Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

Speaking of Arcade games was Gauntlet a Midway game or Namco I can’t remember but that’s another one I wouldn’t mind seeing am update on 

They could still get the license from Warner.  If they can get Joust than that could also mean Robotron, Defender, Gauntlet.  Gauntlet was Atari/Warner.

For a Joust fix, there's the new multi-player Birdfight arcade game. Perhaps this game could be licensed...

https://m.imgur.com/a/q78Zf

Happened to be at a barcade in Madison recently where they hosted a tournament featuring 2 of these machines linked up, totaling 6 or 8 player action. The college kids (70/30 boys to girls) were really excited about the game and to be participating in the tournament.

Gauntlet was developed by Atari.

8 hours ago, hoserama99 said:

Now if the Amico has player-specific screens on each controller (like, say, the WiiU), then it does add a new twist. It also opens up new problems: you'll need a way to upload a game-specific client app to each handheld (maybe using WiFi like a modern phone), you need good battery time, and you likely need more than 2 controllers, particularly for family play. Maybe there will be Amico apps for iOS and Android to allow those to be used as additional handsets. Maybe additional handsets will be cheap. Who knows!

 

YES to everything! 

8 hours ago, hoserama99 said:

The Switch (and everything Nintendo does in general) is *absolutely* marketed to casual players!

No it isn't.  Not even close.  Nintendo themselves say that they aren't interested in the casual market.  Why do you think it took them so long to enter the mobile market?  

How many non-gamers who bought and played a Wii also purchased and play a Switch?  Answer = Not many.

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

No it isn't.  Not even close.  Nintendo themselves say that they aren't interested in the casual market.  Why do you think it took them so long to enter the mobile market?  

How many non-gamers who bought and played a Wii also purchased and play a Switch?  Answer = Not many.

 

 

Switch is pretty successful though and its obviously selling to more than just the hardcore Nintendo fanbase.  Also, there are plenty of casual friendly titles on the Switch, not everything on Switch requires tons of skill.  A single joycon is a rather simple controller to use as well.  But if your point is if its grabbing a large amount of uber casual android/iOS users than no that is true.  Nothing will get those people away from their phones/tablets, they are way too dependent on them unfortunately.  

5 minutes ago, SegaSnatcher said:

Switch is pretty successful though and its obviously selling to more than just the hardcore Nintendo fanbase.  Also, there are plenty of casual friendly titles on the Switch, not everything on Switch requires tons of skill.  A single joycon is a rather simple controller to use as well.  But if your point is if its grabbing a large amount of uber casual android/iOS users than no that is true.  Nothing will get those people away from their phones/tablets, they are way too dependent on them unfortunately.  

Again Switch is the most casual of the big three consoles but it isn’t really marketed for casual players Switch sales this last segment were below projections so they aren’t getting as big a percentage of the market as they would like and the Switch despite its play on the go feature has not captured the casual players like the Wii did.  I’m not saying they never market casual games but the focus of their selling points are about the franchises that  their audience loves like Zelda, Mario and such 

Also as a point we need to remember a feature of the Intellivision is that it wants to be a companion to the other devices you choose to play on be it consoles, tablet, phone, or pc so it’s not about picking one over another it’s about being open to a new experience that maybe you haven’t had before 

5 minutes ago, SegaSnatcher said:

Switch is pretty successful though and its obviously selling to more than just the hardcore Nintendo fanbase.  Also, there are plenty of casual friendly titles on the Switch, not everything on Switch requires tons of skill.  A single joycon is a rather simple controller to use as well.  But if your point is if its grabbing a large amount of uber casual android/iOS users than no that is true.  Nothing will get those people away from their phones/tablets, they are way too dependent on them unfortunately.  

Again Switch is the most casual of the big three consoles but it isn’t really marketed for casual players Switch sales this last segment were below projections so they aren’t getting as big a percentage of the market as they would like and the Switch despite its play on the go feature has not captured the casual players like the Wii did.  I’m not saying they never market casual games but the focus of their selling points are about the franchises that  their audience loves like Zelda, Mario and such 

Also as a point we need to remember a feature of the Intellivision is that it wants to be a companion to the other devices you choose to play on be it consoles, tablet, phone, or pc so it’s not about picking one over another it’s about being open to a new experience that maybe you haven’t had before 

7 hours ago, SegaSnatcher said:

As long as people are being civil which I believe I have been then there shouldn't be a problem with debating and speculating. You don't have to take part in said debate, you can simply post about how excited you are about the product nobody is stopping you.  I don't have a problem with people who are excited for this product. If you think its awesome, cool. 

I for one... prefer you to leave.  And although you think you are being civil to others... you've been completely disrespectful to me and my career (just a music guy... what does he know?)  You sound like every other bully on the playground growing up and all of the other short-sighted biased folks who told me every successful idea I had for the past 30 years was a bad one.  So if you want to go start your own thread discussing the Amico on this board and what you feel our challenges will be (and how the guy running it is crazy if he thinks he's going to sell millions of machines)... then please... be my guest!!  No one is stopping you.

