Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

2 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

Guess if I get a new Xbox I will be playing it in my kitchen. Does the red ring mean the bacon is done?

No.  It means you've dumped too much money into a system and games you could have bought for a fraction of the cost and had just as much fun... The Intellivision Amico! 😎

8 hours ago, Swami said:

One thing I've always liked about Nintendo is they've always had a bit of creativity in their consoles. Not as much as the Heavy Sixer or Telstar Arcade, but more than their post-Sega contemporaries. Sega Dreamcast's controller had flair - kind of a spaceship stingray vibe, as did some of the Intellivision models - the unrealized Tutorvision had a kind of space-age look to it.

To some extent - but also, many consoles were plain black boxes well before the Xbox Series X. The Neo Geo, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, GameCube, Dreamcast (sports version) were all slightly varied black boxes. Genesis Model 1 less so but the Model 2 was very black boxy.

And the variety of slightly different black rectangles. ColecoVision, Intellivision models, Atari's "Vader," TurboGrafx-16, Master System (a bit more of a trapezoid... Rhombus? But still rectangular).

Let's not forget the PC Engine DUO in the list of black boxes, and also the PC Engine in general for its cute box shape. SuperGrafx looks like WW2-era German machinery, though, which is pretty cool and not exactly a box.

10 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

Let's not forget the PC Engine DUO in the list of black boxes, and also the PC Engine in general for its cute box shape. SuperGrafx looks like WW2-era German machinery, though, which is pretty cool and not exactly a box.

Although some of them had cooler molding and different vent design, we are looking at an awful lot of black boxes in game console history haha. 

48 minutes ago, 1001lives said:

To some extent - but also, many consoles were plain black boxes well before the Xbox Series X. The Neo Geo, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, GameCube, Dreamcast (sports version) were all slightly varied black boxes. Genesis Model 1 less so but the Model 2 was very black boxy.

 

And the variety of slightly different black rectangles. ColecoVision, Intellivision models, Atari's "Vader," TurboGrafx-16, Master System (a bit more of a trapezoid... Rhombus? But still rectangular).

Basically, why I didn’t include them in my list of creatively designed consoles. Heavy sixer, Telstar Arcade, planned Tutorvision, NES toaster, SNES and, to a lesser extent, N64 and switch are real standouts. N64 kind of reminds me of a 2 seat roadster with its hump and scoop and curved protrusions, although they went with monochrome. 

So now that we have established that pretty much everything is a box except the 32X, Switch, Telstar Arcade, PC Engine Shuttle, the AV Famicom/toploader NES, and maybe the SuperGrafx (even if it looks like a toolbox), I think I'll make the thread be back on-topic again.

Tommy, will there be Risk (the board game) on the Amico? This game is super awesome and I used to play it all the time when I was in the Marines with my friends. We used to start at like 1700~1800 and still not be finished until like 0300 when we all were super tired and decided to quit just so we could all go to bed. That's how awesome this game is! It takes forever to set this damn game up, though, so it would be awesome to see it make an appearance on the Amico so I don't have to set it up manually anymore!

23 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

So now that we have established that pretty much everything is a box except the 32X, Switch, Telstar Arcade, PC Engine Shuttle, the AV Famicom/toploader NES, and maybe the SuperGrafx (even if it looks like a toolbox), I think I'll make the thread be back on-topic again.

...and soon to be Amico!

2 hours ago, Swami said:

Seeing as high end PC's are $2000, I would assume for $500 they are only low-end, since that's what a low-end PC costs.

You don't have to assume, they know what's in a ps5 and new xbox; a similar pc can be priced.

When microsoft and sony are pricing their console they can use parts costs that are less than what they actually are because they know those numbers come down over several years of the consoles selling life.  Plus they use their enormous buying power to negotiate prices that nobody else can, that's partly due to the hardware not changing for many years.

1 hour ago, atarifan88 said:

Interesting because the Intellivision had a nicely rendered background, where as the Atari one is plain black.  Also, the Intellivision version had a bonus boss stage, where the Atari one just kept recycling it's levels with no end in site!  They both played well, but the graphics and bonus level play gave Intellivision the edge for me.

I don't think the intellivision demon attack background is so great and it takes up a huge amount of the playfield.  Animation seems a little clunky as well.  I'd take atari 2600 phoenix over intellivision demon attack.  Will Amico Demon Attack have a mothership? It got imagic sued back in 1982.

9 minutes ago, Swami said:

...and soon to be Amico!

