Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

Can’t wait to use my golden ticket! Been carrying it around in my wallet to use anytime I get the word...wife thinks I’m a super geek, which is a fair assessment 😎

Tommy,

When will the next level be out for the Moon Patrol demo?  Also are demos of other games coming soon to the Amico Club app?

5 hours ago, MinerWilly said:

How about language in games and system menu? Is everything in english? My dad would love to play games with his grandchildren but he dont understand english at all. We live in scandinavia. Maybe games and menus are simple enough but still.. any thoughts Tommy?

We currently have 7 languages for each game.

55 minutes ago, MarioMan88 said:

Can’t wait to use my golden ticket! Been carrying it around in my wallet to use anytime I get the word...wife thinks I’m a super geek, which is a fair assessment 😎

We'll be sending out info within the next month or so.

33 minutes ago, Atari_Master said:

Tommy,

When will the next level be out for the Moon Patrol demo?  Also are demos of other games coming soon to the Amico Club app?

We were hoping last week... but we still need to tweak it a little.  If it's not perfect... people will just use it against us, so we're being extra careful that the quality and design are as high as possible

2 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

We were hoping last week... but we still need to tweak it a little.  If it's not perfect... people will just use it against us, so we're being extra careful that the quality and design are as high as possible

 

Okay.  Thanks for the update.  By the way, the ticket that comes with the T-shirt, how are we supposed to use it?  Does it require AR like the logo does?  My phone doesn't have an AR mode.

30 minutes ago, Atari_Master said:

By the way, the ticket that comes with the T-shirt, how are we supposed to use it?  Does it require AR like the logo does?  My phone doesn't have an AR mode.

Curious on that as well.  I thought at the time it said something about using it around December 3rd, but I don't recall exactly.  Perhaps they meant December of 2020? 

1 minute ago, BiffMan said:

Curious on that as well.  I thought at the time it said something about using it around December 3rd, but I don't recall exactly.  Perhaps they meant December of 2020? 

According to Tommy, info is coming in the next month about the ticket.  December 3, 2019 was supposed to be the original date for release of the Amico Club app.  It got delayed and released a couple days after.  At least with the app you can play the Moon Patrol demo right on the phone if you don't have an AR camera.  I'm hoping the ticket can be used via the Amico Club app.

42 minutes ago, Atari_Master said:

Okay.  Thanks for the update.  By the way, the ticket that comes with the T-shirt, how are we supposed to use it?  Does it require AR like the logo does?  My phone doesn't have an AR mode.

It has an RFID tag under the Amico disc.  To use it with your phone, you'll need your phone to have RFID (most modern phones do... but certainly not all).  For the folks who don't have access to RFID, there will be an e-mail option as well... remember... we have ALL of the e-mail addresses of everyone who purchased merchandise and received a Golden Ticket. 

Morning all!

Easy question here, pretty basic too so no rush to answer it Tommy, but when should we expect the next info/teaser video? (Anything along the lines of the Night Stalker / Dice Roller / Astrosmash teasers)

Hi Everyone!,

This is a post I just made in the other Amico thread and knowing that most of you don't venture there I thought it would be appropriate to post this here as well.  I'm hoping folks especially read the p.s. (last 2 paragraphs) to understand my thoughts & feelings on the matter (as they seem to sometimes get twisted, misunderstood or misused).

This is my response to reading the discussions in there over the past 24 hours.

=============================

So, to wrap up the past 24 hours...
 

1.  Independent marketing research and focus group testing means nothing...  at least not when we do it. 

2.  The original Earthworm Jim team is incapable of creating a good Earthworm Jim game.

3.  All of the Parental Control issues that everyone complains about aren't really there.

4.  Someone's wife, dad or friend doesn't like the idea of the system (having never played it) so there is going to be no appeal to anyone and it's going to be a failure.

5.  An untapped market means there is nothing to tap and no money to make there (because someone else would have already done it).

6.  Using a touch screen is harder than the Wii.

7.  Marketing to family and moms is somehow suggesting that they are stupid.

8.  People can play the same exact games on mobile or tablets so they won't buy Amico.  They care nothing about playing together with other friends or family... only solitary mobile games.

9.  All the data and research about what people spend in gaming (which is easily Googled) is incorrect and easily debunked against our mission.

10. Games that we pay 100% for will not have enough margin for ourselves or have big budgets (even though we control the budgets and don't mind taking a loss to support hardware & future software sales).

Damn!  I knew I was doing something wrong.

