Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

1 hour ago, Tavi said:

I am not terribly familiar with Roblox either (Minecraft seems to be the game of choice with my younger nieces and nephews); but I have heard that the 'oof' sound is the iconic trademark of the game. Also a popular enough sound for them to be marketing real world 'oof'-branded merchandise (shirts and the like).

So I am thinking this is not exactly a penny ante case; but more like if it was discovered The Simpsons never actually owned the rights to use Homer's 'D'oh!' sound.

It's a pretty big deal and they are aware.  And we are negotiating on friendly terms right now.

Most of you may only know me from Intellivision... or from some of my soundtracks in the past.

If interested, here's a little look at my "weekend" job I do about once a month now (it used to be once a week!).

I typically play to anywhere from 2,000 - 5,000 people a night.  It's going to be a GREAT way to promote Amico all over the world as I play the trailer at the beginning of the show and at the end of the 20 minute intermission (right before Act II starts) and, I talk about it on stage towards the end of the show... about bringing people together, etc.

34 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Get ready Jaybird.  I have a feeling this might not end well. 

 

 

23 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

A big deal between our companies is being worked out.  It will be very beneficial for me in the long run. 

 

 

Im.guessing they will have to make a game or 2 or 5 .  If so and if they are great dev's then that would be a big win.... I never heard of the game before outside of the stuff.posted here. I play many modern games ...so.i.prob just passed it over and not notice.

18 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Hi Tony,

 

I actually have 2 different friends from Wuhan and one of them is outside the city and his family in trapped there.  I've played Wuhan 4 times over the past 18 years of touring.  It's a horrible situation and my friends there are telling me that it is a LOT worse than the Chinese government is telling people.  They are telling me that hundreds of people are dying every day and the hospitals are over crowded and he told me the spookiest thing was that you can see people walking the streets looking like the Zombie Apocalypse. 

But he also told me they are trying out a new vaccine on animals right now in hopes for a cure. 

Our manufacturing is done in the northeastern part of China on the coastline.  Wuhan is right in the middle of China... so it's far away... although it could quickly spread and get out of hand if not contained quickly (which is why they've shut down Wuhan and no one can leave or go in, etc. 

We're not sure if this will affect our production.  We probably won't know until March.  Will need to see how it effects everything.  Tons of places have been going out of business... especially food places.  It could end of having an impact on all electronics this year.  The thing that a lot of people may not know (I didn't until this whole process) is that a lot of electronics are not made anywhere except China!  So even if the machine was $1000 and I wanted to make it in Texas (for example)... I couldn't!  Most of the parts are only made in China... so you don't really have a choice.

Crazy.

Hopfully intellivision  gets so big that the amico 2 or super amico or whatever it's called will be able to build every part internally...wouldn't that be amazing..... but it does suck certain.parts are only available  in one place.

I like your matching green shirt and guitar! 😉😜

51 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Most of you may only know me from Intellivision... or from some of my soundtracks in the past.

If interested, here's a little look at my "weekend" job I do about once a month now (it used to be once a week!).

I typically play to anywhere from 2,000 - 5,000 people a night.  It's going to be a GREAT way to promote Amico all over the world as I play the trailer at the beginning of the show and at the end of the 20 minute intermission (right before Act II starts) and, I talk about it on stage towards the end of the show... about bringing people together, etc.

 

 

 

 

Hi Tommy,

another knock out video - loving content like this. Gives us a real insight into your world and I think the first time I have ever seen an orchestra from the players perspective. Awesome - can't wait for  a U.K or European show as I missed the ones previous.

Tony

43 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Most of you may only know me from Intellivision... or from some of my soundtracks in the past.

If interested, here's a little look at my "weekend" job I do about once a month now (it used to be once a week!).

I typically play to anywhere from 2,000 - 5,000 people a night.  It's going to be a GREAT way to promote Amico all over the world as I play the trailer at the beginning of the show and at the end of the 20 minute intermission (right before Act II starts) and, I talk about it on stage towards the end of the show... about bringing people together, etc.

 

 

 

 

Video Games Live was actually my introduction to the Amico. I have been to your show both times you played in my area, the first time I bought the DVD (There was just the one available at the time as I recall, it was quite a few years ago!) and the last concert I scored myself a sweet Video Games Live LED shirt.

I owned the 2600; it was my cousin that had an Intellivision. Which was a blast to play when visiting, but not the console I grew up on.