But please leave this thread which I created to be a positive place where people can ask me questions about the system and have positive dialogues.  POSITIVE.  Not ass-kissing... positive and inquisitive.  Your way of confronting and interacting with people doesn't fit here in my thread.  Read the heading... Q&A.  It's not a thread where I'm interested in disproving your opinion on why you think I don't know what I'm doing and how I'm doing everything wrong and I'm just a music guy.   Your negativity and arguing everyone's points has completely ruined the spirit of why I created this thread.

What started out as a cool thing has quickly turned into an opinion war fueled by your stubborness and inability to see any other scenario except your own.  If you're interested in doing that.  Fine.  Go do it in another thread... not mine.   I have time to answer maybe 2 or 3 questions a day here.  Instead, its you and your buddy (yeah... we noticed) trying to argue points with as many people as you can.  So instead of finding questions... I find you and your biased confrontational responses and everyone responding to them.  But hey... it's the internet... I get it.  It's not the first time some anonymous "know it all" hiding behind a screen has tried to ruin a good thing.... and it won't be the last.

But just thought that you would like to be made aware that the person who started this thread doesn't appreciate how you interact and would prefer it if you left as you are ruining the spirit of this thread.  Please feel free to start your own if you'd like.

Thanks.


 

7 hours ago, Alpha82 said:

Pinball wizard!!! Sorry had to do it lol 

...and his name was "TOMMY!"

:D

5 hours ago, SiberianSpForces said:

I second this! I've fired up the fan game, but never dove into it. @Tommy Tallarico, this would be great to see made. Love a coop, and vs mode, too. Do your magic, mister!

 

We've already started talks!  I'm on it!!   

3 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

As far as types of games? Maybe get something like Pac-Man Vs on the system. Not sure who owns Lock n Chase but a game where one person is the their and the others cops chasing him around would be a blast.

Both of those are in the works!   

 

2 hours ago, mr_me said:

Intellivision Entertainment listed several Data East games in their 2018 press release.  Those games are now owned by a company called G-mode.  So Locknchase shouldn't be a problem.  Not sure how valuable the Locknchase title would be for Amico, I'm sure they'd rather have Pacman.  The odd thing with that press release list is that it has "Super Burgertime" rather than just Burgertime.  I wonder why that is.

At the time of the press release they only wanted to confirm "Super" Burgertime (which I thought was strange as well)... but we did what they asked.  Now we have the original Burgertime... so no worries.  Must have been a last minute contract/approval thing on their end.  It's taken care of now though. 

Pac-Man is owned by Namco.

2 hours ago, mr_me said:

No Williams games were in that list.  The golden age Williams games, I believe, are owned by Warner.  Where did you hear about Joust? 

Yes.  Williams is WB and WB is 100% on board. 

Although I've never mentioned we were doing Joust.

And all of the games I mention here are biggest picture stuff and don't mean they will be available on launch or by Christmas of 2020.  We have a TON of great stuff to last us the first few years!! 

1 hour ago, mr_me said:

They could still get the license from Warner.  If they can get Joust than that could also mean Robotron, Defender, Gauntlet.  Gauntlet was Atari/Warner.

We are getting ALL of those. 

Glad to hear many of the classics are on board !

exciting times!

23 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

We've already started talks!  I'm on it!!   

Thanks Tommy super excited at the prospect of Last Starfighter as well as the other classic arcade titles you are lining up Gauntlet was such a great game my stepbrother and I rented an arcade collection and got up to level 188 before we realized the maps repeated and there was no end 

I think it's going to be really interesting just to see what shows up on this system.  I also like the way you guys are taking things in hand and not just leaving it up to other people to make your software.  It's cool that the controller will be able to output custom "overlays" or controls for each game using the touch screens. 

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I for one... prefer you to leave.  And although you think you are being civil to others... you've been completely disrespectful to me and my career (just a music guy... what does he know?)  You sound like every other bully on the playground growing up and all of the other short-sighted biased folks who told me every successful idea I had for the past 30 years was a bad one.  So if you want to go start your own thread discussing the Amico on this board and what you feel our challenges will be (and how the guy running it is crazy if he thinks he's going to sell millions of machines)... then please... be my guest!!  No one is stopping you.

But please leave this thread which I created to be a positive place where people can ask me questions about the system and have positive dialogues.  POSITIVE.  Not ass-kissing... positive and inquisitive.  Your way of confronting and interacting with people doesn't fit here in my thread.  Read the heading... Q&A.  It's not a thread where I'm interested in disproving your opinion on why you think I don't know what I'm doing and how I'm doing everything wrong and I'm just a music guy.   Your negativity and arguing everyone's points has completely ruined the spirit of why I created this thread.

