Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

This thread needs to lighten up, even if for just one post

on vacation in the Bahamas, enjoying the beach in my Amico T-shirt

18 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Maybe the poster, the Vintage Woodgrain and the gift card.  $279.   Thoughts??

Any repeat items found in the founders would start to water down its value. The metal gift card to me was a huge perk. Maybe if the VIP one was only valued at $20 and only on a card ticket like what comes with the T-shirt. 

I'm not huge fan of this idea as someone that bought into founders.

4 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

If you haven't already and like retro games I would encourage you to check out the homebrew scene here. That is what brought me here years ago. It has been amazing to see what people have done with the 2600 and 7800 games.

Will do thanks! Love both systems and have revisited my youth with recent additions to my collection

Welcome to the topic, The Atari Creep! I'm glad you join the discussion.

I also wanted to apologize: After reading your message, I now believe that your video "Anybody hate both the Atari VCS & Intellivision Amico?", which uses the caption "Both are CRAP?" in the preview and where you ask your viewers to look for opinions that say "fuck both of these things, they're both pieces of shit", was informative and not trying to be controversial. 👍

Back to the topic, I gotta say I agree with Swami: The new VIP Edition could be a great opportunity for thousands of fans who didn't get the Founders, including me. I don't understand people who have already ordered another edition being against it because theirs become less special. Why would they be upset if someone else gets it?

5 hours ago, Loafer said:

This thread needs to lighten up, even if for just one post

 

on vacation in the Bahamas, enjoying the beach in my Amico T-shirt

And that sweet old school Expos hat!  Nice!

9 hours ago, The Atari Creep said:

Funny you quoted good advice and said "this kind of attitude isn't going to work out very well on this site" about it. 

 

Typical forum mentality. Kind of why I don't post in them. It's ok though. None of it means anything to me. Thanks so much for adding logic to this.

 

Hanging in the shadows since 2014!!!! Dudes comment brought me out. Now the beast is loose, good luck putting him back in. HAHA Just playing. We all know I will voluntarily go back after this cools down.

I said the attitude isn't going to work out because it's going to create drama. I think you're right in defending yourself. But when people (like you) start saying stuff like "shut up and think before you let it spew!" it kind of calls into question a few things about their negotiation tactics.

It's not anyone's fault they draw the wrong conclusions from someone's Youtube video that says "Both are CRAP?" and they're fully entitled to think and post their opinions about that. A lot of times someone's opinions aren't based in fact. We deal with that a lot on this thread alone 😎

By all means defend yourself with any attitude you want, but take into account when you put yourself out on Youtube to be judged, not everyone is going to get your message or agree with the way you deliver it. 

We come here to spew opinion. Everyone can defend themselves from that opinion but telling someone to shut up who may have had the wrong idea from a video is why I called you out.

9 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

Um, he's had an account here longer than you have.

 

🤣🤣🤣

I like how not only did I summon Bacon Gif Man, but he also had to be quick to remind everyone "Seniority!" 🤡

On 3/3/2020 at 5:34 AM, LePionnier said:

Tommy, what is the ratio that Intellivision Entertainment plans to produce for additional controller versus the number of consoles ?

 

Let's say 100,000 consoles, it will therefore be necessary to produce 200,000 controllers (2 included per console).

But as Amico will be a console based on playing together, I imagine that an average of 4 controllers per console will have to be produced, even if it will be possible to use a phone as an additional controller !?

Thank you.

To use your numbers... if there were 100,000 consoles we would probably manufacture somewhere between 25,000 - 50,000 extra controllers.  We are different in a number of ways to most consoles in that regards.

1.  We CATER to family and couch co-op.  Every game has it!  So wanting more physical Amico controllers would probably be a natural thing.

but...

2.  We also have the ability to download our free app so more people can play the easier games.  Although this is great for our mission of Simple, Affordable, Family, Entertainment.  It's not the greatest "business" move for trying to sell people extra controllers.  But I don't look at things in terms of just making a buck!  As CEO I need to make profit for our investors and retailers... but unlike most CEO's... I don't put it FIRST on my "to do" list.  The first and most important thing to me is building TRUST and VALUE with our customers/audience.  When we successfully do that... then the "profit" will follow.  So having the ability to use mobile devices may hurt the initial sale of extra controllers, although I honestly believe it will help to spark sales cause everyone will want a machine and the controller is way better for most games than the app is.  Especially action games!

So the real answer to your question is... we're not sure yet!  Because we need to do more focus testing.  Something we are still working on.  We have another month or two to figure out that exact number.  We're also going to do 2 different controller packs!  The ability to buy just ONE controller... and a 2 pack for a better price!  That way we could do special packages for different retailers.  Just as an example... at a place like COSTCO you may be able to get the console, an RFID gift card and a pack of 2 controllers.  Could be branded as the "Family Edition" or whatever. 