It was at the last concert I attended that I first heard of the Amico, and it sounded interesting enough I looked it up online later that night and joined the mailing list. Which I am glad I did as it got me in on the Founders Edition and the more I see and hear about it, the more excited I am getting that this is the console I have been waiting decades for. Classic games updated and re-imagined, yet staying true to their original gameplay.

It is going to be a long wait for October, but a completely worthwhile one I think.

5 hours ago, mr_me said:

The horizontal layout on amico is not an improvement if you want to use the two physical buttons with one hand and the disc with the other.  Games will likely be designed to focus use of the touchpad so the physical buttons become secondary.

 

--------------

Aquarius Night Stalker controller layout is not ideal.  You might be better off using the Aquarius keyboard.

 

The best way to play Intellivision Night Stalker is to emulate and cross-map the buttons so you can run and shoot at the same time.  You can use any modern game controller you like.  The ibm pc night stalker version is interesting with various start options; and controls a bit like arcade Berzerk. 

 

Looking forward to seeing the unique touchpad controls with Amico Night Stalker.

The downside I see to the touchscreen is if people prefer physical buttons to push. Some people prefer tactile buttons over mushy glass feel. Also, when your playing a game on mobile, you are looking at the screen and can see where u r pressing but w just the central dimple, it will be difficult. I can see where it can provide improved analog motion, though. 

The current Two physical button placement is perfect for the controller held horizontally for pinball games

Suggestion for when you end up doing intellivision packs in 2021:  please consider reaching out to homebrew devs and seek to make a deal so that you could have “intellivision homebrew pack vol #1”,  vol #2, etc.  There has been some nice homebrew games that deserve to be played, whether on a real intellivision or on the Amico and I think with the right titles could be attractive to those old retro fans to see “new” games for the old system 

Ok, I'm done waiting now... 😐

Now I'm worried I'll die before October. 

Did anyone else think that way as a kid on Christmas Eve?

42 minutes ago, Swami said:

The downside I see to the touchscreen is if people prefer physical buttons to push. Some people prefer tactile buttons over mushy glass feel. Also, when your playing a game on mobile, you are looking at the screen and can see where u r pressing but w just the central dimple, it will be difficult. I can see where it can provide improved analog motion, though. 

Developers should be able to program a control that doesn't need you to look at the touchscreen.  Notice how they did aiming in night stalker, seems like a bit of a swipe action.

27 minutes ago, RREDDWARFF said:

Ok, I'm done waiting now... 😀

 

Now I'm worried I'll die before October. 

 

Did anyone else think that way as a kid on Christmas Eve?

Absolutely!  Felt like I would never fall asleep.  Upon waking up, I remember it taking a second or two to register that IT WAS CHRISTMAS!!!   Oh the thrill of my Marx playsets or Johnny West and Chief Cherokee.  I don't think electronics were invented yet. 😀

I will admit that I am being lazy by not reading through all 256 pages but I am relatively new to the Amico. Has Tommy talked about redoing any of the sports games and if so will they have single and multiplayer? Also has he said anything about bringing Tri-Action?

Thanks

14 minutes ago, jcalder8 said:

I will admit that I am being lazy by not reading through all 256 pages but I am relatively new to the Amico. Has Tommy talked about redoing any of the sports games and if so will they have single and multiplayer? Also has he said anything about bringing Tri-Action?

Thanks

Yes and all games will have single and multiplayer anywhere from 2 to 8 players couch co op

15 minutes ago, jcalder8 said:

I will admit that I am being lazy by not reading through all 256 pages but I am relatively new to the Amico. Has Tommy talked about redoing any of the sports games and if so will they have single and multiplayer? Also has he said anything about bringing Tri-Action?

Thanks

Yes I know that are updating baseball and hockey and probably others will come and If I remember correctly Bi-Planes is getting its own game and they have a tank game thst is a combo of the tank game and another game 

FYI: Mike Mika (Amico dev of Night Stalker) interview is live now (8:30 PM CST 1/30/2020)

EDIT: Lots of behind the scenes Night Stalker talk

50 minutes ago, jcalder8 said:

I will admit that I am being lazy by not reading through all 256 pages but I am relatively new to the Amico. Has Tommy talked about redoing any of the sports games and if so will they have single and multiplayer? Also has he said anything about bringing Tri-Action?

Thanks

You can see on their website that every amico game will have one-player and local multi-player modes.  You can search this topic for any title you're interested in.

