Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

2 minutes ago, IntelliMission said:

I don't think activeaction is a hater, I think he's just a bit immature to say "your console will fail just like the first Intellivision!" in that chat. He could have used other words.

 

The other user, Resvrgam, was not a hater either. He seemed quite interested in the machine.

 

However, their arguments seem a bit poor:

 

1) You can't rely solely on focus testing because John Ford said that, if he had listened to people, he would have made faster horses instead of cars? So what is the alternative to that? And can we use that mentality after so many decades? Well, we can't, because Henry Ford never said that, it was a misquote from a 1999 book.

 

2) The Intellivision was outsold by Atari 10 to 1 because people didn't like the controller? Again, I wonder where are the surveys that prove this. Of course, most of you know more about those console wars and hopefully can help clarify this: What was the main reason why Atari won by that huge margin?

 

I will continue with the interview, looking forward for that M-Rated debate.

I'd tend to think  atari having a 2+ year  head start being much cheaper was def in the ataris favor.  And mattelgetting out at the time  didnt help.   I'm sure if you switch the 2 release dates with same specs and design  intellivision would destroy atari at that point . 

6 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Officially, the transaction will happen on PayPal (via PayPal account or credit card) as that is the most secure.  But yes... you will start at a special hidden page on our website that only folks on the Mailing List will see first.

If there are any left over... we'll eventually post on Social Media a few days later.

 

 

Tommy the mail to the mailing list receivers will be sent with adequate advance in order to be sure that they will have the link to the secret page at the preorder starting time?

Can only one console be purchased per person? Have you thought about how to limit the phenomenon of accumulators and jackals?

47 minutes ago, IntelliMission said:

I don't think activeaction is a hater, I think he's just a bit immature to say "your console will fail just like the first Intellivision!" in that chat. He could have used other words.

 

The other user, Resvrgam, was not a hater either. He seemed quite interested in the machine.

 

However, their arguments seem a bit poor:

 

1) You can't rely solely on focus testing because John Ford said that, if he had listened to people, he would have made faster horses instead of cars? So what is the alternative to that? And can we use that mentality after so many decades? Well, we can't, because Henry Ford never said that, it was a misquote from a 1999 book.

 

2) The Intellivision was outsold by Atari 10 to 1 because people didn't like the controller? Again, I wonder where are the surveys that prove this. Of course, most of you know more about those console wars and hopefully can help clarify this: What was the main reason why Atari won by that huge margin?

 

I will continue with the interview, looking forward for that M-Rated debate.

The focus testing point doesn't make sense.  They didn't design the amico controller based on focus testing they designed the controller first and then tested response to it.  It didn't change much.

In 1981-82, the atari 2600 outsold the intellivision about 4:1.  Atari fans did make a big deal about joysticks but most intellivision owners loved their disc controllers.  Atari was about half the price and had the big arcade licenses.  Despite all that Mattel took market share from Atari.  So in that sense Mattel was winning. The Intellivision chip set wasn't viable in 1977 just as colevovision's 17kB ram wasn't viable in 1980.  Atari had pacman vs coleco's donkey kong in 1982 but they managed to really screw that up.  Both Atari and Mattel got out at about the same time in 1984.

1 hour ago, popsicle said:

About the control in Night Stalker (pardon if this has already been addressed) - I see rays of color extending from the players in directions. Can I assume this is how players aim (spinning the disc) while pressing the disc is movement?

It looks to me this is the case, it is where the player is “looking” and therefore shootout. I suspect you will move with the disc and on the screen there will be another disc per day that you just glide you thumb on the screen and it shoots in that direction.  Like a twin stick shooter such as robotron 

I just finished watching that interview on YouTube. I thought it was great! Tommy, you answered all of my questions and many more that I didn't even know I had! 😅