Yeah, I noticed that one after I fixed the Shuttle into being included but was kind of lazy so I didn't want to bother typing it in there. Even the AV Famicom is kind of a box, but since it has that sloping thingy I consider it to be more of a wedge than a box. Now that we are talking about boxes again, I'll fix it again.

Tommy, shogi for Amico? This game is super awesome, just like Risk (the broad game), and I really like it a lot more than chess, the game it is based on, because of its added complexity and therefore higher skill floor and skill ceiling. I played this one with my favourite band's bassist's father about 2 years ago and he barely beat me after I was winning the whole time because he was able to drop I think a gold general right in my face after I boxed myself in. Definitely a fun game, even for old dudes like him!

39 minutes ago, mr_me said:

You don't have to assume, they know what's in a ps5 and new xbox; a similar pc can be priced.

 

When microsoft and sony are pricing their console they can use parts costs that are less than what they actually are because they know those numbers come down over several years of the consoles selling life.  Plus they use their enormous buying power to negotiate prices that nobody else can, that's partly due to the hardware not changing for many years.

 

 

I don't think the intellivision demon attack background is so great and it takes up a huge amount of the playfield.  Animation seems a little clunky as well.  I'd take atari 2600 phoenix over intellivision demon attack.  Will Amico Demon Attack have a mothership? It got imagic sued back in 1982.

Say it ain't so Mr. Me!  Did they get sued because the mothership was similar to the one in the Phoenix arcade game?

Edit: I did a search and it looks like we had this discussion almost 2 years ago! 

😁

If IE does Q*bert, where would Qbert go next and what would he need to accomplish, changing things up but keeping with the spirit of QBert and QBert's Qubes? Maybe add some mechanics like in Upmonsters (INTV) or Amoeba Jump (2600) where you have to do a little more steering to hit your targets and have some extras like the super bounce mushrooms in Amoeba Jump. Apparently, in the original concept of Qbert, Qbert could shoot the enemies using his nozzle. That could be added in as an option having spitballs or whatever placed on a few blocks as limited ammo (then you'd actually need a button). 

How could co-op be implemented? Obviously, some players could play the baddies, but could you have different colored Qberts working together? Konami produced a competitive 2-player Qbert type game for the MSX called "Q*bert" with a dragon replacing Qbert for some reason. In this one, each player has a different color change and tries to change more blocks than the other, but one could also have where each player is responsible for one of the two color changes to finish a block conversion and so forth.

There have been some expansions with levels added with the blocks in different arrangements and added enemies, as well as one where the blocks are hexagons with 6 ways to jump rather than four. Also, something I have to look into again called Faster, Harder, More Challenging Qbert.

6 hours ago, mr_me said:

Regarding black boxes, there's lots of people that like that for their electronics.  Sony and microsoft do market research too.  It's another example of how different their target customers are.

they have been mocked relentless since the moment they showed it. As for Target Customer, what do you think people like many of us are. Life time Gamers now in their mid 50s with more disposable income then we ever had. Its a terrible design, again.. watch Silicion Valley, there is a whole funny story arc at just how lost these companies get inside their own stupid heads with things that should be otherwise simple.

6 hours ago, mr_me said:

I wouldn't describe new playstations and xboxes as low end PCs (current models are seven years old).  When new, dollar for dollar you couldn't come close to their power.   When you are selling photorealistic graphics you have no choice but to have all the compute units and raytracing you can afford.  That's the beauty of Amico and going with a different graphic style, they don't have to worry much about upgrading hardware in the future.

 

Regarding black boxes, there's lots of people that like that for their electronics.  Sony and microsoft do market research too.  It's another example of how different their target customers are.

I think you are right on the styling, they are trying to appeal to specific markets (if the design is successful/good or not is another matter). To me it is pretty clear Microsoft is trying to say "advanced, serious gaming', Nintendo is saying "serious gaming & a bit of fun too" and Intellivision is saying "fun gaming, not too serious" - which is precisely the core markets they are going for.

8 minutes ago, GrudgeQ said:

To me it is pretty clear Microsoft is trying to say "advanced, serious gaming

how? by emulating the PC desktop tower that gamers have hated forever and will spend a lot of money modding.  If microsoft was clever they would have put a port or two in front so that they could sell all sorts of faceplates so users could add their individuals touch. Add a few light options as well. Easy money.  AGAIN watch Silicon Valley... this stupid over thought design leading to a freakin black rectangle is so predictable of the half ass silicon valley design process its comedic gold.