On my way to the office now to fire everyone and shut the whole project down.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

😋

p.s.  Before some folks get all uppity because I made a joke... please calm down before you start typing.  I don't take any offense in folks discussing the potential challenges and short-comings of the machine.  I know the road ahead is a tough one and everything is stacked against us... we are the major underdog.  Personally... I like being the underdog... they don't see ya coming and it makes the victories even that much more sweet.  We don't have all of the answers and part of becoming successful is the ability to change and learn and adjust on the fly if patterns start to show themselves.  We don't have all the endless amounts of money, marketing and infrastructure as the others do (btw... how is that working out for Google?).  What we do have is an amazing team (which keeps growing every week) of super passionate and experienced folks who are dedicated to make this the best it can be.  Hopefully most of you will be cheering for us to WIN as opposed to hoping we FAIL.  If you'd like to see us FAIL... I'd be interested in knowing why.  Please feel free to respond directly to that.

Thanks for having the passion to continuing talking about what we're doing.  The fact that folks are doing that (either for or against) shows that we are on to something and have your interest either way.  I appreciate the dedication and time everyone takes to discuss it.

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

It has an RFID tag under the Amico disc.  To use it with your phone, you'll need your phone to have RFID (most modern phones do... but certainly not all).  For the folks who don't have access to RFID, there will be an e-mail option as well... remember... we have ALL of the e-mail addresses of everyone who purchased merchandise and received a Golden Ticket. 

 

Okay.  Thank you for explaining this in more detail.  I don't think my phone has RFID.  But like you said there will be an email option if we don't have RFID.

3 minutes ago, pesh42 said:

Morning all!

 

Easy question here, pretty basic too so no rush to answer it Tommy, but when should we expect the next info/teaser video? (Anything along the lines of the Night Stalker / Dice Roller / Astrosmash teasers)

Hi!,

Things on the table right now...

Full Moon Patrol level in Amico Club app.

Skiing demo gameplay video.

Showing the final controller and seeing it work with the final machine.  We've had this running since last summer... but have never shown it publicly and not the final final design.

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Full Moon Patrol level in Amico Club app.

 

Skiing demo gameplay video.

 

Showing the final controller and seeing it work with the final machine.  We've had this running since last summer... but have never shown it publicly and not the final final design.

 

Nice! Looking forward to all of that.

I'm curious Tommy, if you could give a hint as to what the final 2 games are that come pre-installed on the Amico.  I know we're getting Skiing, Astrosmash & Snafu.  So any little hint would be welcomed.

Just now, Atari_Master said:

I'm curious Tommy, if you could give a hint as to what the final 2 games are that come pre-installed on the Amico.  I know we're getting Skiing, Astrosmash & Snafu.  So any little hint would be welcomed.

Ok! 

1.  A motion controlled game.

2. A beloved and super simple Intellivision game from the past that appeals to all ages.

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

 

Ok! 

1.  A motion controlled game.

 

2. A beloved and super simple Intellivision game from the past that appeals to all ages.

 

 

 

Interesting.  Sounds good.  Thanks Tommy.  You're the man!

On 2/10/2020 at 1:24 AM, Swami said:

We do know the game will be a physical game and not a download card. AFAIK, RFID cards can only store 2K to 4K. I'm guessing it is more like an SD card, since I believe all there will be are USB and SD card slots. I thinking the collectability will be in the box and manual, maybe a trading card?

Remember they're awaiting patents, but even if there's nothing to patent about the "totally new" novel medium they have planned, there are novel ways to work with existing storage means.  While typical, commercially available RFID cards store 2K-4K, that's not the ceiling.  Fujitsu introduced a 64K capacity RFID back in 2014.  Perhaps some components of the game or .Exe functions are synced to the Amico with a regular update or download.  There's no reason all of the game's storage need be on one card or one RFID unit.  For all we know, there could be the equivilant of a 16GB or 32GB flash storage board in the physical media, paired to a transmitter sending that data directly to your Amico (or read to your controller, and then fed to Amico), thereby downloading that unique game to your device.

We don't know, but there are some options available to the team to make these new physical media unique and not terribly expensive to collectors. 

On 2/10/2020 at 12:00 AM, Tommy Tallarico said:

Oh yeah.  For sure. 

 

A few of the big retailers will be doing pre-orders as well. 

 

And we may even do another Vintage Woodgrain version (not as good as the Founders Edition... but something still cool for all the folks who missed out).

 

 

I should hope so!  That Vintage Woodgrain version had been touted for seven months, and the opportunity to buy a Founder's Edition version came and went over the course of about 10 days, over a window of 5 and a half hours, launching evening/overnight for half the globe.  

I don't think the Vintage Woodgrain sells as well as some of the other sleek combinations, the retro or nostalgic market a fraction of the whole.  But to limit that model to just 2600 units, when already going to production with that combination of components/colors for the molds.. no need to limit that run to so few units.   

7 minutes ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

I should hope so!  That Vintage Woodgrain version had been touted for seven months, and the opportunity to buy a Founder's Edition version came and went over the course of about 10 days, over a window of 5 and a half hours, launching evening/overnight for half the globe.  

