Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

6 hours ago, RREDDWARFF said:

Tommy, you should make trading cards of you and the rest of the Amico team.

 

With a stick of bubble gum of course. 

 

We actually just did that with the Earthworm Jim team for the Earthworm Jim comic book!  They came out really cool.  We even signed 500 of them.  A few of the folks in the office got the comic and got a signed card by me in their packs... they've been teasing me ever since. 

5 hours ago, AtariSociety said:

Intellivision Amico Founders Edition Order Day.

Did You Order Yours?

I did and here is my video story about my purchase.

TJ

https://youtu.be/TBZqH80ACtM

Hahahaha!  That was epic!  Creepy funny at first... which what made it so hilarious!  

Loved your reaction to seeing the new games!  I was smiling from ear to ear!

The only thing missing was one of those sleeping night cap thingies!  I guess I'm just used to seeing you in the Santa hat so was kinda expecting it as this point.  

4 hours ago, MarioMan88 said:

Haha oh they’ll be a few on eBay for sure. From the way Tommy talks on here I don’t think he minds...kinda builds excitement for the machine and will be another free marketing tool.

Exactly!  It's a huge win for us if they are scarce by Christmas and folks are selling (and buying!) them on Ebay for $500 - $700 or whatever. 

 

Congratulations to the whole team.

Tommy, have you thought about creating a template so that we can print and distribute cards similar to business cards ?

I am a basketball and baseball coach (amateur). At the end of each season all childrens from all teams have participation prizes.

Example : 2 for 1 for an ice cream, small discount for an outing to laser games, etc.

We could included the Amico Card ! (the parents are with them when they receive their prizes at the end of the tournament).

I don't want to design the card myself because I know that the presentation and the message are important.

Just a thought ! 😊

Tommy - big fan of what you're doing and am happy to support the project.  You and the folks at Intellivision just seem to 'get' it.  Initally I backed the VCS, but bailed after the ensuing sh*t show with with all the faked gameplay footage and photoshopped contollers.  Plus I dont think Atari (I use the term loosely!) have any idea or clue what their system is supposed to be.  One day its a computer, the next day its an indie game platform.  The next a retro gaming machine.  You guys seem to have not only a concrete plan for this thing, but also a clear vision...and more importantly passion!  Good grief every interview with the Atari folks feels like its being conducted inside a funeral parlor.  

I just wanted something 'simple' I could pick up and play after work with the kids (maybe even the wife!) and not have to worry about installing freaking Windows or Linux.  Having grown up through Atari, NES, Sega, PSX...each generation of machines adds more buttons and joysticks to the controller that half the time I dont even know what the hell I'm pressing any more.  Not to sound like some cranky old fart but for casual folks like me this is 'exactly' the system I've been waiting for, for years.  I hope this thing is a smashing success and I look forward to getting the founders edition before 10/10.  

Best wishes!

53 minutes ago, bonehead said:

Tommy - big fan of what you're doing and am happy to support the project.  You and the folks at Intellivision just seem to 'get' it.  Initally I backed the VCS, but bailed after the ensuing sh*t show with with all the faked gameplay footage and photoshopped contollers.  Plus I dont think Atari (I use the term loosely!) have any idea or clue what their system is supposed to be.  One day its a computer, the next day its an indie game platform.  The next a retro gaming machine.  You guys seem to have not only a concrete plan for this thing, but also a clear vision...and more importantly passion!  Good grief every interview with the Atari folks feels like its being conducted inside a funeral parlor.  

 

I just wanted something 'simple' I could pick up and play after work with the kids (maybe even the wife!) and not have to worry about installing freaking Windows or Linux.  Having grown up through Atari, NES, Sega, PSX...each generation of machines adds more buttons and joysticks to the controller that half the time I dont even know what the hell I'm pressing any more.  Not to sound like some cranky old fart but for casual folks like me this is 'exactly' the system I've been waiting for, for years.  I hope this thing is a smashing success and I look forward to getting the founders edition before 10/10.  

 

Best wishes!

I resemble this remark. Except for the casual part. I just built my own arcade stick for my Vader. To play Berzerk. I was sold on Amico before, but after the video of Nightstalker, I was caught hook, line, and sinker.