4 hours ago, Loafer said:

Suggestion for when you end up doing intellivision packs in 2021:  please consider reaching out to homebrew devs and seek to make a deal so that you could have “intellivision homebrew pack vol #1”,  vol #2, etc.  There has been some nice homebrew games that deserve to be played, whether on a real intellivision or on the Amico and I think with the right titles could be attractive to those old retro fans to see “new” games for the old system 

This.  There are some amazing homebrews that deserve a much wider audience. Tommy make it happen!  😊

22 minutes ago, IntyFanMatt said:

This.  There are some amazing homebrews that deserve a much wider audience. Tommy make it happen!  😊

I haven't had a chance to play Intv homebrews but if they are anything close to the 2600 and 7800 ones  that I have it would be really cool to see something like that! There is a lot of talent here at AtariAge!

Speaking of AtariAge, Tommy have you thought about becoming a subscriber? With the recent success of the FE preorder and a lot of hype coming from these forums it could be a nice gesture towards Al who keeps this forum going. I do really feel like the fun spirit of retro gaming (and in Amico's case new gaming!) continues to be alive here!

Anyone wanting to subscribe can scroll down and it will be under 'Forum'/Subscription.

A couple of interesting and reassuring articles about the Wuhan coronavirus:

- The Wuhan coronavirus seems to have a low fatality rate, and most patients make full recoveries. Experts reveal why it's causing panic anyway.

- The number of Wuhan coronavirus cases has passed the SARS total after just a month. Here's how the 2 outbreaks compare.

Back to the console and computer names, my top 5 would be:

1) Playstation

2) Master System

3) Gamecube

4) Wii

5) Intellivision

And the top 5 of ugliest names:

1) 7800

2) 5200

3) PC Engine

4) Wonderswan

5) Genesis

I haven't included any computer name because I feel names like ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga or Atari ST are not very good nor very bad. They are somewhere in the middle.

3 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

FYI: Mike Mika (Amico dev of Night Stalker) interview is live now (8:30 PM CST 1/30/2020)

EDIT: Lots of behind the scenes Night Stalker talk

 

 

That was awesome!!!!!!!

Thanks for the link!

4 hours ago, IntyFanMatt said:

This.  There are some amazing homebrews that deserve a much wider audience. Tommy make it happen!  😊

Yeah!  Totally!  I could see us doing Homebrews for sure.  I think it shows the passion and love for the original system which is important for us to communicate.

The issue would be to keep the pricing low... which may be upsetting to the homebrew folks as they typically need to charge a LOT of money ($40 - $80) because of having to do physical carts and development costs due to only a few hundred units sold.  So if they were willing to only make around $1 - $1.50 for each game (that would include taking our cut as well as I could see us selling them for around $2 or $3 each) then I wouldn't have a problem.  But if they were looking to sell them at $9.99 and keeping most of it... it wouldn't make sense for us.  They would need to look at is as "free money" basically.  Especially if we have millions of units out there.  I would think they would make a lot more money at a cheaper price point then they would selling them as physical carts to the homebrew community.

Are there any homebrewers in here?  If so... would like to know your thoughts. 
 

2 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

A couple of interesting and reassuring articles about the Wuhan coronavirus:

 

- The Wuhan coronavirus seems to have a low fatality rate, and most patients make full recoveries. Experts reveal why it's causing panic anyway.

 

- The number of Wuhan coronavirus cases has passed the SARS total after just a month. Here's how the 2 outbreaks compare.

 

Back to the console and computer names, my top 5 would be:

 

1) Playstation

2) Master System

3) Gamecube

4) Wii

5) Intellivision

 

And the top 5 of ugliest names:

 

1) 7800

2) 5200

3) PC Engine

4) Wonderswan

5) Genesis

 

I haven't included any computer name because I feel names like ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga or Atari ST are not very good nor very bad. They are somewhere in the middle.

I'm not sure that article can be trusted though... because of THIS line..

"Many patients with coronavirus have already made full recoveries. According to Chinese officials, most of those who've died were elderly or had other ailments that compromised their immune systems."

The key there is "according to Chinese officials".  My folks on the ground who are trapped in Wuhan are telling a very different story... and they really have no reason to stir drama.

I hope the article is right though!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure the emotions of the folks trapped in Wuhan is massive... so it's hard to know exactly what is going on.  Hoping and praying for the best outcome for everyone.