3 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

 

I also wanted to apologize: After reading your message, I now believe that your video "Anybody hate both the Atari VCS & Intellivision Amico?", which uses the caption "Both are CRAP?" in the preview and where you ask your viewers to look for opinions that say "fuck both of these things, they're both pieces of shit", was informative and not trying to be controversial. 👍

 

No, listen, he's a huge fan and he just had to defend himself from your opinion on his video that says "Both are CRAP?" 

22 hours ago, jcalder8 said:

Hey Tommy,

 

I'm an FE backer and I'm just wondering when I'll be able to pay off the rest.

 

Thanks

Jon

When the product is ready to ship you will receive an e-mail asking for the remainder of the cost (after you put in your shipping address and we figure out the exact shipping cost, tax, import fee (if applicable), etc.

And remember... at ANY point you can ask for your $100 deposit back. 

You'll probably get the initial e-mail around early to mid September so we can start to prepare the order.

Thanks!

21 hours ago, YerOut said:

Question for Tommy:

Will the Original games be released as is or will your folks be touching up any known bugs/glitches or punching up the system's AI?

 

The original games will be released in packs and will not be touched in any way.

21 hours ago, AtariSociety said:

We moved from Rhode Island to NorCal when I was 7 so here I just had to do Catholic School to 8th grade... 

I for sure was NOT Alter Boy material.  haha

Yeh my mom would yell my full name... Thomas John Ferreira... get your ass in here!

Ah those were the days.  

Now my wife just yells at me instead.  Go figure!

TJ

HAHAHHAHA!!!  That was hilarious!  TJ wins the internet today!

20 hours ago, LePionnier said:

 

Personally I have mixed opinions.
It will depend when and how many units!

Let's say you are selling 2000 VIP editions, but it's taking a week to sold all units. This could darken the previous message of the founders edition sale.

So it could be a good idea to talk about it while at E3 !

"We have 5000 VIP Editions for you going on sale on June 12, so be ready, it will sell fast !

Buy them for you, your parents or for a friend and be ready to play together once again on October 10th guaranteed !

Reserve yours now, and there will be no shortage for you ! "

And Boum ! In a couple of hours, 5000 VIP Editions are sold out ! 😃  lol

 

So that was my opinion ! 😉

 

Yeah... I would probably do 5200 VIP's! 

 

20 hours ago, 1001lives said:

Agreed. It will depend heavily on timing. I think if Tommy were to announce a second run of 5,000 VIP units, he would need to do it at the right moment. This second run needs something to set it apart as VIP edition and not just be a repeat of the same marketing style for the Founder's. It also definitely needs that week build up again with video reveals, etc. Maybe more Earthworm Jim animations.

Yes!  For sure!

In fact I've been working on a brand new gameplay video that shows a TON of games!  A lot of stuff no one has seen before.  Instead of showing a one second clip of stuff... I'd be showing 5 - 7 seconds of a lot of games and levels!

The VIP Edition (if I even do it) would be the Vintage Woodgrain + a $25 plastic RFID gift card (FE is laser cut metal!) and a signed poster for $279.  So the "extras" are the gift card and signed poster.  MUCH less than the Founders Edition and less value (although still lots of VIP value).  We've literally received THOUSANDS of e-mails from people asking us to do another pre-order of sorts.  So I wanted to do something a little extra... but nowhere near as cool as the Founders Edition.  Just an idea to do something a little special for our fans/followers.

20 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

I think you mean 5200 units

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!  

20 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

I think it is a really good idea (also saw a lot of comments from people who either missed it or didn't realize it was happening at the time) but I also like the above comments that maybe you should pre-announce the start date & time so people can prepare. You can still say the link will arrive in the official email so that people need to sign up, but a firm date & time would let social media folks get the word out with something definitive to say.

Yeah.  For sure. 

Although we did do that for the Founders Edition as well.  We gave the exact time, date and location.  But yeah... if we decided to do it... hyping it up even farther out couldn't hurt.

20 hours ago, OEB_Pete said:

I would love to see another round of pre-orders, make it around E3 perhaps so it could have a 4 week lead in campaign to build awareness of the console but the event itself.  I for one need one for my mother in law and my sister in law.  

Cool.  Thanks for your input!

20 hours ago, haplo13 said:

I think a VIP pre-order would be good to do in conjunction with E3 (or some other big announcement).  I think the more people you can get anticipating the release the better.  I know some folks passed on the Founders Edition due to preferring the other colors.  Have you considered making the VIP package have, say, the GTO Red?  You'll likely get some repeat buyers that way as well.

