Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yes.  Breakout is a launch title!

Yes.  Online store will be up when the Founders Editions launch.

 

 

Excellent on both counts.

I went and watched the Breakout video again a few minutes ago because I was bored, and I have one more question about Breakout.

I know it's currently WIP, but I noticed something about the purple shield thingy. It's got 3 lines and breaks on the third hit, but it's always 3 lines. Any chance of removing 1 line per hit so we can see how many hits it has left before it breaks? When I wasn't paying attention to how many times it got hit, I was surprised to see it break, so having the visual indicator would be helpful to the player.

On 2/17/2020 at 10:45 AM, AtariSociety said:

Funny note... most my videos for Sinclair and other platforms are steady at 100% like to dislike... once in a while down in the 90 % arena... but always very positive. Funny most all the Amico are in the upper 80s or lower 90s.. so there seems to be a couple always marking dislike... which I find funny.  There are some that just hate on most anything and just dislike because... I am sure some may not like the actual video but when the same Amico are always a couple dislikes while others non Amico are 100% most the time... kind of tells me there are a few haters out there.  Oh well... such is life.

I just love that they are obsessing over us so much.  We have their attention and they can't help it.

On 2/17/2020 at 10:57 AM, 1001lives said:

This is a fantastic read.

 

It shows off Mattel's Autorace a little, which is also fascinating. Handheld games are really interesting.

 

Here's what sort of started it all - although it's not a fully "electronic" game like Autorace, it's still one of the first "handheld" or portable games that uses electronics/batteries.

 

https://www.handheldmuseum.com/Misc/CragstanPeriscope.htm

 

I doubt there's any left in good condition out there.

 

 

Wow!  Super cool!  Didn't know about that one! 

If there is one in good condition... I'll find it!!!

On 2/17/2020 at 2:24 PM, NinjaWarrior said:

When will 25% sale on the 23th end?

 

Will it be a week or just for the day?

I'll keep it on for a week or so.

On 2/17/2020 at 2:49 PM, BiffMan said:

Or running toward...   Perhaps he's late for work?  Or perhaps the Running Man is here for your soul...

He's Running towards VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!

On 2/17/2020 at 4:54 PM, Atari_Master said:

What do you all think about having Skee-ball on the Amico with motion controls?  

I LOVE it.  So much so that....

Whoops.... can't say just yet.

11 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yeah!  That would be super cool!  I can think of a number of different shapes to do (Running Man, original controller, new controller, old machine, new machine, logo, etc.).

We currently use Printful for our merchandise (because it's super easy and we don't need to deal with the logistics).  Here are a list of ALL the available things we could make.

If anyone has any suggestions as to what we should add to our current store... please let me know!!

 

https://www.printful.com/custom-products

 

I was also thinking about a Running Man statue that lights up or perhaps a Running Man boggle head.  A magnet would be cool too.

2 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I LOVE it.  So much so that....

 

Whoops.... can't say just yet.

 

 

 

I'm happy you approve.  Thanks!

On 2/17/2020 at 5:57 PM, Steven Pendleton said:

Some more questions for you, Tommy. First, R-Type. I know it has not been started yet, but what is the vision for it, if you are allowed to share that much? Enhanced arcade port? Something with polygons like R-Type Dimensions? What about R-Type Final 2? I got to play a demo of it at Tokyo Game Show. There isn't much of a game so far, but it looks nice.

 

Second, B-17 Bomber remake, basically same questions. It's the first Intellivision game I ever bought (which means I bought it 2 weeks ago after I found a really interesting and possibly unique original Intellivision on Ebay! It should arrive today or tomorrow. Yes, I did get the Intellivoice as well! BEE SEVENTEEN BAWLMER!!!), and I have always been fascinated with WW2 and the B-17. If you've ever seen one in person, especially flying, holy crap they are beautiful. Anyway, same questions for B-17 Bomber remake as for R-Type. Obviously it isn't originally an arcade game, but yeah.

We have the code for R-Type Dimensions if we want.  Adding co-op to that would be awesome!

Haven't seen R-Type Final 2 yet.  Will check it out now.

We are doing something really amazing and unique with B-17 Bomber.  People are gonna freak when they see it and how unique it is.  Never been done before in the industry.  Hoping for launch... but may be after.

On 2/17/2020 at 6:32 PM, Swami said:

Comment says "I hear it's over $250 now." Ugh. Where does this come from. Just like some guy in the other thread saying it only has E rated games.

Maybe they got it confused with the Founders Edition?  Or one of the Limited Editions?

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

We have the code for R-Type Dimensions if we want.  Adding co-op to that would be awesome!

 

Haven't seen R-Type Final 2 yet.  Will check it out now.

 

We are doing something really amazing and unique with B-17 Bomber.  People are gonna freak when they see it and how unique it is.  Never been done before in the industry.  Hoping for launch... but may be after.

 

 

No need, as R-Type Dimensions already has co-op. It's really good, too. Even still runs at 55 FPS just like the original.

Very excited for B-17 Bomber in this case!

On 2/17/2020 at 6:40 PM, Atari_Master said:

I wonder if there will be a Tetris style game on the Amico?

Count on it! 

Not for launch... but on our "list".