Just now, bigdaddygamestudio said:

how? by emulating the PC desktop tower that gamers have hated forever and will spend a lot of money modding.  If microsoft was clever that would have put a port or two in front so that they could sell all sorts of faceplates so users could add their individuals touch. Add a few light options as well. Easy money.  AGAIN watch Silicon Valley... this stupid over thought design leading to a freakin black rectangle is so predictable of the half ass silicon valley design process its comedic gold.

I agree the customization market is being lost by Microsoft and it is one thing that a lot of people like with a PC (says me sitting next to an LED glowy goodness, custom loop PC). My point is that they are trying (and maybe failing) to appeal to their markets. They say "serious" by being boring and blocky, the Amico is the only 'curvy' console out there except you notice the joycons have a bit of curve. So it is literally rectangle, curved rectangle, oval. Good or bad design (some people hate the Amico's looks too) I think that is what they are trying for in their designs - the more curve, the more "fun" and less "serious" implied.

33 minutes ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

they have been mocked relentless since the moment they showed it. As for Target Customer, what do you think people like many of us are. Life time Gamers now in their mid 50s with more disposable income then we ever had. Its a terrible design, again.. watch Silicion Valley, there is a whole funny story arc at just how lost these companies get inside their own stupid heads with things that should be otherwise simple.

Sony makes black boxes too.  I like the new xbox design, not sure if it fits in people's component cabinets.  It's going to sit in people's living rooms, not just basements, bedrooms, or offices.

1 hour ago, atarifan88 said:

Say it ain't so Mr. Me!  Did they get sued because the mothership was similar to the one in the Phoenix arcade game?

...

 

Imagic got sued because Demon Attack looked like Phoenix and the mothership makes it look more like phoenix than without it.

I was just wondering, at this point, is there any Atari or Intellivision game that someone hasn't asked if there will be an Amico version of? 😆

14 hours ago, Atari_Master said:

Tommy,

 

Is there a chance that some starpath supercharger games might come to Amico, such as Dragonstomper and Phaser Patrol?

Mark me down for any and all Starpath games!!!  Like the two above add Escape from the Mindmaster and Communist Mutants from Outer Space! Loved all of those games!!!

42 minutes ago, insertclevernamehere said:

I was just wondering, at this point, is there any Atari or Intellivision game that someone hasn't asked if there will be an Amico version of? 😆

We may as well just make one blanket post asking if every single Atari and Intellivision game is planned. 

50 minutes ago, insertclevernamehere said:

I was just wondering, at this point, is there any Atari or Intellivision game that someone hasn't asked if there will be an Amico version of? 😆

Sky Diver, Pong, Math Fun perhaps.  I think it's a good question.  We know the Atari properties they licensed are limited to those named; is it possible more can be added?  But all of the Imagic, Mattel, and INTV properties are available to them.  Activision properties will have to wait.

2 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

Good or bad design (some people hate the Amico's looks too) I think that is what they are trying for in their designs - the more curve, the more "fun" and less "serious" implied.

amico at least there is thought and practicality and function in it. I'll stop beating a dead horse with this, the point to all of this is.. There was a design team paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to come up with the new Xbox design. They were given time, people and money and they came back with a black rectangle.  Its so pathetic and laughable and predictable that it is actually really funny.  Thats the joke. 

2 hours ago, insertclevernamehere said:

I was just wondering, at this point, is there any Atari or Intellivision game that someone hasn't asked if there will be an Amico version of? 😆

I think Atari Master has them all covered! 😛

I think if their B17 Bomber is a hit, they should take that type of  "crew" game design and use it again say in a Pirate ship. 

19 minutes ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

amico at least there is thought and practicality and function in it. I'll stop beating a dead horse with this, the point to all of this is.. There was a design team paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to come up with the new Xbox design. They were given time, people and money and they came back with a black rectangle.  Its so pathetic and laughable and predictable that it is actually really funny.  Thats the joke. 

It is quite funny when you think about the design engineers working on a black box design. But again, as you can see, many if not all console design engineers came up with black rectangles. This one's just a little more plain.

42 minutes ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

amico at least there is thought and practicality and function in it. I'll stop beating a dead horse with this, the point to all of this is.. There was a design team paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to come up with the new Xbox design. They were given time, people and money and they came back with a black rectangle.  Its so pathetic and laughable and predictable that it is actually really funny.  Thats the joke. 

Sometimes the status quo is the best choice but to know this you still have to investigate the alternatives.  The investment is the same.