What started out as a cool thing has quickly turned into an opinion war fueled by your stubborness and inability to see any other scenario except your own.  If you're interested in doing that.  Fine.  Go do it in another thread... not mine.   I have time to answer maybe 2 or 3 questions a day here.  Instead, its you and your buddy (yeah... we noticed) trying to argue points with as many people as you can.  So instead of finding questions... I find you and your biased confrontational responses and everyone responding to them.  But hey... it's the internet... I get it.  It's not the first time some anonymous "know it all" hiding behind a screen has tried to ruin a good thing.... and it won't be the last.

But just thought that you would like to be made aware that the person who started this thread doesn't appreciate how you interact and would prefer it if you left as you are ruining the spirit of this thread.  Please feel free to start your own if you'd like.

Thanks.


 

Of course you probably want me to leave because I haven't jumped on the Amico hype train. Judging by your response it doesn't seem you take criticism very well which is a shame. Yes, I'm a doubter, but I'm still looking forward to any new announcements. I never said Amico can never win me over, all my opinions are solely based on the information we currently have, things can always change down the road. Just because I won't drink the Amico kool-aid right now doesn't mean I can't be a customer down the road. 

It's not stubborness just because I won't automatically roll over for you and take your word on things, that isn't how I operate. You can say the Amico is going to do this and that all day long, but until we see this thing is action and hear from unbiased people what they think of this machine and the games then all it you are doing is one big sales pitch. Not every customer is going to be convinced by the Amico as a viable gaming machine just with a sales pitch, some of us need more than that and if you think that is being stubborn then I don't know what to tell you. 

Lastly, I never downplayed your music career, in fact I'm a huge fan of your work in that field.  All I said was just because someone found success in one sector of the video game business doesn't mean they will automatically be successful with releasing an actual console (e.g. Trip Hawkins 3DO), which to me seems like an obvious statement to make. Please don't twist my words like that. 

 

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Why do you think it took them so long to enter the mobile market?

Well, they entered the mobile market decades ago with the Gameboy and now the DS. I would consider them at the forefront of that, tbh. The Switch appears to be the latest step towards consolidating their line and phasing out the DS proper.

If you mean smartphones, I presume its mainly because they didn't want to compete with their own vertically-integrated stack, combined with the understanding that the smartphone market is absolute trash in most senses of the word.

Going back to the point about casual, I know personally of several "mothers" who use a DS or Gameboy. My own mother-in-law plays Brain Age, Scrabble, various mystery games and other titles on her DS. Obviously anecdote isn't data and I don't have IDC market research at hand, but it feels like that market is seeing a lot of service, given the number of games in those genres that continue to be released. All that said, it feels like this market can (and should) grow. If Amico can do that, everyone wins.

Had to be done. 

3 minutes ago, hoserama99 said:

Well, they entered the mobile market decades ago with the Gameboy and now the DS. I would consider them at the forefront of that, tbh. The Switch appears to be the latest step towards consolidating their line and phasing out the DS proper.

 

If you mean smartphones, I presume its mainly because they don't want to compete with their own vertically-integrated stack, combined with the understanding that the smartphone market is absolute trash in most senses of the word.

 

Going back to the point about casual, I know personally of several "mothers" who use a DS or Gameboy. My own mother-in-law plays Brain Age, Scrabble, various mystery games and other titles on her DS. Obviously anecdote isn't data and I don't have IDC market research at hand, but it feels like that market is seeing a lot of service, given the number of games in those genres that continue to be released. All that said, it feels like this market can (and should) grow. If Amico can do that, everyone wins.

The Switch was the best move Nintendo could make after the Wii U.   Honestly Switch is what Nintendo probably wanted the Wii U to be, but the tech just wasn't available at the time. 

After seeing that Link's Awakening remake I think I might have to buy a Switch finally.  I'm just waiting to see if Nintendo releases updated hardware this year.  I hear they are doing both a more portable version and a slightly upgraded standard Switch.

12 hours ago, SegaSnatcher said:

No offense Tommy but you have't provided any data or evidence to back your claim that mobile isn't catering to casuals.   This sounds more like why you personally don't like mobile games and how you would like to improve it, because I'm not hearing all these uber casuals crying out for something else than what mobile is offering them.

Seems to me he's working on his proof right now. His proof (if he's correct) will be when it ships. He's not armchair quarterbacking here or debating hypotheticals. He's very much putting his money where his mouth is, as they say.

You've stated your belief. He's stated his. He's now going to take risk to show he's right (or not). You just have to sit back and watch and when the dust settles either say (a) "I told you so", or (b) "I concede."

3 minutes ago, JeffVav said:

 

Seems to me he's working on his proof right now. His proof (if he's correct) will be when it ships. He's not armchair quarterbacking here or debating hypotheticals. He's very much putting his money where his mouth is, as they say.

 

You've stated your belief. He's stated his. He's now going to take risk to show he's right (or not). You just have to sit back and watch and when the dust settles either say (a) "I told you so", or (b) "I concede."

Yes, 100% agreed nobody will know for sure until it launches, its just speculation at this point and I said I would love to have my doubts proven wrong. I don't have this ego or pride to not admit when I have been wrong about something.  I also respect the fact the Amico project is self funded.