I never owned an Intellivision when I was a kid - I had an Atari in 1979. I remember seeing the Intellivision in stores and thinking that the graphics were awesome but I could never figure out the controller. It always look like a telephone to me. I find it a bit amusing now, that the brand new intellivision controller also looks like a modern-day phone 🤣 but I think it is a wonderful idea and I love what you going to do with Yahtzee and can't wait to see the other surprises.  I'm really looking forward to some of the re-imagined classic games and also playing some original games. Some of them I remember seeing when I was a kid but didn't get to play them. I heard mention of a dungeons & dragons game, and now my imagination is just running away with me. I am so looking forward to that. 😅👍  I do have one question

aboutthe dev kit. Now, I'm not a game developer, I'm not an artist, I'm not a musician, so I'm not going to be creating indie games for the console. However I am very interested in dabbling and I wondered will there be a way for me to write my little game just for myself and upload it to my console so that I can try it out without having to publish it? Anyways I can't wait until Monday,. I'm going to have my finger on the mouse button ready to submit my $100 order for the wood grain console hoping that I become one of the lucky 2600. 💯👍😎🕹️

20 minutes ago, xucaen said:

I just finished watching that interview on YouTube. I thought it was great! Tommy, you answered all of my questions and many more that I didn't even know I had! 😅

I never owned an Intellivision when I was a kid - I had an Atari in 1979. I remember seeing the Intellivision in stores and thinking that the graphics were awesome but I could never figure out the controller. It always look like a telephone to me. I find it a bit amusing now, that the brand new intellivision controller also looks like a modern-day phone 🤣 but I think it is a wonderful idea and I love what you going to do with Yahtzee and can't wait to see the other surprises.  I'm really looking forward to some of the re-imagined classic games and also playing some original games. Some of them I remember seeing when I was a kid but didn't get to play them. I heard mention of a dungeons & dragons game, and now my imagination is just running away with me. I am so looking forward to that. 😅👍  I do have one question

aboutthe dev kit. Now, I'm not a game developer, I'm not an artist, I'm not a musician, so I'm not going to be creating indie games for the console. However I am very interested in dabbling and I wondered will there be a way for me to write my little game just for myself and upload it to my console so that I can try it out without having to publish it? Anyways I can't wait until Monday,. I'm going to have my finger on the mouse button ready to submit my $100 order for the wood grain console hoping that I become one of the lucky 2600. 💯👍😎🕹️

I do know that early on Intellivision was considering coming out with a program for the system where you can create games and there was talk of having different age groups and the winners for each age group would be available to be on the system but I don’t know if that’s been decided on yet 

39 minutes ago, xucaen said:

I just finished watching that interview on YouTube. I thought it was great! Tommy, you answered all of my questions and many more that I didn't even know I had! 😅

I never owned an Intellivision when I was a kid - I had an Atari in 1979. I remember seeing the Intellivision in stores and thinking that the graphics were awesome but I could never figure out the controller. It always look like a telephone to me. I find it a bit amusing now, that the brand new intellivision controller also looks like a modern-day phone 🤣 but I think it is a wonderful idea and I love what you going to do with Yahtzee and can't wait to see the other surprises.  I'm really looking forward to some of the re-imagined classic games and also playing some original games. Some of them I remember seeing when I was a kid but didn't get to play them. I heard mention of a dungeons & dragons game, and now my imagination is just running away with me. I am so looking forward to that. 😅👍  I do have one question

aboutthe dev kit. Now, I'm not a game developer, I'm not an artist, I'm not a musician, so I'm not going to be creating indie games for the console. However I am very interested in dabbling and I wondered will there be a way for me to write my little game just for myself and upload it to my console so that I can try it out without having to publish it? Anyways I can't wait until Monday,. I'm going to have my finger on the mouse button ready to submit my $100 order for the wood grain console hoping that I become one of the lucky 2600. 💯👍😎🕹️

can you provide a link as not sure what interview your refer to - cheers

Doesn't look like I'm able to post an animated .gif, but for those on Facebook & Twitter... I just posted an animated mock up of the Founders Edition poster. 

Here's a still .jpg...

I've heard there will be corn hole and lawn darts as yard games. Will you be doing ladder-ball, aka ladder golf, as well, Tommy?

On 1/25/2020 at 6:27 AM, GrudgeQ said:

And it is live:

 

Holy crap this looks fun. I hereby rescind my Amico development application. I can't compete with that. Maybe one day... but for now I'll stick to playing Amico. lol

2 hours ago, popsicle said:

About the control in Night Stalker (pardon if this has already been addressed) - I see rays of color extending from the players in directions. Can I assume this is how players aim (spinning the disc) while pressing the disc is movement?

Fantastic observation!  I was waiting for someone to notice and bring it up!  