 

I don't think the Vintage Woodgrain sells as well as some of the other sleek combinations, the retro or nostalgic market a fraction of the whole.  But to limit that model to just 2600 units, when already going to production with that combination of components/colors for the molds.. no need to limit that run to so few units.   

I secured 2 founders edition, one for me and one for my older brother. I’m gonna pick up the black when it hits retail (assuming I can find it on launch) for my go to, everyday play machine. FE woody was strictly for collecting purposes.

May even pre order the black when available, but I like the thrill of hunting launch consoles..especially if they are highly sought after and scarce in quantities.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I know the road ahead is a tough one and everything is stacked against us... we are the major underdog.  Personally... I like being the underdog...

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Hi Everyone!,

 

This is a post I just made in the other Amico thread and knowing that most of you don't venture there I thought it would be appropriate to post this here as well.  I'm hoping folks especially read the p.s. (last 2 paragraphs) to understand my thoughts & feelings on the matter (as they seem to sometimes get twisted, misunderstood or misused).

 

This is my response to reading the discussions in there over the past 24 hours.

 

=============================

 

 

So, to wrap up the past 24 hours...
 

 

1.  Independent marketing research and focus group testing means nothing...  at least not when we do it. 

 

2.  The original Earthworm Jim team is incapable of creating a good Earthworm Jim game.

 

3.  All of the Parental Control issues that everyone complains about aren't really there.

 

4.  Someone's wife, dad or friend doesn't like the idea of the system (having never played it) so there is going to be no appeal to anyone and it's going to be a failure.

 

5.  An untapped market means there is nothing to tap and no money to make there (because someone else would have already done it).

 

6.  Using a touch screen is harder than the Wii.

 

7.  Marketing to family and moms is somehow suggesting that they are stupid.

 

8.  People can play the same exact games on mobile or tablets so they won't buy Amico.  They care nothing about playing together with other friends or family... only solitary mobile games.

 

9.  All the data and research about what people spend in gaming (which is easily Googled) is incorrect and easily debunked against our mission.

 

10. Games that we pay 100% for will not have enough margin for ourselves or have big budgets (even though we control the budgets and don't mind taking a loss to support hardware & future software sales).

Damn!  I knew I was doing something wrong.

On my way to the office now to fire everyone and shut the whole project down.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

😋

 

 

p.s.  Before some folks get all uppity because I made a joke... please calm down before you start typing.  I don't take any offense in folks discussing the potential challenges and short-comings of the machine.  I know the road ahead is a tough one and everything is stacked against us... we are the major underdog.  Personally... I like being the underdog... they don't see ya coming and it makes the victories even that much more sweet.  We don't have all of the answers and part of becoming successful is the ability to change and learn and adjust on the fly if patterns start to show themselves.  We don't have all the endless amounts of money, marketing and infrastructure as the others do (btw... how is that working out for Google?).  What we do have is an amazing team (which keeps growing every week) of super passionate and experienced folks who are dedicated to make this the best it can be.  Hopefully most of you will be cheering for us to WIN as opposed to hoping we FAIL.  If you'd like to see us FAIL... I'd be interested in knowing why.  Please feel free to respond directly to that.

Thanks for having the passion to continuing talking about what we're doing.  The fact that folks are doing that (either for or against) shows that we are on to something and have your interest either way.  I appreciate the dedication and time everyone takes to discuss it.

Wait what there is another Amico thread!

Tommy, the fact that you keep being a meat shield for all the haters hate out there just makes the supporters of the Amico more resolved in our support.  Thanks for taking the bullets and not stooping to their level, even though we would get a kick out of you pwning a bunk of these haters by using their own shyte against them.

 I personally will not stop talking and discussing the Amico.  I am not banking on 100% nostalgia for my fandom.  I am genuinely intrigue and excited for Amico as a console in 2020, not as some retro machine like so many naysayers spew.  The Amico is a modern console with unique and compelling features that I think it will fill a gaping void in the gaming ecosystem, that sentiment is lost on many many people. 

Not sure how applicable this is to Intellivision Entertainment, but if you folks would like a team who can port various engines to Amico, I know who you could call:

http://www.ratalaikagames.com/services.php

I'm mostly familiar with Ratalaika from their Vita games, but they've worked with all sorts of consoles and engines: Construct 2/3, Adventure Game Studio, Unity, Clickteam Fusion, and more.

The other thread is fine - even the negative posters are pretty civil, all things considered. But a lot of them really do seem to enjoy being cynical.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Thanks for having the passion to continuing talking about what we're doing.  The fact that folks are doing that (either for or against) shows that we are on to something and have your interest either way.  I appreciate the dedication and time everyone takes to discuss it.

As Henry Ford (is rumored to have) said, "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."