Speaking of pre-orders, will you have pre-orders for the standard edition closer to launch or are you really hoping to drive traffic to the retailers?  Will you have pre-orders of just the additional controller bundles?

We always want to take care of our retailers as they will always be an important part of our sales strategy.  But by doing direct sales (because of the higher margin) we're able to give away even more stuff to folks.  So it needs to be a perfect balance so that everyone wins!  That is always the goal anyway... sometimes a challenging balance... but if the hype is off the charts and everyone is excited and wants to get on board... then everyone wins anyway.  A great thing!  And so far... all signs are pointing to this.  Very cool.

19 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

Tommy, firstly I wanted to thank you for the idea of the new VIP Edition. I will probably preorder one of those.

 

I have a more serious question today. You recently said you're using the same Chinese factories as Sony. What do you think about this?

 

Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft Implicated in Chinese Forced Labor Camps Report

I don't doubt it!  The factory we are using is VERY different from any of those.  And the factory we're using aren't the ones who assemble and make the PS3, 4, 5 & Wii... they did the "boards" for the controllers.  The company we are working with have a very different worldview about things... which is why they were a great fit for us.  I can't really say much more at this point... but they are the exact OPPOSITE of a bad company and many awards and accolades that others could only dream of.  Really amazing stuff.  I look forward to telling people about them in the future.

18 hours ago, YerOut said:

I was thinking Tron Deadly Discs where standing partially in a doorway gives the player a pseudo invincibility or the 1 or 2 player sports games become to easy once the AI patterns are figured out.  I understand 2 Humans on sports games are the best but I don't always have a 2nd around to play.  I also believe there are occasions where an NBA player may magically ascend to the heavens.  Swords and Serpents feels a little unfinished.  All minor but I was more curious if the Originals would be revisited by Tommy's crew.

 

I understand what you're saying.  I just don't think that messing around with 35+ year old code would be a solution.  As we wouldn't be selling these at a profit... probably best to leave them "as is"... warts and all!  

18 hours ago, Sinjinhawke said:

I have and modded the PS Classic, SNES Classic, Genesis mini and Atari FB X.  They look mini but great and let me put away my original consoles.   Hoping to mod the TG mini so I can put my TG16 with CD attachment away.  My CRT died so if I have to use a flatscreen then might as well embrace the HDMI versions of these consoles.  And the controllers are great on these things.  I’m pretty happy.  
 

Just noticed I’m responding to a linked topic and not the topic at hand.  Oopsie!   
 

Feel free to ignore me.  

No worries!  We always welcome discussion here.  Doesn't always need to be about Amico.

Thanks for joining the discussion!

9 hours ago, MarioMan88 said:

Nothing like a little flare and panache around here! I dig your YouTube vids. Glad your on the scene. I admit the new Intellivision and Atari consoles got me to register here and I’ve enjoyed the forums to date. Don’t agree with everyone on everything but hey that is life, as long as we’re civil what’s the big deal?? 😄

Thats exactly what its all about, starting and having a conversation. No one has to agree on anything, wouldn't be much of a conversation if we all did. LOL 

9 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

Why you need to voluntarily leave? You seem to be a fan of Amico and other retro games. Stick around and have some fun. 

We will see. Like I said, I do not do goon in a forum setting. I will do my best bud.

16 hours ago, Jeffrey Bouchard said:

I think that would be a great Idea. As an aside, why not make the woodgrain version a permanent color choice?  

Thanks for the feedback.

We would probably limit it at some point.  Even if it was a few hundred thousand units.

16 hours ago, LePionnier said:

Cool video to watch. Not agree with everything, but well done.
You can leave him comments and give more information if you wish ! 😉 ( You will do better than me in English ! 😅 )

 

 

 

I'm in disagreement with a LOT of things in this video.  I appreciate the discussion and that folks are covering Amico... but I do think he's WAY off in knowing about the average family market.  As I've said many times in the past... it is sometimes difficult for folks to remove themselves from their own hardcore gaming bubbles.  Especially when he compares us to what Sony, Microsoft & Nintendo are currently offering.  But that's okay.  I'll reach out to see if he would like to do an interview so we could have a friendly debate and address his concerns.

5 hours ago, ColdCoffee said:

Any repeat items found in the founders would start to water down its value. The metal gift card to me was a huge perk. Maybe if the VIP one was only valued at $20 and only on a card ticket like what comes with the T-shirt. 

I'm not huge fan of this idea as someone that bought into founders.

The woodgrain Amico was never described as exclusive to the founders edition.  The signed lenticular poster was however.  The gift card can be different but I see no reason why it can't have any value they like.