There are a number of different ways to use the controller for Night Stalker.  Including a really cool way we haven't revealed yet (hurry up E3!!)  

In the way some of us were playing in that demo... you can use the touch screen as the fire button.  Wherever you tap on the screen... it fires in that direction.  Disc is to move the character. 

BUT!!  If you hold down on the touch screen... it shoots out that color ray so you can use it as a target sniper direction... then... we you release the screen it then fires a single shot (which you'll see in the demo).

A bit more accurate shots and a different way to shoot... even on the same screen.

Also important to note that in the demo you won't see folks bumping into walls or shooting wildly at nothing.  So it must mean the controls are pretty good.  In fact... one of the people playing was our new intern (who is helping with programming the Amico Club app) and had never played the game before we started recording it.

There are other ways to control the characters as well. 

7 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Doesn't look like I'm able to post an animated .gif, but for those on Facebook & Twitter... I just posted an animated mock up of the Founders Edition poster. 

 

Is going to be big? Normal size poster?

1 minute ago, ColdCoffee said:

Is going to be big? Normal size poster?

11x17

8 minutes ago, Swami said:

I've heard there will be corn hole and lawn darts as yard games. Will you be doing ladder-ball, aka ladder golf, as well, Tommy?

 

 

 

What the crap!?!  I've never seen that one before!

37 minutes ago, Alpha82 said:

I do know that early on Intellivision was considering coming out with a program for the system where you can create games and there was talk of having different age groups and the winners for each age group would be available to be on the system but I don’t know if that’s been decided on yet 

Still looking into it.  Not sure if it will be on launch.  So many ideas!!  So little time!

On 1/24/2020 at 5:48 PM, Tommy Tallarico said:

I figured a lot of folks around here would recognize it. 

 

I get the lights flashing at the top, but is there something I'm not picking up with the orange oscilloscope?

Thinking about the lights at the top - is there a reason all games had those? Sorry if this is obvious... I never was fortunate to have owned the original. 

2 hours ago, MonsterSky said:

Tommy the mail to the mailing list receivers will be sent with adequate advance in order to be sure that they will have the link to the secret page at the preorder starting time?

 

Can only one console be purchased per person? Have you thought about how to limit the phenomenon of accumulators and jackals?

Yes for the e-mail questions.

In regards to console purchasing... yes... we will be keeping an eye on it.  If we see massive multiple orders then we will limit that person.  The idea is for everyone to get one... but they should have the ability to buy a few for family and friends as well.  I'd say 3 or 4 should be the limit.

 

3 minutes ago, Amico - Tony said:

I get the lights flashing at the top, but is there something I'm not picking up with the orange oscilloscope?

 

Thinking about the lights at the top - is there a reason all games had those? Sorry if this is obvious... I never was fortunate to have owned the original. 

Referring to just the lights at the top.  Kinda looks like the original Intellivision title screens.   

Just had a thought - Overcooked on the Amico. 4 players!

2 hours ago, Nolagamer said:

I'm sure if you switch the 2 release dates with same specs and design  intellivision would destroy atari at that point . 

Kinda like what's going to happen this year?

😝

1 minute ago, Amico - Tony said:

Just had a thought - Overcooked on the Amico. 4 players!

Yep.  Overcooked and Castle Crashers.  Both on the "to do" list.  Would add some features and incorporate touchscreen if we can strike a deal.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

What the crap!?!  I've never seen that one before!

 

 

Relatively new (1990s) but has become pretty popular, much like corn hole, except a decade or two later. Like many lawn games, it has a slight lower-class connotation, sometimes called red-neck golf or hillbilly golf, but, as stated in this article, seems to have started in campground. It's become quite popular since commercial version became available ~2005.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladder_toss

Speaking of all these lawn games hope we get a cool croquet game, each ball could reflect colors on the Amico controller. Lots of possibilities I’m sure.

As long as Intellivision has the D&D license, how about an Amico version of the classic board game Dungeon!

Some quick questions :

1) Will it be possible with Amico to have some kind of stats about how many hours are played for each games each days/weeks/month ?

    When I was young, I really enjoyed keeping this kind of statistics, and I ranked my most played games during the month!   lol

2) Will it be possible to adjust the volume of the music versus the special effects ? I really like that music for Night Stalker I want to pump up the music volume ! 😉

3) When should we have the next video ? 😅

Thank you.