7 hours ago, fiudr said:

I was referring to the Atari VCS base model actually. Though the ColecoVision Phoenix retro machine doesn't include a controller either (and doesn't offer one - you have to supply your own).

 

That in of itself is complete BS.  It makes no sense to not include a controller, retro machine or not!  Glad I waited for the Amico as my next console because it will be worth the wait!  FYI, the last console I owned was a PS1.  I almost bought a Wii, but decided against it.  2020 will be the year for me to get back into modern gaming!

9 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

YO EVERYONE!!!

I'm happy to report that we completely SOLD OUT of all 2600 units in just under 6 hours!

We've had over 10,000 people join up to our mailing list over the past week and not a single dime was spent on advertising the Founders Edition and we didn't even post the link on social media til there was less than 50 units left.  We only did that because some folks were saying they never got the e-mail (probably in SPAM)... so only thought it was fair to post the link at the very end. 

Confirmation e-mails will be going out tomorrow morning.

Absolute HUGE success and everyone in the office has been hugging, high fiving and fist bumping all day.

I just wanted to personally thank everyone in here for being so supportive and helping us spread the word... especially over the past few weeks.

 

Looking forward to the next genius who tells us there is no market for what we're doing. 

Leaving for the Middle East tomorrow... looks like there are a TON of pages today.  Will try to get to as many as I can.

Thank-you everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Congratulations.

Yes, congrats to Tommy and the entire IE team on selling the units out!

Considering how fast the Founders Edition has sold out, I suddenly feel almost relieved that the Intellivision brand is not well-known in Spain. Hopefully I will even be able to choose a nice color on day one.

By the way, more good news for the Amico: US-China trade agreement lowers the cost of next-gen consoles, but not board games

Here's another question for Tommy (or anyone that can answer!): Can you provide a link to the famous study that found out 80% of gamers were women?

Women do not make 80% of gamers.  That's probably about a 50-50 split.  It's likely that women are responsible for 80% of the money spent on video games.

Or perhaps women/girls make up 80% of what's played on a cell phone? Now that I can (and do) see. Betwixt all the texting and Facebooking that is.   

4 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Hahahaha!  That was epic!  Creepy funny at first... which what made it so hilarious!  

 

Loved your reaction to seeing the new games!  I was smiling from ear to ear!

 

The only thing missing was one of those sleeping night cap thingies!  I guess I'm just used to seeing you in the Santa hat so was kinda expecting it as this point.  

 

 

Thanks.... yeh I figured I would make the beginning a WTH is going on but can't look away... until I snatch them in!  buhahahaha.

Yeh, I sure need a nightcap... I am quite balding in my 50s now... but sure can grow a beard!  

btw... lucky for you all I had a night-shirt on.  hahaha

Enjoy your show overseas!

TJ

2 hours ago, atarifan88 said:

That in of itself is complete BS.  It makes no sense to not include a controller, retro machine or not!  Glad I waited for the Amico as my next console because it will be worth the wait!  FYI, the last console I owned was a PS1.  I almost bought a Wii, but decided against it.  2020 will be the year for me to get back into modern gaming!

As I was informed earlier, apparently you can get a compatible Snes controller with the ColecoVision Phoenix. They don't make a ColecoVision controller currently. As far as the Atari, yeah, the base system should definitely include a joystick or controller. There are different options where you can buy the system with the joystick or controller, but the price is the same as if you bought the console and controller separately. So no matter what you're buying the controllers on top of the console.

Just wait for your Sixties TJ.  You'll still lose hair you wanted to keep but you will start growing hair in places you never thought was possible.

35 minutes ago, AtariSociety said:

I am quite balding in my 50s now... but sure can grow a beard!  

TJ

11 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

We sold just over 1,000 units in under 5 minutes!

By the 15 minute mark we had sold around 1,500.

So I should have a number between 1000 and 1500 !

I had trouble with my zip code (Canada, I think the site thought I was from France !).

I tried different Browser and finally it worked !

1 hour ago, mr_me said:

Women do not make 80% of gamers.  That's probably about a 50-50 split.  It's likely that women are responsible for 80% of the money spent on video games.

