

No.  Not Armor Battle. 

We actually tried the rotating turret (Paul can attest to this) and it was just too difficult for folks to control.  The way we have it working now is pretty awesome and really fun to play.  ESPECIALLY (of course) in versus mode!  

I like the top-down look of Amico Armour Battle, it looks great.  Mattel was often going for a 3D look but it didn't always work too well.

 

I use to think of how you could control the tank and turret with an intellivision controller.  I figured it would be like directing a driver and gunner with bearings using the disc, pressing a side button to toggle between them.  Simply point in the direction you want to aim the tank or gun.  A keypad column to control engine speed, swiping in the Amico version.  The Amico version could have another more hands-on mode where two people operate one tank.  No harm having multiple modes including one with a fixed gun.

Edited January 16, 2020 by mr_me

20 minutes ago, mr_me said:

 

I like the top-down look of Amico Armour Battle, it looks great.  Mattel was often going for a 3D look but it didn't always work too well.

 

I use to think of how you could control the tank and turret with an intellivision controller.  I figured it would be like directing a driver and gunner with bearings using the disc, pressing a side button to toggle between them.  Simply point in the direction you want to aim the tank or gun.  A keypad column to control engine speed, swiping in the Amico version.  The Amico version could have another more hands-on mode where two people operate one tank.  No harm having multiple modes including one with a fixed gun.

No one dared try to port Tron Arcade until the dual analog came along and it sounds like the fully functional Armor Battle is more complex with analog-ish speed. I couldn’t see Tron Arcade working on a single Amico controller, though. It has the functionalities, but i think it would take three hands. You might be able to use the disk as a spinner while pressing it as a fire, but that seems awkward. I think the only way it would work for one player is autofire, then disk for direction and touchscreen for rotate or vice versa. 

I think you could do arcade Tron with the horizontal Amico controller.  The disc moves the tank/tron.  Swipe the touchpad to rotate the turret/arm, and a shoulder button to fire.  Not as good as having a trigger on the joystick but probably better than dual analog.  Not a fan of arcade Tron anyway.  Was it ever in an official home collection?

Edited January 16, 2020 by mr_me

24 minutes ago, mr_me said:

I think you could do arcade Tron with the horizontal Amico controller.  The disc moves the tank/tron.  Swipe the touchpad to rotate the turret/arm, and a shoulder button to fire.  Not as good as having a trigger on the joystick but probably better than dual analog.  Not a fan of arcade Tron anyway.  Was it ever in an official home collection?

Xbox live arcade was the only port, I think. 

2 hours ago, mr_me said:

I think you could do arcade Tron with the horizontal Amico controller.  The disc moves the tank/tron.  Swipe the touchpad to rotate the turret/arm, and a shoulder button to fire.  Not as good as having a trigger on the joystick but probably better than dual analog.  Not a fan of arcade Tron anyway.  Was it ever in an official home collection?

TRON was one of my favorite arcade games when I was a teen, but that was a bit of a tangent...

I think you could do the analog-ish Armor Battle with one player or two the way you describe. Rotate turret with disk, move finger up on screen for speed forward and down to reduce speed, one button for fire and other for reverse, you could even do split screen for individual tank tracks, but I think you'd have 1-speed tanks then.. I like the rotating turret tank games and twin stick tank games like Battlezone and Assault.

The amazing, 4 hour interview/live chat with Tommy has been uploaded to Youtube: The NLG Show Ep. 184: An Evening with Tommy Tallarico!

 

Tommy reveals several exclusives about the new games. In only a few minutes (one at the start at the other around the 50 minute mark, where I started watching due to an initial error in Youtube), he mentioned two:

 

- Several of the original EWJ programmers are working in the new Astro Smash.

- IE is talking with the MLB for the Baseball game.

 

There are probably a few more in the 3h30min that I still haven't watched.

 

The hype for this console is getting bigger and bigger. 👏

Edited January 17, 2020 by IntelliMission

4 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

The amazing, 4 hour interview/live chat with Tommy has been uploaded to Youtube: The NLG Show Ep. 184: An Evening with Tommy Tallarico!

 

Tommy reveals several exclusives about the new games. In only a few minutes (one at the start at the other around the 50 minute mark, where I started watching due to an initial error in Youtube), he mentioned two:

 

- Several of the original EWJ programmers are working in the new Astro Smash.

- IE is talking with the MLB for the Baseball game.

 

There are probably a few more in the 3h30min that I still haven't watched.

 

The hype for this console is getting bigger and bigger. 👏

Yeah!  I probably revealed about 7 or 8 things throughout the interview that I've never spoken about (sorry about the length... I was on a roll)  Hahahahha!

 

It shows the final console design which has never been revealed.  It's slightly different than all the other ones.

 

 

I am most intrigued by bocce. . .myself and a friend have talked about setting up a bocce court at our favorite watering hole. Being in Illinois, in the winter, this will give us the opportunity to play inside, too. But I don't know much about the lawn game yet. But I'm sure a game will be a big help along the way.

I want to see the final console design ! What timestamp?

1 minute ago, 1001lives said:

I want to see the final console design ! What timestamp?

26:51

20 hours ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

Schools.  Hospitals.  Assisted Living homes.  Daycares and Aftercare programs.  Community Centers and Rec Halls.  Libraries.  YMCAs.  Churches, synagogues, and mosques.   