On 2/18/2020 at 7:08 AM, 1001lives said:

Tommy - are you guys going to PAX East or the Toy Fair? 

Toy Fair!

3 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Count on it! 

Not for launch... but on our "list".

 

 

 

Sounds good.

19 hours ago, LePionnier said:

Happy Birthday to you Tommy ! 

 

2 questions about E3.

1) Will your conference be live on the Internet ?

2) How many consoles will there be to try Amico games  ?

 

Thank you.

1.  I'm hoping so.  Not confirmed yet.

2.  Don't know.  Coronavirus will effect it and we're still not certain of the impact.

18 hours ago, BiffMan said:

Additional question on E3, is IE not considered enough of a "major company" to be listed as one of the participating companies?  https://www.e3expo.com/participating-companies

 

I would imagine most folks probably don't look much deeper than that listing.

It's because we are still negotiating floor space and planning with them so we don't have a signed contract with them yet.  Most companies don't at this point.

3 hours ago, Steven Pendleton said:

I just noticed this. Tommy, is this too violent for the system? I really REALLY hope not, but I imagine it is. Rondo of Blood, which I quite literally bought a PC Engine + CD ROM2 + IFU for, got censored on PS4, but it's better than nothing.

 

By the way, I beat some game just now and Shiny said that I'm the best. What bass did you use for this? It was nice and super twangy. Sounds like Jazz Bass to me.

 

I don't remember the exact song for that screen.  Do you have a YouTube link?

59 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

Excellent on both counts.

 

I went and watched the Breakout video again a few minutes ago because I was bored, and I have one more question about Breakout.

 

I know it's currently WIP, but I noticed something about the purple shield thingy. It's got 3 lines and breaks on the third hit, but it's always 3 lines. Any chance of removing 1 line per hit so we can see how many hits it has left before it breaks? When I wasn't paying attention to how many times it got hit, I was surprised to see it break, so having the visual indicator would be helpful to the player.

Yep!  That is the intention!  That video was from last year. 

Just now, Tommy Tallarico said:

I don't remember the exact song for that screen.  Do you have a YouTube link?

 

 

There is no music on that screen. Just some guy (Doug TenNapel?) telling me how awesome I am. I meant EWJ Special Edition in general. Down the Tubes/Level 5 comes to mind.

Just now, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yep!  That is the intention!  That video was from last year. 

Great!

Just now, Steven Pendleton said:

There is no music on that screen. Just some guy (Doug TenNapel?) telling me how awesome I am. I meant EWJ Special Edition in general. Down the Tubes/Level 5 comes to mind.

 

 

Ah!  Those were all synth basses that I personally made.

It was combining about 5 different synths (mostly Rolands).  JD-800, S-50, Juno and a Kawai K-4!  I even used a little bit of the FM synth chip from the Genesis in there as well!!  Kept it authentic.

4 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Ah!  Those were all synth basses that I personally made.

It was combining about 5 different synths (mostly Rolands).  JD-800, S-50, Juno and a Kawai K-4!  I even used a little bit of the FM synth chip from the Genesis in there as well!!  Kept it authentic.

 

 

 

 

The YM2612 is amazing when used properly (Gleylancer stage 1!). I was very surprised to learn that you used the old crappy GEMS sound engine thing for the regular Genesis version because it sounds amazing unlike the huge majority of GEMS games. You know that the Genesis version music actually supposedly doesn't play the music in EWJ1 properly on the first model, but that it does on the second? Something to do with the busy behaviour on the YM2612 being incorrectly set from the factory that was fixed when Sega swapped to the YM3438 on the second model. Also broke the music in Hellfire completely when they did that.

2 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

The YM2612 is amazing when used properly. I was very surprised to learn that you used the old crappy GEMS sound engine thing for the regular Genesis version because it sounds amazing unlike the huge majority of GEMS games. You know that the Genesis version music actually supposedly doesn't play the music in EWJ1 properly on the first model, but that it does on the second? Something to do with the busy behaviour on the YM2612 being incorrectly set from the factory that was fixed when Sega swapped to the YM3438 on the second model. Also broke the music in Hellfire completely when they did that.

On the model 1, it's random. The preamp on these boards has its gain set way too high, resulting in this distorted sound.

1 minute ago, 1001lives said:

On the model 1, it's random. The preamp on these boards has its gain set way too high, resulting in this distorted sound.

I know what you're talking about (it's the preamp on the VA0, VA1, and VA2 motherboards. It was fixed on the VA3), but this is something a bit different. I guess the music plays too slowly, not that it's distorted. Hellfire is the best example of this, but EWJ1 has it as well, although I have not personally tested it. Go try Hellfire on the Genesis/MD and then play it on the Genesis 2/MD2. Huge difference.

37 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

We are doing something really amazing and unique with B-17 Bomber.  People are gonna freak when they see it and how unique it is.  Never been done before in the industry.  Hoping for launch... but may be after.

When in doubt, please always, always err on the side of later than rushing to make a date. 

I know we're no longer in hard-coded firmware territory with the option to update, but I would far rather wait a few months and have the product the way you and the team want it than hit an arbitrary number of launch titles.  You'll get skewered by the haters either way for a date slip or sub-quality game, but the ding for a date slip is way less damaging than releasing a game that isn't all it could have been.