Yes.  That is correct.  It's actually 51% men and 49% women (players).  But in regards to dollars spent... 80% women! 

Not sure if that kind of data is public (try Googling it) as the reports this stuff shows up in cost a LOT of money!

That being said... I'm sure someone has probably done a story on the data at some point.

4 hours ago, bonehead said:

Tommy - big fan of what you're doing and am happy to support the project.  You and the folks at Intellivision just seem to 'get' it.  Initally I backed the VCS, but bailed after the ensuing sh*t show with with all the faked gameplay footage and photoshopped contollers.  Plus I dont think Atari (I use the term loosely!) have any idea or clue what their system is supposed to be.  One day its a computer, the next day its an indie game platform.  The next a retro gaming machine.  You guys seem to have not only a concrete plan for this thing, but also a clear vision...and more importantly passion!  Good grief every interview with the Atari folks feels like its being conducted inside a funeral parlor.  

 

I just wanted something 'simple' I could pick up and play after work with the kids (maybe even the wife!) and not have to worry about installing freaking Windows or Linux.  Having grown up through Atari, NES, Sega, PSX...each generation of machines adds more buttons and joysticks to the controller that half the time I dont even know what the hell I'm pressing any more.  Not to sound like some cranky old fart but for casual folks like me this is 'exactly' the system I've been waiting for, for years.  I hope this thing is a smashing success and I look forward to getting the founders edition before 10/10.  

 

Best wishes!

Hi!,

Thanks so much for your support and kind words.  It is really appreciated and so cool knowing you are already thinking about playing with your entire family.  That's our main objective.

Thanks again and I hope to see you around these parts!  Please let me know if you ever have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

3 hours ago, JasperAK said:

I resemble this remark. Except for the casual part. I just built my own arcade stick for my Vader. To play Berzerk. I was sold on Amico before, but after the video of Nightstalker, I was caught hook, line, and sinker.

Very cool!  Thank-you as well!!

Yeah... Night Stalker was an eye opener for a lot of folks I think. 

And all I can say is... you guys haven't seen anything yet!!  So much more on it's way.  Can't wait to share it all with everyone.

Thanks for the support!   I really means a lot.

3 hours ago, atarifan88 said:

That in of itself is complete BS.  It makes no sense to not include a controller, retro machine or not!  Glad I waited for the Amico as my next console because it will be worth the wait!  FYI, the last console I owned was a PS1.  I almost bought a Wii, but decided against it.  2020 will be the year for me to get back into modern gaming!

Awesome!!  Although you may have to change your name to Intellivisionfan88!!   You're already half way there with your avatar!!!

1 hour ago, YerOut said:

Just wait for your Sixties TJ.  You'll still lose hair you wanted to keep but you will start growing hair in places you never thought was possible.

 

Sweet!! 

My wife may have to trade me in for a newer model!

TJ

The FE selling out so quickly beat all my expectations. I had it pegged at a few days. With some marketing and more buzz I am sure Tommy is right that they could have sold 10,000 or more in a week or two.

14 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

You sir... have been proven wrong.

 

(sorry... I couldn't resist... just busting balls). 

 

 

Never been more happy to be proven wrong. the fact that a 1000 sold out within the first five minutes I didn't think there was going to be that many people at the exact top of the hour. Glad that many people are in to it. My question is if someone is to move before October would it be easy to change the shipping address? Thanks

13 minutes ago, 1001lives said:

The FE selling out so quickly beat all my expectations. I had it pegged at a few days. With some marketing and more buzz I am sure Tommy is right that they could have sold 10,000 or more in a week or two.

Me too, I had the first 24 hours moving 2000+ units and then a day or two 'cleanup' so I was going 72 hours. I was only 66 hours off 😂. Demand was *way more* than I thought it would be. Traffic on the Reddit page has doubled though just this month & subs are way up (25-30% new members). Things have just spiked in 2020 - maybe because 10/10/2020 mantra and it turning 2020 finally people have suddenly gotten serious? Just don't know why the sudden jump.

I really didn’t know what to expect in terms of the sales. I knew I was pumped and was all in. Kinda shocked it sold out in less than 8 hrs, thought maybe it would take a few days.

Shows what I know 😆