 

Build a community-focused machine and it's pretty apparent how well it fits in different communal settings.  Edutainment, edutainment Tommy tells us.  That won't go over well with local communities looking to make smart purchase decisions for children, for families, or purse-holders making funding decisions about how to spend Medicaid and Medicare dollars on things that enhance "community integration" and "socialization".  Not at all.

 

And a Karma engine/game design principle to assist players and level the playing field, making accessibility, inclusiveness and shared experiences paramount?  There are so many angles and narratives to this system and how it could find success. 

So wait... you're saying that other people besides a handful of 50 year old retro Intellivision fans would be interested in that?  HA!  You must be a blind fanboy cultists or something.

 

 

20 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

If anyone is interested, the official Amico history on the Internet begins in 29th May, 2018 with Dean Takahashi interviewing Tommy on Venture Beat.

That's true!  It's the very first story that was ever done.  Dean has been very good to us and has seen the vision from the beginning.  He's a family man and really understands the need for this.

 

19 hours ago, LePionnier said:

Sure. I will be first buyer in line.

Also, can be on Disney instead of Netflix ! 😉

Good point.  

 

 

19 hours ago, 1001lives said:

Just going to be honest... This is hideous.

 

https://wccftech.com/crystal-clear-atari-vcs-spotted-at-ces-2020-with-memory-by-kingston/

 

What were they thinking ? The top ridges do not do any favors for the clear plastic... Usually old translucent consoles were smoky, not totally transparent like this.

 

"Please do not touch" is that there so the motherboard doesn't rattle around...? 🤡

I don't think the clear versions would ever be released.  I think maybe they were trying to show the guts inside and how it all looks.  That's my best guess anyway.

In the interview from last night they ask me about the AtariVCS and I give them my honest opinion. 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 17, 2020 by Tommy Tallarico

19 hours ago, Serguei2 said:

Speaking of churches, synagogues, and mosques, ...

 

Are religious games allowed even if they are multiplayers and originals?

Yes.  But limited in what they are exactly.  A message of peace and love is okay.  A message of "JOIN US IN THE PROMISED LAND!" not so much. 

 

😇

🙏

Edited January 17, 2020 by Tommy Tallarico

19 hours ago, nurmix said:

 

For guys like me... until they can make it so I don’t have instant nausea and vomiting, I’m out of the AtariVCS game.
 

 

 

🤮

FIXED!!!


😋

Edited January 17, 2020 by Tommy Tallarico

That guy on Youtube said the controller is like a Dreamcast VMU... I could see that. But VMU wasn't really utilized properly IMO...

Edited January 17, 2020 by 1001lives

17 hours ago, insertclevernamehere said:

But what if you had a mode where 2,3 or 4 teams of 2 competed on screen.  One person controlled the tank and the other person controlled the turret? It would be part co-op and part competitive.

That's a great idea!!  We'll try to get that in to see how it plays. 

 

 

17 hours ago, mr_me said:

 

I like the top-down look of Amico Armour Battle, it looks great.  Mattel was often going for a 3D look but it didn't always work too well.

 

I use to think of how you could control the tank and turret with an intellivision controller.  I figured it would be like directing a driver and gunner with bearings using the disc, pressing a side button to toggle between them.  Simply point in the direction you want to aim the tank or gun.  A keypad column to control engine speed, swiping in the Amico version.  The Amico version could have another more hands-on mode where two people operate one tank.  No harm having multiple modes including one with a fixed gun.

Having the touchscreen work similar to an analog stick for movement is pretty cool.

 

6 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

The amazing, 4 hour interview/live chat with Tommy has been uploaded to Youtube: The NLG Show Ep. 184: An Evening with Tommy Tallarico!

 

Tommy reveals several exclusives about the new games. In only a few minutes (one at the start at the other around the 50 minute mark, where I started watching due to an initial error in Youtube), he mentioned two:

 

- Several of the original EWJ programmers are working in the new Astro Smash.

- IE is talking with the MLB for the Baseball game.

 

There are probably a few more in the 3h30min that I still haven't watched.

 

The hype for this console is getting bigger and bigger. 👏

Of course the first comment was negative:  "You're not going to break into the family/mainstream market. You're much better off going for retro collectors."

Says the person who I'm assuming doesn't have kids.

 

I answered him politely as usually... but mind boggling that anyone can listen to that interview for 4 hours and walk away with that impression.

51 minutes ago, squirrelgotdead said:

I am most intrigued by bocce. . .myself and a friend have talked about setting up a bocce court at our favorite watering hole. Being in Illinois, in the winter, this will give us the opportunity to play inside, too. But I don't know much about the lawn game yet. But I'm sure a game will be a big help along the way.

Being 100% Italian I can tell you that Bocce is pretty cool. 

It's similar to shuffleboard... BUT WITH BALLS!

Yeah... people dismiss the fact that a lot of recreational sports can't be played in most places for 4 to 5 months out of the year.  And those months are when most family gatherings occur!  Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah, New Year's, etc.  Having simple fun access in your living room to outdoor type family games like horseshoes, cornhole, bocce, shuffleboard, etc. is going to make Amico very special and very attractive to folks. 

Something that most people completely overlook, but I've been focusing on since the beginning.

 

 

Edited January 17, 2020 by Tommy Tallarico